Understanding the life cycle costs of a chiller installation requires a clear view of the full picture. Wayne Perrins explores the features of chillers that can make all the difference.

Mark Andrews explains why the whole-life approach forms the cornerstone of NG Bailey’s business strategy.

To benefit from the potential for centralised plant to achieve higher efficiency than decentralised plant, Evinox has supplied a Geminox condensing boiler module and Modusat interface units to provide heating and hot water for a development of 10 luxury apartments in Swanage.

Both energy and maintenance costs in the mains sports hall of the Sands Centre in Carlisle have been reduced following the installation of long-life, high-output Brilliance light fittings from Chalmor. The savings are expected to achieve a payback of three years on initial capital cost.

Stuart Aynsley explores how the cost of converged communications in buildings provides the basis for a whole range of new opportunities — without incurring significant cost.

Whether an installer is specifying a new or replacement air-conditioning system, it is important to embrace the concept of whole-life costs by educating the end-user on the key benefits. Simon Keel outlines what end-users need to know from installers so they can release the real value of their equipment.

John Garbutt describes the results of an independent analysis of the long-term-costs of ductwork.

‘We asked ABS Consulting to recommend what practical and most efficient measures we could take to cut our excessive energy use which would give use the greatest return on investment. Eliminating wasteful use of lighting by automatic lighting management was the clear winner,’ says Fiona Crann, head of facility at the South East England Development Agency’s (SEEDA) 5-storey headquarters building in Guildford.

Comfort cooling with low capital costs and long-term low running costs have been achieved in the main bakery area of Buxton Spa Bakery using a Breezair evaporative cooling system from Seeley International.

Helping to minimise energy costs for the environmental control system serving the Community Village Hall at Pendeen in Cornwall is a ground-source heat pump to provide heating and hot water for this award-winning project, which serves wide-ranging local needs from crèche to snooker club. The project has won the community category in the South West Green Energy Awards.

Cost savings of at least 20% are expected following the replacement of outdated boiler plant at the Arndale Estate in Wandsworth to provide heating and hot water for 388 homes in five blocks — and public areas. Other cost-saving measures include improved insulation, new pumps to improve circulation efficiency and an upgraded energy-management system for operating efficiency.

To minimise the energy used for air conditioning the various buildings at the £8 million Wildwood Triangle development in Worcester, each building has Daikin VRV heat-recovery air conditioning and energy-reclaim ventilation provided by 17 Daikin VAM units. Billed by developer Maximus as ‘the best office address in Worcester, the complex comprises five self-contains 2-storey blocks offering 170 to 725 m2 of lettable space, with a total of 3700 m2.

Replacing calorifiers with plate heat exchangers to supply heating and domestic hot water at Bradford Royal Infirmary will reduce energy bills by 15%, it is estimated.