Page 51 - Climate Control News Aug-Sep 2020

Natural Refrigerants
Grosvenor ramps up services offering
GROSVENOR ENGINEERING GROUP (Gros- venor) is the first major technical services compa- ny in Australia to introduce a dedicated natural refrigerant technology service for HVACR systems.
Grosvenor currently employs over 800 staff, 400 of which are HVAC technicians and will train all of them in natural refrigerant technolo- gy within the next 12 months.
More than 30 technicians will have this spe- cialist accreditation, which also includes the safe handling of R32 refrigerant by the end of June. The new technology will be implemented under the company’s HVACR service line.
The group’s managing director, Nicholas Li- anos, said Grosvenor staff have been observ- ing market trends overseas and the exponen- tial growth in environmentally friendly HVACR solutions which deliver significant energy savings.
“The technology that underpins the ability to achieve these outcomes is the use of natural re- frigerants such as hydrocarbons,” Lianos said.
“Hydrocarbon technology offers significant benefits including reduced energy and mainte- nance costs, diminished carbon emissions, and the solution can be delivered as a service, negat- ing capital expenditure.”
Lianos said market research found a gap in the Australian market for technicians that can safe- ty handle, install and maintain natural refriger- ant solutions.
“We will soon have a dedicated team of highly experienced and accredited staff equipped to
implement natural refrigerant technology in commercial buildings,” he said.
“The aim is to support the multi-billion-dollar Australian commercial office market in reduc- ing its carbon footprint by providing a green al- ternative.
“If customers use HVACR systems that utilise natural refrigerants they benefit from reduced energy costs, in some cases up to 60 per cent, lower maintenance costs and can sustain a re- duced carbon footprint. The business and envi- ronmental cases continue to grow stronger.
“WE ARE PROVIDING THE COMMERCIAL OFFICE MARKET WITH A GREEN ALTERNATIVE.” – MANAGING DIRECTOR, NICHOLAS LIANOS.”
“Green assets are also more desirable invest- ments for investors. NABERS and Green Star rat- ings improve property capital values.”
Lianos said it is part of Grosvenor’s DNA to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology used within the built environment.
He said this has been reinforced by the intro- duction of cyber security for operational tech- nology; indoor air quality monitoring; the con- tinuing development of virtual technicians; and building analytics solutions.
Net zero target
goes national
Around 400 technicians will be trained in natural refrigerant technology in the next 12 months.
EVERY STATE AND territory in Australia has now committed to a net-zero emis- sions target.
This was made official last month after the Northern Territory announced its plan to hit net-zero by 2050.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKen- zie welcomed the Northern Territory’s “Climate Change Response: Towards 2050” announcement.
“Every state and territory has now adopted a net-zero target, meaning Australia now has a de facto national net-zero target,” she said.
“The states and territories are leading the charge in tackling climate change and show- ing that they are serious about protecting Australians from worsening extreme weather.
“Darwin is in the climate firing line, and if climate change continues unabated, then the city is expected to experience 43 days above 35 degrees on average each year by 2030 and up to 265 by 2090.”
McKenzie said the national net-zero tar- get is a message to all investors that Austral- ia will be out of fossil fuels by 2050.
She said the NT has some of the best solar resources in the world and can harness that power to lead its economy out of the COV- ID-19 crisis and set up for the growth indus- tries of the future.
“I would also implore the NT government not to develop any new gas projects. Net-zero emissions can only be achieved by ending fossil fuel developments,” she said.
The NT Climate Change Response also in- cludes a 50% renewable energy target by 2030. NT Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Eva Lawler, said the targets will be managed by the newly created portfolios of the Office of Climate Change and the Of-
fice of Sustainable Energy.
Lawler said climate-smart policy is smart
economic policy. “Our Labor Government’s strong environmental policy is securing our natural assets and unlocking social, cultur- al, and economic opportunities for Territori- ans,” she said.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020
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