Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems - Takes proactive stand on co2 emissions

Company announces a dramatic vision for sustainable heating & cooling

Mitsubishi Electric is using the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade’s biggest shows (RAC and H&V ‘07) to ask the industry to pause for thought and question whether a growth in comfort cooling for the UK’s homes is in the best interest of the consumer, the industry, the country and the environment.
In addition, the company has shared its initial strategy on how the commercial sector can actively respond to growing legislation and the ambition of corporate customers to reduce their own carbon footprint.
“The Stern Report has highlighted the catastrophic danger to businesses of ignoring climate change, and we are responding to this by announcing our own 100-day plan which will review our operations and highlight ways in which we believe the industry can act to reduce CO2 emissions, rather than increase them,” explained Donald Daw, Air Conditioning Divisional Commercial Director for Mitsubishi Electric.
“As a major industry player, we want to grow and sustain our business as much as any other manufacturer, but to do this without a fundamental review of the sustainability of this approach is highly inappropriate and out of step with our core values as a business,” he added.
Mitsubishi Electric estimates that the splits and VRF air conditioning sector could account for up to 1,600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum for cooling and that this figure could increase to 2,400,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum (even with increasing efficiency) by 2016 if current behaviour isn’t changed.
The Company also estimates that through the active replacement of older equipment, appropriate maintenance measures, better informed equipment buying decisions and free cooling & heat recovery, a considerable saving of CO2 can be made every year – Mitsubishi Electric predicts this could reach as much as 482,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum in ten years time.
“We are aware that ‘Greenwash’ is everywhere and that some will question our motives, but we simply believe it is time to start reviewing fundamental and engrained thinking about what is healthy for the industry’s future and develop new approaches,” said Daw. “We plan to back our words with action on 7 June, when we will announce our own plans for combating increased levels of CO2 after we have concluded our 100-day review.
“We believe that air conditioning is a fact of life in the modern world and that the commercial sector will continue to grow, but we also know that the industry can deliver improved sustainable technology to meet the heating and cooling needs of the country,” added Daw. “We need to start by removing our industry’s obsession with domestic air conditioning and act responsibly by looking at what is actually needed rather than simply trying to drive up sales.”
The country needs an ambitious growth in housing but at the same time the building sector will have to respond to increased pressure from Government to achieve zero carbon housing by 2016. Daw also expects existing housing stock to become a key focus for policy makers with 75 per cent of these properties still expected to be in use in 2050.
“Space heating and hot water account for over 80 per cent of each household’s CO2 output, and this is where I believe the industry should focus and develop advanced heat pump technology that can challenge the 1.6 million domestic gas boilers that are sold each year in the UK,” explained Daw.
Mitsubishi Electric has developed heat pump boiler technology that delivers a  30 - 52 per cent saving in CO2 emissions over even the most modern and efficient gas boiler.
“It sounds a little extreme, but if every UK gas boiler sale was replaced by a heat pump boiler, we could reduce emissions by 16,888,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2016,” said Daw.
The company recognises that domestic over heating is an issue at certain times of the year and also accepts that air conditioning may be necessary in some homes, such as in inner city hot spots. However, until the industry has actually reviewed what the need is, the most sustainable way to cool is through ventilation and free cooling.
“Of course we want a healthy and growing market, but we realise that traditional heating and cooling has to be challenged. We’ve started to challenge our own thinking and we would encourage others to do the same,” he ended.

Email: pr@garnett-keeler.com