subject: How To Minimise Air Cons Environmental Impact [print this page] The benefits of hiring air con are manyThe benefits of hiring air con are many. During a double-dip recession, renting air con for an office environment can prove the ideal, cost-effective solution for businesses that need air conditioning at their premises, but are simply not in a financial position to replace an old or unreliable built-in system.
It is perhaps not surprising that hiring-in air con for offices (rather than buying) is becoming the preferred choice for businesses and organisations large and small across the UK, when you consider its numerous advantages:
Clients can always receive the newest models available (experienced air conditioning engineers will know which portable units will be most suitable for each particular application)
Units will always be serviced before being released to clients
The units are mobile and so can be easily moved around an office as required
There are no long-term storage issues
The units can be used seasonally, e.g. when the temperature rises in spring and summer (a fixed air con system may not have the capacity to cope if the external temperature suddenly climbs)
And, crucially:
There is no capital expenditure involved
At offices, air conditioning is not optional employers have a responsibility to ensure their workplace is a comfortable environment, temperature-wise. That means small individual offices, a building arranged into multiple offices, and large open-plan office buildings are required to be warm enough in winter, and cool enough in summer.
Temperatures in the workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a reasonable
temperature in the working environment. There is no maximum temperature quoted in the Regulations, although the minimum temperature given is 16oC for sedentary activities.
A businesss carbon footprint can be markedly reduced if they use their air con in an effective and controlled way, thereby limiting energy usage.
How to Cool a Premises, With the Least Environmental Impact
1. Ensure the area/room to be cooled is properly sealed to keep cooled air in, and warm air out
2. Set the temperature for the long term find out what the required temperature is, and stick to that
3. Temperature test adjust the temperature a degree or two upwards and see if people actually notice
4. Do not make drastic temperature changes (e.g. by suddenly dropping the temperature); this will use up a large amount of energy
5. Select air con units that are of an appropriate size for the area too big and they will use up too much energy and also increase your bills
6. Ensure air con units are regularly serviced, to make sure no energy is wasted on inefficient
technology
7. Position your air con unit in the right place do not put it in the corner where the air cannot
circulate properly
8. If the area to be cooled comprises of multiple offices (rather than being open-plan), consider leasing a higher number of smaller air con units as they will maintain the cooler temperature and ensure that all staff benefit
9. Take technology into account: computers, printers, photocopiers, telephones, etc. all emit a
considerable amount of heat; so if you significantly increase or decrease the amount of office
technology, the air conditioning requirement may need to be adapted
10. Seek professional advice cooling experts (proven air con rental specialists) will have
seen almost every conceivable situation and setting, and will be able to give advice about
environmentally-friendly air con usage.
Most fixed air con systems at offices across the country are over 10 years-old, and contain
something called R22 refrigerant, an ozone-depleting CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) that is now
banned across the EU. By law, R22 systems will become unserviceable at the end of 2014,
meaning that they will be illegal to repair in the event of a system failure.
Companies with a fixed air conditioning system at their premises should start researching temporary air con rental now, as demand for this service is sure to rise rapidly as the end of 2014 EU deadline looms.
Some air con hire companies now offer a R22 Scrappage Scheme: a generous financial
scrappage allowance towards a new air con system is provided to businesses and organisations faced with replacing their old systems.
