

12
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2016
This is according to Leon Laubscher, HVAC engineer at Energy Part-
ners – a leading energy solutions provider in South Africa, who says
that heating via electrical elements is outdated and highly inefficient.
“Heat pumps are a mature and reliable technology that has become much
more affordable than pure electrical heating, especially in light of the rapid
rise in electricity costs. This enables energy solutions providers to ‘lease’
heat pumps to consumers or business owners at a cost below the actual
monetary savings that are achieved”
Laubscher says that it is reassuring to see that more South Africans are
beginning to invest in heat pump technology and says that the organisa-
tion saw a massive spike in demand for heat pumps in 2015. “The wider
installation of heat pumps in the country will result in significant pressure
being taken off the national energy grid due to the decrease in electricity
usage required for water heating applications.”
While all industries and households with hot water requirements can
benefit from the installation of heat pumps, organisations with large hot
water requirements stand to benefit the most. Processes such as electro-
plating, clean-in-place (CIP) processes and industrial cooking are just some
examples of where these savings can be realised by replacing electrical
heating with heat pumps, adds Laubscher. “We are also now developing
centralised plants for high density housing, which will have more benefits
for the developer and end-user.”
Laubscher warns however that heat pumps must be well maintained
to yield optimum results and that many users do not have the resources
or expertise to maintain these systems for the duration of their life-cycles.
“Many suppliers and installers also take shortcuts and provide an inefficient
solution that requires significant upfront capital investment.”
By outsourcing the heat pump solution, the client only pays a monthly
outsourcing fee (which is exceeded by the monthly savings), no upfront
capital is required and the heat pump is maintained by the supplier, he
explains.“Outsourcing hot water requirements is therefore an ideal solution
for companies or consumers to test the waters in a risk and hassle free
manner, while maintaining the option to purchase the heat pump solution
at any time.”
Laubscher explains that a single industrial heat pump solution – including
pipework, tanks and pumps – typically takes about five days from start to end
of commissioning. “For
residential applications
this is reduced to less than
a day and ‘down-time’
of only half a day can be
expected.”
“In light of the option
to outsource hot water
production now being
available for industrial
and residential users, this
is an ideal time for South
Africans to invest in
the technology in order
to s ave mone y and
lessen the energy de-
mand in the country,”
concludes Laubscher.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
>
A total of 25 Green Building Councils from around the world
unveiled national commitments to transform the sustaina-
bility of their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and ensure that the building and construction industry plays
its part in limiting global warming to 2 degrees.
Buildings currently account for around one third of global emis-
sions. But green building is one of the most cost-effective solutions to
climate change, which generates significant environmental, economic
and societal benefits.
Brian Wilkinson, CEO of Green Building Council South Africa,
explains its commitment to introduce a Net Zero/Positive building certi-
fication will cover energy and carbon emissions, and possibly also cover
water and waste. It will leverage and be built upon the GBCSA’s current
Green Star SA and Energy Water Performance certification schemes
that already can assess whether a building is water or energy neutral
or positive. However, it will also allow for specific recognition and
acknowledgment of this net zero/positive aspect only, so as to elevate
its importance.
GBCSA also committed to six further significant goals by 2020.
They are:
• To secure statements of commitment in respect of the green
building principles and practices for 60% of 50 of the leading and
largest property owners in the country.
INCREASED USE CAN
EASE SA ENERGY CRISIS
As old and inefficient technologies, like electrical
geysers are still being used, hot water production
in the industrial and residential sectors accounts
for a large portion of national energy demand. Heat
pumps that have the potential to provide hot water
at the same temperature while utilising up to 70%
less electricity could replace this technology.
>
Leon Laubscher, HVAC
engineer at Energy
Partners.
GBCSA commits to introduce
The Green Building Council South Africa
(GBCSA) has made an ambitious commit-
ment to introduce a Net Zero/Positive
building certification scheme by 2020,
and six more meaningful goals, at COP21
in Paris recently.