Panasonic Aquarea Heat Pumps are providing energy efficient heating and DHW to Wicklow Hospice.  Consultants, J V Tierney & Co and main mechanical contractors Quinn Downes Ltd, created a design for a low carbon heating system to service the facilities of this new hospice. The solution, featured six Panasonic Aquarea H Series T-Cap 16kW units along with a Panasonic Cascade Controller to deliver a low environmental impact, minimal maintenance, is highly energy efficient and cost-effective. 

Built in 1895, the Belfast Grand Opera House is one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic theatres, designed by prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham. The venue provides a much-loved theatre experience for visitors, and recently underwent a large-scale renovation to update and improve services, including a revamp of its air conditioning with the help of Panasonic.

The prestigious retailer set out to find a 21st century solution for its 24,000 sqft store at Lakeside that not only provided a low carbon solution, energy efficiency, comfortable and healthy environment for its customers and staff alike but also supplied from a manufacturer that had a good reliable reputation for customer service, support and with spares supplied and readily available from within Europe and of course value for money.

A network of 27 dental practices operating mainly in Yorkshire and the North East has started a programme to install Panasonic’s nanoe™ X technology to enhance protection for patients and staff whenever new air-conditioning units are required or where units need to be replaced. nanoe™ X is a technology that is helping to improve protection and inhibit the growth of certain viruses – including SARS CoV-2.

Motorpoint, the UK’s largest independent car retailer, was looking to improve year-round comfort for visitors to its store in Chingford in North East London. Panasonic distributor, AMP Air, worked with CSD Air Conditioning to provide the ideal energy-efficient HVAC solution to the showroom featuring Panasonic’s triple split cassette system with nanoe™ X, which would work in tandem with a single split 7 kW unit. 

The Panasonic CO2 Cold Chain Condenser units provided the perfect mobile refrigeration solution for cooling specialists, Greencold. A reliable, efficient and eco-friendly solution to cool and freeze a mobile trailer was required and where the Panasonic CO2 units have now been installed. Simon Andrew, Director of Greencold commented “We had always wanted a large cold-room test facility in our premises to enable us to carry out product testing for our customers for both chill and freeze temperatures. However, due to limited space inside our workshop we decided that it would be a better idea to construct a mobile CO2 cooling system in a refrigerated box trailer. This could then be parked both on our premises and also taken to our customers site to test their products locally or demonstrate the technology. Panasonic worked with us to develop a perfect solution”.
The Panasonic CO2 units are compact, lightweight, have low noise levels (a range of 35.5 dB(A) to 36dB(A)) and designed to fit into smaller spaces with dimensions of (HWD) 930mm x 800mm x 350mm and weighs only 67kg.
The condensing units use a natural refrigerant that has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) equal to 1 as opposed to the current refrigerant typically used such as R404A having a GWP equal to 3,800. With refrigeration legislation increasing over the coming years, HFC R404A will be out of circulation by 2020. Paul Taylor, UK Sales Manager for Panasonic UK further explains more about the benefits, “The Panasonic range has been specifically developed for small to medium capacity applications within the refrigerated retail and food service sectors. Furthermore, by combining reliability and efficiency with the natural refrigerant CO2, the range removes any risk of future costs associated with the F-Gas refrigerant phase out whilst also minimising energy use and operating costs.”
With the Panasonic CO2 units already having a proven track record for reliability and efficiency with a clever single two stage temperature compression condensing unit and of compact size, Simon Andrew went on to explain, “We were able to combine the Panasonic units with a suitable air cooler of sufficiently high working pressure from a cooler manufacturer, we knew we had a great solution”.
Greencold have also since identified their refrigerated trailer as an educational tool where they take it out to customers and prove the eco-friendly CO2 cooling system is nothing to be frightened about.
With changes to the F-Gas regulations coming into force, alongside reducing carbon emissions and energy costs becoming key drivers for change in refrigeration systems, both specifiers and end users are recognising the need to consider CO2 as a refrigerant.
Greencold have also identified a further revenue stream and use for the Panasonic CO2 trailer and set up a sister company called ‘QuickFreeze’, whereby they are successfully renting out the branded trailer to a variety of customers in the food manufacturing business for events and storage logistic sectors such as smaller catering, hotels and restaurants, corporate hospitality events, weddings, pop-up stalls and emergency back-up for food and medical pharmaceutical companies with refrigeration needs.
One recent use case was where QuickFreeze were contacted by a youth football club for a large team tournament event where the refrigerated trailer was required for a three-day event. The Trailer was parked in a convenient onsite location and placed next to a portacabin where food was being prepared.
Chris Terry, Team Chairman of FC Aztec Youth commented, “We commissioned Quickfreeze to set up the trailer for chilled conditions which enabled us to serve the food and replenish the stocks quickly, allowing us to store all our products in the vast amount of space and all kitted out with convenient shelving. The event ran trouble free for the whole of the tournament from Friday to Saturday evening and made our life a lot easier. The CO2 branding on the trailer also caused a few heads to turn and brought attention to the visiting public and showed the importance of green refrigerant technology”. The Quickfreeze trailer is helping to avoid the logistical challenges faced when delivering refrigerated solutions in an articulated HGV lorry, which is not always convenient for many smaller drop-off locations.
The Panasonic CO2 units offer a practical and straightforward method of installation with complete design support available through the distributor network. The units are compact, lightweight and have very low noise levels. Based on Panasonic monitored data, 16% energy savings for chilled refrigeration and 25% energy savings for lower temperature freezer applications have been achieved in comparison to R404A.*” Simon Andrew further added “We are happy to be collaborating with Panasonic and assisting them in spreading the word about the benefits of CO2 and demonstrating its technology”.  

A welcome addition to the city of Varna, Bulgaria’s stand-out residential building, Varna Wave, has been awarded the prestigious BEST RESIDENTIAL PROJECT at the recent Panasonic PRO Awards 2018.The eye-catching façade, designed by creative architectural firm STARH, spans over 8 floors with 47 individual apartments. Situated in the heart of the port city, known as the ‘Sea Capital’ of Bulgaria, the exterior was designed to emulate waves rolling in and out of the sea. The effect is achieved through a mixture of glass and Corian, a solid surface material, wrapping around each balcony with sleek, oval-shaped corners to create an ultra-modern and sophisticated structure.Varna Wave aimed to create a high standard of living for its residents. To offer the ultimate comfort, this would include efficiently taking care of the heating and cooling requirements to a very high standard. The main objectives were to focus on something that could offer sustainability, innovation, and the bonus of adding value to the building. Having been invited to provide a solution at a very late stage in the development, Bulgarian installers Climamarket Efendulov Ltd faced the difficult challenge of providing HVAC and plumbing plans for the entire building whilst it was already under construction. This resulted in some very tight deadlines and tactical decision-making that led to choosing Panasonic for the heating and cooling solutions.Wanting the very best in performance, the installers proposed a complete re-design of the building’s structure to be able to include Panasonic’s highly efficient Aquarea range. Using the Panasonic Aquarea air-to-water technology, the units are an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for the apartment block by transferring heat instead of generating it. With the amended plans approved, Panasonic’s Aquarea T-CAP was installed to ensure extremely efficient heating and cooling for the residents. It is the ideal solution to endure the long winters in comfort as it can operate in conditions as low as -28°C and can produce water up to 60°C.Every apartment balcony was also installed with Aquarea’s High Performance Bi-Bloc H Generation units, which is specifically designed for low-energy buildings and achieves an impressive COP of 5. Thanks to the system’s high degree of technology and advanced control, it can maintain high capacity and efficiency even at -20°C degrees. The compact design has offered the ultimate comfort for residents whilst also producing a very low level of noise, essential for joint living spaces such as apartments.The installers and architects were also persuaded by Aquarea’s All in One H Generation indoor unit’s efficiency and how the heating, cooling, and domestic hot water have been combined into one compact unit. The range has been installed into every apartment and intelligently integrates the best HydroKit technology with a stainless-steel tank. The reduced installation space of the unit has been effectively utlised in each apartment kitchen in a discreet manner, hidden behind a cabinet door so it is out of sight. This unobtrusive installation has resulted in more living space for residents and fits into the aesthetics of the apartment, whilst still operating to the highest quality.“We knew Panasonic were good, but they have exceeded our expectations with this project” explains Milen Efendulov, CEO of Climamarket Efendulov LTD. “Due to our tight deadline, we had to be quick and efficient in our installation. Thanks to the easy installation of the Panasonic units, we were able to have everything completed within the timeframe. Not to mention the fantastic standard of heating and cooling they have added to the apartment block, offering high efficiency in the most stylish way to fit with the ultra-modern design and overall vision.”The installation was completed with the Aquarea Smart Cloud, connecting the entire Aquarea H Generation range together onto one system. The Smart Cloud is a powerful and intuitive service for remotely controlling the full range of heating and hot water functions, including monitoring energy consumption to help save costs. It also allows the installers to take care of their customer’s needs, saving time and money and shortening response time, increasing customer satisfaction.
List of products:·         WH-ADC0309H3E5 - Aquarea High Performance All in One H Generation Single Phase x 39·         WH-UD09HE5 - Aquarea High Performance Bi-Bloc H Generation Single Phase Outdoor Unit x 41·         WH-SDC09H3E5 - Aquarea High Performance Bi-Bloc H Generation Single Phase Indoor Unit x 2·         WH-MDC12H6E5 - Aquarea High Performance Mono-Bloc H Generation Single Phase Outdoor Unit x 1·         WH-SXC16F9E8 - Aquarea T-Cap Bi-Bloc H Generation Single Phase/Three Phase Unit x 1·         WH-UX16FE8 - Aquarea T-Cap Bi-Bloc H Generation Single Phase/Three Phase Unit x 1·         CZ-TAW1 - Aquarea Smart Cloud x 1·         PAW-AW-TSOD – Outdoor Ambient Sensor x 1

Panasonic’s advanced heating and cooling technology has been installed in the new IKEA “Click and Collect” store in Birmingham city centre. Distributor Logicool provided the Panasonic ECOi and ECO G systems to IKEA and worked with Wolverhampton-based TSG Electrical Services to ensure an efficient, cost effective installation that met the client’s objectives.  

“The IKEA project in Birmingham was a very exciting opportunity for us,” says Karl Richardson, MD at Logicool. “The store needed a heating and cooling solution delivered on a tight budget. Panasonic’s ECOi VRF and ECO G systems were essential to the success of the project due to their reliability and efficiency; reflecting the high standard of quality held by IKEA and their suppliers. It was particularly refreshing that - despite the tight project budget - IKEA worked with us and TSG Electrical Services to ensure that the quality of the solution remained high, rather than making cuts to the specification, which happens all too often on projects both large and small.”  

The “Click and Collect” store is a new concept that IKEA is rolling out across the country. The Birmingham Central store is the second example of the new format, located on the former site of Toys R Us in Dale End. The building was approaching the end of its practical life, and is expected to be demolished in the next four years to make way for improvements to Birmingham city centre. Such a short term lease was ideal for IKEA to trial a new store concept, however it meant that the budget was restricted. The additional challenge of working in a city centre environment was the limited electrical power supply, meaning the site did not have sufficient power to deliver heating and cooling - via an electric VRF system - to both the front-of-house retail area and the back-of-house office.  

Panasonic’s ECO G technology was crucial to the success of the project. Logicool supplied two of Panasonic’s gas fired ECO G heat pumps to provide heating and cooling to the front of house retail areas. With a COP of 1.25 and EER of 1.15, Panasonic’s ECO G heat pump delivers a greater efficiency than traditional gas-fired systems. The ECO G’s utilise the on-site gas supply which meant Logicool were able to deliver the ideal environment for shoppers with minimal additional demand to the electrical power supply.  

Logicool supplied 16 of Panasonic’s innovative U1 type 4-way 90x90 cassettes. These units boast an improved noise performance, providing a more comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for staff and shoppers. The shallow and unobtrusive profile of the cassettes ensures that they can be installed discreetly into the retail area and do not distract customers from the products on the shop floor. Logicool and TSG Electrical Services reduced the number of indoor cassettes but increased the size of the fan coils. This ensured that the system provided a consistent and comprehensive heating and cooling solution without exceeding IKEA’s budget.   
In the staff offices and the collection & returns areas, Logicool used Panasonic’s ECOi VRF system to supply heating and cooling, to create a comfortable, climate-controlled environment. The electric-powered VRF system is extremely efficient, achieving a SCOP 6.33 and SEER of 8.06. In the back of house areas TSG Electrical Services also installed the reliable U1 type 4-way 90x90 cassettes to provide heating and cooling. Panasonic’s new Heat Recovery Control Box was used to further increase the efficiency of the system, accompanied with the CZ-RTC4 controllers to give staff the ability to fine-tune their environment and ensure that energy is not wasted through unnecessary operation.  

Panasonic’s advanced heating and cooling technology was an essential component to the project. Panasonic allowed for an innovative, comfortable environment for shoppers and staff, while overcoming technical challenges and budget restrictions through close collaboration with Logicool and TSG Electrical Services. 

Located in Bournemouth, Canford House is a fully managed office space, leased by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The building owners, St Modwens PLC (recently sold to Biz Space), were in desperate need of an updated air conditioning and heating solution that was cost effective. The building utilised an old chilled water system, operating on R22 refrigerent that was at the end of its life, paired with an old boiler, both working 16 hour days, in addition to the inconvenience of one of the two compressors failing on a regular basis and proving very costly. The building was in urgent need of a long term solution.
To fullfill Canford House requirements, a Panasonic VRF 2-Pipe Mini ECOi 6 series in addition to a Panasonic Aquarea-Pro 50 kW was installed by Woodhouse Environmental Services to provide precise temperature control, low energy consumption and the inverter range for greater overall efficiency. The Panasonic Aquarea-Pro 50 kW was installed to work with extreme temperatures and provide a clean, safe, economical and environmentally friendly solution.
Trevor Woodhouse of Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd, commented “As the CCG had to stay operational during any work, it was important for the installation of a new system to have minimum impact on the day to day running of the property, to fit into a specific small space, be energy efficient, work with existing units and be installed quickly.“
The NHS CCG is one of four organisations occupying the building, which  at the time was owned by St Modwens PLC who contacted installer, Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd, who had previously installed 12 Panasonic VRF systems onsite, to other parts of the building, five years previously. St Modwens were more than happy with the energy effiency and cost savings that these now provided and wanted an integrated system to help reduce the cost of servicing and maintenance.
Given the many challenges outlined above, as well as 75% of the building having been previously redeveloped in 2011, this effectively leaving a 200 kW chiller servicing 40 kW of cooling. The original heating system was also from an existing inefficient boiler connected to perimeter radiators.
It was decided to avoid simultaneous use of the system for heating and coooling as previously this had caused large energy inefficiencies. The solution needed to allow heating and cooling as and when required, but not opearable at the same time.
The new solution included a Panasonic Aquarea-Pro 50kW and a Panasonic VRF 2-pipe ECOi system which provided the building with very high SEER and SCOP figures to minimise the energy bills for Canford House with the help of Panasonic distributor ESS.
The Panasonic VRF 2-Pipe Mini ECOi 6 series is an outdoor unit specifically designed for demanding applications. This unit also utilises R401A and DC inverter technology.

Skyliner Sports Centre, located in the Moreton Hall area of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, required an energy efficient and cost-effective air conditioning solution to be installed into their new building that houses their busy gym and fitness studios. There is a limited supply of power to the building which is why three Panasonic GHP (Gas Driven) VRF units were chosen as the ideal energy efficient heating & cooling solution for this project by installers Pitkin & Ruddock and distributor Oceanair. Damian Nunn, Director of Pitkin & Ruddock went on to explain, “The main challenge for this project was the restricted amount of power allocated to the building, in this case on 200A TPN, which is not enough to accommodate a conventional VRF air conditioning system, as well as to maintain the other essential building services such as IT and lighting etc. The Panasonic GHP VRF units overcome this problem as they can operate on a lot less power, as it is only the fans and control circuits which draw on the power supply.  The technology also ensures the system is also highly energy efficient.”  The gym area and each fitness studios on site has a separate Panasonic GHP VRF system installed complete with four to six Panasonic ceiling cassette units. Whilst the cassette units are in use, fresh air is brought into the areas and stale air is removed via Panasonic heat recovery ventilation units. Damian added, “The heat recovery ventilation units recover up to 77% of the heat in the outgoing air making for an ecological and energy efficient solution for this project.” The gas engine within the Panasonic GHP VRF units is used as a driving source of the compressor instead of the usual electric motor, this provides the advantage of waste heat being produced from the gas engine and being available to use elsewhere, thus freeing up the electricity supply for other uses. Furthermore, the system provides advanced all-round energy efficiency and is a very cost-effective solution for simultaneous heating and cooling. Tony Holland, Account Manager from Panasonic distributor Oceanair added, “The unique Panasonic GHP VRF units are a natural choice for commercial projects with a limited supply of electric power, in addition to being able to meet and deliver high demands quickly and efficiently. This product suited this project perfectly. Furthermore, this project also gave us the opportunity to continue our excellent business relationship with Pitkin & Ruddock, and as a Suffolk resident myself, it was a pleasure to work on a local project of this nature with such a respected local company.”   The Skyliner Sports Centre is located within the grounds of a busy school, with the gym and studios being in constant use. The gym has been designed with comfortable spacious areas to accommodate the high quality 45 stations of equipment and overlooks the swimming pool. The equipment includes cardiovascular, resistance, functional training equipment and free weights. Kate Crouch, Centre Manager of Skyliner Sports Centre added, “Our Studios and large gym with 45 stations at the Skyliner Sports Centre are incredibly busy with our members being very appreciative of the new air conditioning system to keep them cool whilst using the facilities. Members are consistently satisfied and enjoy the perks of a great air-con system. Communication with Pitkin & Ruddock has been really easy, in addition to them providing a great service throughout our first 12 months.”

One of the main challenges for data centres is coping with cooling and humidity control demands within the building because of the enormous heat gains generated by the large volume of computers and lighting systems – often in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   In the case of Concentrix Customer Engagement Centre in Belfast, there was also the added complication of the number of employees on site approaching close to 1500 people. Belfast-based Aircon Sales and Service, which designs, supplies, installs and maintains various air conditioning solutions, recently installed a combination of Panasonic GHP VRF 3-pipe, 2-pipe and Split Hi Wall type units to heat and cool the 130,000 sq ft, three storey property at the Concentrix Call Centre in Belfast.  The installation at Concentrix was a very complex and challenging project due to the building’s design and lack of available electrical supply to the site. In addition to the nature of Concentrix’s business, which requires a significant power load for the operations of the building including lighting, computers and servers, the property also needed to provide comfortable conditions for the 1500 employees on site. The team at Aircon’s contracts department, headed up by Manager, Stephen McGarry, worked closely with consultants Beattie Flannigan and mechanical contractors, Harvey Group, to deliver the best possible solution that site conditions would allow.  Ian McFerran, Aircon’s Managing Director explains, “Quality underpins our entire delivery model, with professionalism and attention to detail being the primary focus.  Coupled with competitive and cost-effective pricing, the overall package we deliver sets us apart from other market players.” Due to the design of the building which features low ceiling heights on each floor, the team devised a solution based on a larger quantity of indoor units operating at lower capacities. Not only that, the Panasonic DX gas-fired system provides close to 1.2MW of cooling, using between 20kW and 25kW of electrical input, thus efficiently providing optimum cooling for the building whilst only drawing a minimal load from the buildings electrical power supply.  The equipment specified included the following: ·         13 Panasonic GHP gas heat pump 3-pipe outdoor units ·         5 Panasonic GHP 2-pipe VRF outdoor units to service AHU DX Systems ·         155 Panasonic VRF cassette indoor units to serve all call centre and meeting room areas ·         19 Panasonic Split Hi Wall systems to serve various small UPS and comms rooms ·         Panasonic centralised and full Modbus BMS control ·       Panasonic Air Off Control employed in all call centre area’s to provide a very high sensible heat      ratio, 90%+ ·         All indoor units were sized to meet duties at medium to low fan speeds This project benefits from a sophisticated solution offering high performance, is cost-effective, energy efficient and 100% reliable.  The team involved worked collectively to supply, design and deliver the perfect solution which saw a seamless installation and subsequent commissioning.

A team from The Energy Centre North West has installed Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap heat pumps to provide energy efficient and cost-effective heating and hot water for The Kem Mill, Primrose Development of nine high quality homes in Whittle-Le-Woods near Chorley. The new Primrose Development at Kem Mill comprises nine luxury four to six-bedroom residential homes. The properties required a suitable solution to heat the homes as well as provide hot water. The specified requirements for the solution needed to be from a renewable energy source, yet also reliable, aesthetically pleasing, quiet, energy efficient and cost effective for its residents. The Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap air to water heat pumps was recommended as the best solution to meet all the above criteria.
Each home has been installed with underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators in the upper floors and all are powered by Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap renewable heat pumps.
Mike Critchley, resident of one of the four-bedroom homes on the development commented “Over the last 12 months we have seen a 35% decrease in our energy bills compared to our previous similar size four-bedroom home but with less bathrooms and a combi gas boiler. We were one of the first to move into the new homes at Kem Mill and have now been resident for 12 months. I was dubious at the beginning about the air to water heat pumps but have been very impressed. We have underfloor heating in all areas of the ground floor and radiators on the upper floor with four en-suite full size bathrooms plus a downstairs toilet – there is always hot water in each with no complaints when more than one bath or shower is in use at the same time.”
The Panasonic T-CAP air-to-water heat pumps are part of the Aquarea H Generation range and benefit from the latest Panasonic heat pump technology. The units are controlled via the new Panasonic H Generation controllers. During operation, the controller provides time-switch programs for comfortable all year-round heating. In addition, thanks to the display of the current COP, the residents can always see how effective the system is in real-time.
Mike further added “Having seen extreme temperatures in March 2018 of -6oC, the system coped very well. The house is set up into seven zones, each with its own digitally operated thermostat controller within the room where we have set an indoor temperature to be 21.5oC, this was maintained during the cold season.”
Ivor Farnworth, Managing Director of Primrose Developments further explains “This is not the first time we have installed the Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap heat pumps into one of our developments. We first came across the Panasonic air to water heat pumps when we were converting four high end barn conversations during 2017 and researching energy efficient renewable solutions. We looked into several systems but found the Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap heat pumps to be very quiet compared to its competitors, aesthetically pleasing and have been impressed with the performance of the product in addition to the level of service and maintenance provided from the Installers at The Energy Centre.”
Chris Ingram, Director of The Energy Centre North West comments on the main benefits of the Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap “the units are super quiet which was a high priority during this project and thus allows them to be closely positioned to the properties where sound levels as low as 50 dB(A) are retained. The sound reduction in the units has been achieved with sound-absorbing materials that are commonly used in vehicles and computer systems. Panasonic’s three-blade fans also contribute to the model being particularly quiet. Furthermore, the units have an energy COP rating of 5.03* and can operate in temperatures as low as -20oC.  Additionally, as a specialist trained installer for Panasonic, we can also provide customers with a seven-year warranty on the units”.
Mike Critchley added “the outside units are placed behind the garage, are unobtrusive and very quiet. We have been very impressed with the unprecedented attention to every detail of the Primrose development. The installers at The Energy Centre have been approachable and amenable during the installation process and for on-going maintenance of the system”.
  * result of EHPA testing with EN14511 conditions

The team at Panasonic have been working in collaboration with architects, engineers and local crafts people to create an unfiltered, unique and comfortable luxury living experience in bubble style Domes to bring a 180-degree transparent window to the world of nature. Michael Beare of Finn Lough Resort is the visionary behind this unique holiday experience.  He explains: “Our aim was to be able to offer holidaymakers a truly unique experience in this glorious setting, yet with minimal impact on these wonderful surroundings.  We aimed to minimise the footprint of the domes, offering off grid power and heating solutions, minimal construction requirements and a design that blends into the landscape.” Each Dome is kitted out with Panasonic Aquarea Fan Coils which are connected to air to water Panasonic Aquarea Monobloc heat pumps for quick reaction heating and cooling as well as domestic hot water.  Panasonic additionally supply DX ERV units to maintain a constant air flow rate. Furthermore, each Dome can be monitored via the Panasonic Aquarea Smart Cloud technology to maintain the optimal environment for each guest. Michael shared his original dream for the Domes: “I wanted to create a unique environmental experience where people can enjoy all the different elements of nature from a safe environment in a bubble of peace and tranquillity – I believe we have now achieved this.” The first Domes were created in 2015 but had several challenges such as misting up, being cold in winter and too hot in the summer months. Michael then started discussions with Panasonic to understand and solve these issues.  With continuous prototyping and testing, the team has since adapted and improved the Dome’s comfort and experience for guests.  Walter Stephens of Panasonic Ireland added “We are delighted to be part of this exciting and innovative project. The Panasonic Aquarea Mono-bloc air to water heat pump is an ideal, energy efficient solution, to heat or cool the Domes. The units have the added benefit of using the outside air and passing the air over refrigerant-filled coils (like a refrigerator). The then captured heat is automatically transferred to water, which is then ready for use in the heating or cooling system within the domes and for supplying hot water.  Furthermore, the units do not require access to mains gas.” The Panasonic Aquarea heat pump technology was chosen for this project as the units easily adapt to extreme low temperatures (-20oC) and high temperatures, whatever the climate.  The units are highly energy efficient (COP of 5.08), are compact, positioned externally to save on internal living space, quick and straightforward to install. The Domes are proving popular, with seven initially installed at the Finn Lough Resort in Northern Ireland which has recently increased to 14 Domes due to the high demand. Visitors’ feedback is highly positive, so much so that the resort now has an ever-growing waiting list. Each dome has a unique four poster bed, ensuite bathroom, nespresso coffee machine, fluffy robe and daily breakfast included and reside in the middle of a private forest. Visiting guest, Ainhoa Barcelona from Hello Magazine commented “Each dome has been fitted with underfloor heating and a boost button by the bed that can give you a blast of heat at intervals. This is glamping taken to the next level.” Another recent guest commented on trip advisor “I don't know where to start, Finn Lough was incredible! We stayed in one of the Bubble Domes and it was the most amazing experience. Before going I was slightly worried it would be cold, however, it looks like they have fully listened to feedback as it has heated floors, a heater and a heated mattress. Privacy never felt like an issue and we were blessed with a clear night with an incredible view of the stars.” Enthusiasm for the Dome experience has now reached a global level with orders for more Domes in remote locations coming from Australia, North America, Italy and France to name a few.

Energy conscious homeowners, Vincent and Jacqueline Haines wanted to create an eco-friendly home for their outstanding Georgian style, 570sqft self-build project in Cambridgeshire. Amongst several sustainable elements to the three-storey residential property, such as triple glazing throughout and 43 solar photovoltaic panels, this high-spec 6-bedroom home is heated via two Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap Air-to-Water Heat Pumps. The family was looking for a reliable and renewable heating source to connect to two floors of underfloor heating for the property, in addition to a cost-effective supply of hot water for the kitchen and bathrooms. The property is in a moderately remote location, and with potential piping issues at the site, the family’s heating specialist, Roland Gurner from Eco Installer investigated various renewable options and recommended two Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap Air to Water Heat Pumps for the property.  The heat pumps were supplied from authorised UK distributor for Panasonic, Oceanair. Homeowner, Vincent Haines comments “Panasonic is a well-known, reliable efficient brand and proved excellent value for money. As an IT Consultant working from home, we opted to have smart remote controllers throughout the property, thus allowing us to monitor usage in each room. Our installation was completed 2.5 years ago, and since its installation, we have found the system to be reliable and energy efficient with the added benefit of a constant supply of free hot water.”
It has always been a dream of trained architect, Jacqueline Jiang-Haines, to design and construct her own home. The original purchase of the site was some ten years prior to the build. The 2.4-acre plot of land has far-reaching views and offered plenty of scope for the couples’ ambitious self-build to take place. The site also had an existing property on the land where the couple lived for ten years and when the time was right, put fencing around their existing home, which left them with 2.1 acres with a driveway leading down to where the new dwelling would be, at the back of the plot. The couple were able to live in the original property during the 12-month construction phase, which meant they were able to keep a close eye on progress.
The couple went through several design styles for the house before settling on a neo-Georgian style design, this was partly due to a nearby property being of a similar design and with the couple preferring a more traditional brick and block construction, which suits the style. “We both like the solidity it offers, and we felt that ultimately it would give us more control over the layout we wanted to create.”
Roland Gurner of Eco Installer adds “It was beneficial to be involved early on in this project, allowing us to look at the optimum space available for the units and advise on the best renewable solution. Two Panasonic Aquarea T-Caps were specified, partly because of the size of the property, plus it also means that when demand in the summer is lower and only the hot water is required, only one of the units is needed – of course this is also beneficial for the long-term impact and longevity of the system.”
“The Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap Air to Water Heat Pumps are very quiet compared to its competitors, aesthetically pleasing and highly energy efficient (COP of 5,08)” explained Tony Holland from Oceanair. “The T-Cap stands for Total Capacity and ideal for maintaining the heating capacity even at very low temperatures. The T-Cap range is an ideal solution for this project as it can also be connected to a solar kit and smart controls in order to further increase efficiency and minimise the impact on the environment which is precisely what the Haines family were looking for.”
The Panasonic Aquarea range is renowned for delivering major energy savings for residential homes thanks to its incredible efficiency levels. The Aquarea system operates by transferring heat instead of generating it. The range uses a renewable, free energy source (the air) to heat or cool the home in addition to producing hot water. The T-Cap line-up can maintain the heat pump output capacity until -20oC outdoor temperature without the help of an electrical booster heater.
The range is designed and produced by Panasonic and among the technologies listed on the International Energy Agency (IEA) Blue Map, whose goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to half the levels emitted in 2005, by the year 2050.
The Haines family enjoyed their self-build journey are now looking forward to their next renewable and eco-friendly project.

PANASONIC GENERATES SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN RESTORED WATER TOWER  

An abandoned water tower on the outskirts of Harrogate, Yorkshire, has been converted into a stunning family home by Carol and Majid Nadry from Bradford. Sustainability and energy efficiency were at the heart of the project, so they chose an air source heat pump from Panasonic to provide a low-Carbon heating and hot water solution.  

The four-storey water tower, which was built in the 1940s to supply a nearby village, was in need of significant refurbishment, as it had lain derelict for several years. However, this offered the Nadrys a blank canvas on which they could design their home - and exactly the way they wanted it. Energy efficiency was one of the core principles of their restoration project, and this presented a number of challenges to Cumbria-based renewable heating firm Heacol, who were asked to design and install the heating and hot water system.  

System design has a significant impact on how efficiently it runs, as a heating system that is not designed and installed correctly will not deliver optimum performance. As a large four storey building, it was crucial that the property had a powerful water flow to provide an even capacity around the building, and that all this was achieved with energy efficient technology. As the water tower was so old and run down, the installation had more in common with a new build project than a retrofit. Heacol were therefore able to design the whole system themselves, rather than adapt it to existing infrastructure, which appealed to the Nadrys as it meant that they could ensure it was as efficient as possible.  

Heacol specified a Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP heat pump, which was integral to delivering the efficient solution and capacity they needed to heat a large home like the converted water tower. The T-CAP was the ideal solution as it is not just efficient and powerful, but also extremely reliable and provides advanced control options to make the system more efficient. The T-CAP also works well with underfloor heating, which was chosen as the primary method of delivering heating to the building, to increase the efficiency of the system.  

“We never have any problems with the Panasonic T-CAP” says Brendon Uys of Heacol. “It is one of the most reliable heating systems I’ve ever come across, in three years of installing it I haven’t had to do one repair job, I would go so far as to say it’s bulletproof. Another really important feature for me is how simple it is to install, it makes completing a project so much easier. It provides a really efficient solution as well, which is great for a family like the Nadrys who were keen to reduce their energy bills and be environmentally friendly.”  

Heacol installed two Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP heat pumps to provide the necessary capacity for the house. The T-CAP includes weather compensation controls as standard, so that when the outside temperature falls, the water temperature rises, meaning the system is always running at peak efficiency. Heacol also installed proportional thermostats so that when the outside temperature drops below 17°C the system will run 24 hours a day. This enables the system to run at a much lower flow temperature when providing heating and hot water, and therefore it consumes significantly less energy while still performing at peak efficiency. Heacol also installed a thermal store, which heats the water as it flows through a pipe rather than in a tank, which not only reduces the risk of legionella but also lowers the running costs of the system.  

Completely restored, the Pannal Water Tower is equipped with an efficient, fully-controllable heating and hot water system. With monitoring equipment recently installed, Carol and Majid Nadry will soon be able to see the significant savings on their energy bills generated the Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP.

PANASONIC DIALS UP THE ENERGY SAVINGS IN CAPITA CALL CENTRE  

When Capita, the business process management and outsourcing giant, decided to establish their new call centre in the Lingfield Point business park, it was important sustainability play a key role in the refurbishment. This included the heating and cooling system, for which M&E consultants Quinnross specified an energy efficient Panasonic system with advanced control technology.  

Lingfield Point was originally constructed in 1946 as a wool production facility and now serves as a centre of business and innovation in the North West, with over 30 companies and organisations based there. Capita opted to convert one of the original large warehouses to a modern, high-tech call centre accommodating 500 staff.  Quinnross had already installed a GHP system in another project at Lingfield Point with great success, winning a number of regional and national awards, so when it came to designing a heating and cooling system for the Capita call centre the choice was easy. Working with distributor ESS, Quinnross specified the Panasonic ECO G 3 way system, which would take advantage of the abundant gas supply on the site, and is renowned for its energy efficiency and ease of installation.    

“We completed a fantastic project with the Panasonic GHP system a few years ago and, with Capita’s focus on sustainability, we thought this was a great opportunity to use the technology again,” says Derek Quinlan of Quinnross. “Panasonic’s ECO G gas heat pump really ticks all the boxes for us, it’s easy to install, very powerful and is also really efficient.”  

Panasonic’s ECO G 3 way system uses gas, instead of electricity, to provide the power to draw in air and generate heat. This greatly decreased the load on the electricity supply at the Capita site, allowing it to be used for other essential systems that had to be installed to make the call centre a modern, technologically advanced facility. The ECO G 3 way can also be powered using LPG, meaning that if there were ever an interruption to the main gas supply, the units could still function. The demand for electricity for heating and cooling is reduced further by the ECO G 3 way’s use of a DC motor, which lowers the power consumption of the unit.

Capita is planning for 500 staff in their call centre so they required a system that could accommodate several different requirements at the same time, and also cope with a high level of demand for heating and cooling. Quinnross therefore specified 11 of the Panasonic ECO G 3 way units, which can provide heating and cooling simultaneously, to be installed to ensure the required system capacity and to connect to as many indoor units as possible. By installing over 150 indoor units in meeting rooms and open-plan areas Quinnross enabled accurate local heating and cooling, because groups of the units can be controlled individually, which creates a more comfortable environment for employees by adapting the system to their requirements.

Quinnross specified a comprehensive control system to increase the efficiency of the heating and cooling system. 11 wired timer remote controllers were installed to regulate operations of the ECO G 3 way units, and control air flow direction, temperature and fan speed. Panasonic’s intelligent touch screen controller, the CZ-256ESMC2, was also installed to interface with the site’s BMS. It combines the functionality to programme a schedule of operations, control factors such as fan speed, temperature and operation with the ability to control 256 units, which was absolutely vital in a project of this scale. The CZ-256ESMC2 also allows different levels of prohibition so employees can be given permission to change certain settings, such as temperature, but not others, like operation mode, preventing the system from being tampered with resulting in inefficient operation.  

With the Panasonic ECO G 3 Way system installed, Capita have ensured a low energy heating, cooling and solution that reduces demand on the electricity supply and provides a comfortable, well-controlled environment for their employees.

EUROPA PARK HOTELS BENEFIT FROM PERFECT TEMPERATURES BY PANASONIC

Germany’s Europa Park resort based in Rust, Freiburg, has recently undergone a major renovation within its ‘El Andaluz‘ and ‘Castillo Alcazar‘ hotels, where 300 rooms now benefit from Panasonic’s innovative VRF air conditioning systems.   

The Europa Park resort is one of the most prestigious leisure parks in the world, boasting five 4-star themed hotels and over one hundred attractions, drawing more than five million visitors through its doors each year. The family owned resort, voted best theme park worldwide for two consecutive years, prides itself in its commitment to consistent, high quality standards surrounding its attractions, food and beverage, shows, gardens and, its themed hotels.   

181 rooms of Europa Park’s ‘Spanish summer residence‘ themed hotel, "El Andaluz" required two phases of a complete renovation, and equipping the rooms with the latest air conditioning technology was high on the hotels brief. Similarly, 112 rooms of the ‘Castillo Alcazar‘ hotel, themed around a Spanish knight's castle also required a smart air conditioning system that would lower the overall bills of the hotel whilst ensuring guests comfort at all times.   

Freiburg based Installer, BS-Air GmbH, was tasked with providing a reliable and sustainable heating and air conditioning system. The technologies needed to be of high quality, quiet when in use and as inconspicuous as possible. This was a major challenge as no two rooms across either of the hotels were the same. The hotels high volume of occupants meant it was imperative for a quick and easy installation to minimise the disruption and down time of the building whilst the rooms under-went its HVAC revamp.    

The installation was implemented in two phases. Initial planning and design began in 2012, where detailed CAD drawings and air conditioning load calculations according to VDI2078 were first established. Between 2012 and 2013, 3,500 meter copper cables were laid within Hotel El Andaluz, whilst and 82 rooms were appointed with a new Panasonic air conditioning system within just eight weeks. The second phase commenced between 2013 and 2014 where 211 rooms between ‘Castillo Alcazar‘ hotel and "El Andaluz" hotel were commissioned within just nine weeks.   

"The biggest challenge in the two hotels at Europa-Park was probably the strict time limits we were restricted to, “explains Peter Scheidthauer, Managing Director of BS-Klima GmbH. “We are proud that we were able to implement all systems throughout both hotels in such a timely manner, all thanks to our dedicated employees. We would also like to thank the management of Europa-Park for putting this trust into us to create a fully integrated and reliable heating and cooling system for two of its 4-star hotels".   

Panasonic’s ECOi range of VRF systems were selected thanks to its impressive performance, new DC inverter compressor, new DC fan motors, a newly designed heat exchanger and its low power consumption which is achieved through the use of the high-performance refrigerant, R410A.   

A total of 14 outdoor units were installed between both hotels, ranging in output sizes from 22.40 kW to 45 kW*. ‘El Andaluz‘ homes nine of Panasonic’s ECOi VRF systems whilst the ‘Castillo Alcazar‘ boasts five units, producing a total refrigerating capacity of 500.80 kW.  

Once the outdoor systems had been fully installed, BS-Air moved into the indoor units of the hotels. In order to camouflage the systems against the low ceiling and interior design of each room, the installer decided Panasonic‘s MM1 series would be the ideal solution for indoor heating and cooling, thanks to its shallow channel devices. With a height of just 200mm, Panasonic’s MM1 Superflat channel devices offer the ultimate flexibility and are suitable for installation narrow, false ceilings. With its high energy efficiency and extremely low noise levels, this was the perfect solution for Europa Park’s indoor heating and cooling requirements.   

For accurate and flexible control of Panasonic VRF systems, an interface designed and programmed specially by wholesaler Alfred Kaut GmbH + Co. integrates the VRF system into the hotels in-house building management system. This enables quick and easy central control and the detection of faults. Three heating and cooling settings are controlled via the building management system, which is set depending on whether the room is occupied, how many people are straying in the room, and also allows for a basic temperature set point. Each individual hotel room was also equipped with Panasonics CZ-RE2C2 Hotel Remote Controller for guests to adjust the temperatures at the touch of a button. This remote makes increasing or decreasing the temperature, fan speed or shutting off the system completely a hassle-free process.   

"We could not close our hotels for more than a few weeks for renovation, therefore it was important that we put our trust into companies that we could rely on and that we could trust to not neglect the quality of equipment that was specified, and the implementation of these systems. BS-Air GmbH provided us with the best advice in recommending Panasonic air conditioning systems, and our high quality standard has remained firmly intact," says Roland Mack, owner of Europa Park.   

The project has been such a success that it was awarded a Panasonic PRO Award for Best Hotel Installation.     

*2x U-8ME1E81   
 6x U-12ME1E81   
 3x U-14ME1E81   
 3x U-16ME1E81

ECO INSTALLER PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION WITH PANASONIC  

As public awareness and new technology continues to progress, homeowners are constantly striving for a way to lower their bills and establish a ‘greener’ way of living. For one homeowner, Panasonic’s Aquarea heating and cooling system was the perfect match when looking for an alternative, environmental solution to the existing oil fired burner.  

The homeowner’s four bedroom family home in Comberton, Cambridge was previously heated by an old oil fired burner. Although at the time of renovation oil prices were low, the homeowner also understood these prices could rise. The volatility in the price of oil, alongside the high maintenance cost of the tank as well as being reliant on the delivery of the oil led to the search for a new heating and hot water system.  

Local energy efficiency specialist and installer, Eco Installer, was tasked with proposing a sustainable alternative. Not only did the homeowner want to run an environmentally friendly property, but she also wanted to reduce her energy bills.   After considering the available options, it was agreed that a modern air source heat pump was the only reliable solution. With a guaranteed saving against oil heating, a heat pump also allowed the homeowner to cut her carbon emissions down significantly.  

Panasonic’s 12kW split system T-Cap air source heat pump was specified for the project. Replacing the current oil burner, the Panasonic system was teamed with both a Panasonic Aquarea indoor cylinder unit and DHW buffer tank to tend for the families heating and hot water needs. Panasonic’s DHW hot water tanks offer impressive efficiency, with a large surface exchange area and high insulation levels to minimise energy losses.  

“Once we had established our client’s desire for a super-efficient, environmentally friendly heating and hot water system with low running costs and minimum maintenance, Panasonic was our first choice,” explains Shane Freeland, Director at Eco Installer. “Panasonic’s impressive Aquarea T-Cap range stood out as the perfect solution. Its ability to maintain the same nominal capacity even at -15C without the help of an electrical booster heater, alongside its reputation for the best efficiency compared to other heating systems meant we could guarantee our client a reliable and sustainable source.”  

Panasonic Aquarea heat pumps have a maximum COP of 5.08 at + 7C, making them more efficient than fossil fuel, oil fired burners, gas boilers and electrical heaters.  Alongside being very quiet when in use, the systems also have a night mode program for even lower noise. This is controlled via its accompanying remote control which also features an auto mode, holiday mode and a special concrete speed drying mode to ease installation.  

For the ultimate sustainable solution Eco Installer connected the Aquarea heat pump to a solar kit and iBoost system to increase the overall system efficiency and minimize the impact on the environment as requested by the homeowner.  

Within one week, Eco Installer had replaced a dated and costly heating and hot water system with Panasonic’s efficient heat pump, buffer tank and indoor cylinder, replaced all radiators and installed solar technology.  

IT'S EASY BEING GREEN: PANASONIC PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE HVAC SOLUTION TO BRIGHTON OFFICE BUILDING

Panasonic has supplied an efficient and easy-to-install heating and cooling system to a refurbished office building in the centre of Brighton. Hastings-based installer, Coolerway specified Panasonic’s innovative 3-way Multi Heat Recovery Control Boxes and VRF ECOi system to provide a solution that not only offers simultaneous heating and cooling, but is also easy for staff to control.   

The new tenants of the ground floor of Lees House, leading digital marketing agency Net Natives, carried out a significant refurbishment to their two office spaces, creating a trendy, industrial-chic style. The architect, Jeremy Diaper of Chalk Architecture, was keen to leave the original terracotta ceiling tiles exposed, which meant that the heating and cooling system wouldn’t be hidden above a false ceiling. This stripped-back style helped to cultivate the industrial aesthetic, so that the piping and units of the heating and cooling system became architectural features, rather than simply functional pieces of technology.     

With Panasonic launching its new 3-way multi HR control boxes towards the end of 2015, Coolerway saw the benefits of the new product, and quickly identified that this project would profit from having these systems installed. Supplied via Panasonic distributor, TF Solutions, Coolerway installed two HR control boxes, one in each part of the office, and linked the system to 8 Panasonic 4-way cassette units.   

For the installer, this new system cut down the project time significantly, as the new 3-way Multi HR Control Box removes the need for installing individual 3-way PCB and solenoid valve kits for each indoor unit. It also simplifies and reduces costs and timing in installation and designing processes. For the end user, the benefit is that each cassette can be controlled individually, allowing one to be in cooling mode while the other is in heating mode.   

“Using Panasonic’s Multi HR Box, we were able to drastically cut down the installation time on site, as we just put the box up and attached each unit, it was really that simple,” said Greg Smith of Coolerway. “It also makes piping design and installation much easier, because its features connection tubes for the main refrigerant circuit lines on both sides of the unit, which is another fantastic innovation. We are looking forward to using it on many more projects.”   

Coolerway installed 3 Panasonic VRF ECOi outdoor units to provide simultaneous heating and cooling to the refurbished ground floor office. Due to limited roof space, the installer required a space-saving solution. The Panasonic units are among the most compact on the market and take up very little installation space, so were the ideal choice for this project.     

To enable local control of each cassette, Coolerway linked a Panasonic CZ-RTC4 controller to each unit. This offered employees a wide range of options for controlling their environment, including changing the temperature, the fan speed and air flow direction, as well as programming a weekly function. The CZ-RTC4 is very straightforward to use, allowing employees with no experience of heating and cooling solutions to easily adjust the temperature to suit their needs, creating a comfortable environment for all staff members.   

Panasonic’s efficient and flexible heating and cooling solution has proved a huge success in the refurbished Brighton office, providing a comfortable working environment for staff, and contributing to the stripped-back, industrial aesthetic of the trendy office. Its market-leading technology, including the 3-way heat recovery control boxes, ensured that project was completed quickly and simply by Coolerway.   

Panasonic Provides Air-Conditioning Solution for Historic CHQ Vaults  

When looking for the ideal air conditioning system for an eco-friendly office refit at the listed CHQ Vaults in Dublin, the developers selected a Panasonic VRF system.  The unusual architecture and historical importance of the vaults presented some interesting challenges for this installation, which were overcome thanks to the flexibility of Panasonic’s system.  

The CHQ Vaults, situated in Dublin’s historical docklands, were originally used to store tobacco and whiskey in the 1800’s. Many years later, during the 2000’s, the building was refitted to accommodate retail units, when the space became a shopping haven. Now, in its most recent transformation, the vaults have regenerated into a buzzing commercial hub of offices, restaurants and bars.  

The client, Dogpatch Labs, wanted to create an innovative, tech co-working space utilising a 13,500 sq ft area within the vaults. The interior design needed to incorporate the original features within the space for an eclectic and unique working environment. Dogpatch worked with CEL Consultants to bring the vision to life. When it came to heating and cooling, they called in specialist air conditioning and ventilation experts Crystal Air Ltd to install a system that would both work with the structure of the building and effectively ventilate this old, underground space.  

“Panasonic provided the best solution for us to overcome the several unique challenges that the installation at Dogpatch Labs presented,” said Don Hoban, Business Development Manager, Crystal Air Ltd. “The flexibility of their VRF ECOi MF2 series and floor-standing units allowed us to overcome every roadblock within one system. The installation took six weeks and the finished result not only looks great but will also provide an economical and sustainable solution for the client.”  

The vaulted brickwork structure of the building combined with its listed status meant that Crystal Air already had several challenges to overcome. Firstly, the air conditioning system had to be easily removable in case future tenants wanted to fit an alternative solution. Secondly, none of the installation work could damage the bricks and mortar of the original vaults, and nothing could be attached to the historical vaulted ceiling. The system also needed to provide consistent cool, clean air throughout a large office space of over 150 desks, to counteract the underground atmosphere for a comfortable environment.  

The Panasonic 3-Pipe ECOi MF2 Series overcame each of these challenges, whilst providing an energy efficient and economical solution. The sophisticated design of the floor-standing units meant that they could be easily removed and did not need to be attached to the fabric of the building, leaving the vaulted ceiling free from any fittings. To save energy, the system, which can provide simultaneous heating and cooling, can also extract warm air and redistribute it to cooler areas of the working space.  

Ease of control is crucial to a heating and cooling system, particularly where staff may not have the expertise required to operate a complex control system. Crystal Air installed 12 Panasonic CZ-RTC2* controllers, to enable sophisticated yet simple local control of each floor-standing unit. The CZ-RTC2* allows employees to change the temperature, fan speed and air flow, as well as the operation mode. Local control is essential to creating a comfortable space for staff, as it means that everyone’s preferences can be catered for.  

The Panasonic system, installed by Crystal Air, more than met every expectation of CHQ Vaults. It not only provided an efficient and effective heating and cooling solution, but also preserved the beautiful interior of the historic building.  

*Panasonic has recently launched its latest controller, the CZ-RTC4, which has a brand new interface and a wide range of features, making it easier than ever to create the perfect atmosphere.

When looking for a suitable air conditioning system for the sustainable and low carbon regeneration of Soapworks in Manchester, the developer selected a Panasonic VRF system.  The site, owned by global asset management company The Carlyle Group and joint venture partners Nikal and Abstract Securities Ltd, is of significant historical importance, so any installation had to be sensitively and sympathetically handled.   

Soapworks, originally home to Colgate-Palmolive in the 1800’s, is situated in Salford Quays, Manchester. This landmark development to turn the former factory into a modern office space spanning a massive 400,000 sq ft has been divided into three-phases due to its vast scale; phases one and two totalling around 230,000 sq ft, and up to 160,000 sq ft in phase three which is still to be developed. High profile organisations already confirmed to occupy the building include communication giants TalkTalk, MWH Global and The Home Office.  

When the developer put the heating and cooling contract out to tender almost three years ago, they had very clear objectives of what the system would need to achieve. Due to the structure and historic features within the building, including a vaulted ceiling, the developer didn’t want to install conventional building services hidden above a false ceiling; therefore they needed a system that could be seamlessly installed under the floor. The system needed to be energy efficient to meet modern office standards but also to support Soapworks’ sustainability goals, which include scoring a ‘B’ for its Environmental Performance Certificate. The Intelligent Comfort Group (ICG) won the contract after a competitive selection process, thanks in part to Panasonic’s unique and flexible offering.  

The Panasonic 3-Pipe ECOi MF2 Series provided the ideal solution for the Soapworks installation, thanks to its adaptable design, energy saving attributes and simultaneous heating and cooling capabilities. “Due to the scope and prestige of this project, all of the fittings needed to be reliable, sustainable and of the highest quality. ICG presented the ideal air-conditioning solution that met all of our objectives, and we are very pleased with the results. With a huge space of over 230, 000 sq ft to manage, the Panasonic system provides consistent and comfortable temperature control of the entire building.” Says Jennifer Bamber, Manager of Soapworks.  

Design flexibility coupled with sustainable heating and cooling
Soapworks required a system that could operate impeccably underfloor to suit the interior design of the building. With adequate underfloor space available, MF2 variable static pressure units, which would usually be fitted into the ceiling, were instead installed underfloor to meet the design criteria. Bespoke grills, which have been evenly distributed throughout the floor space, allow the warm air to be dispersed around the room.  

Another key requirement was energy efficiency. The Panasonic system was selected for this project because it could guarantee consistent leaving-air control of 16 degrees, 4 or more degrees higher than other manufacturers. This is the ideal temperature for warm air to rise and effectively distribute for a comfortable environment, without the need for additional energy being used.  

In addition, EVR units offer variable heating and cooling at the same time, which further saves energy as warm air can be extracted and distributed to other areas of the building. This ecological transfer of heat supports the project’s sustainability objectives and modern office standards for energy efficiency.  

Simon Kirk from ICG explains; “The 3-Pipe ECOi MF2 gave us the armour we needed to win this contract. Leaving air temperature was an important factor for the client to ensure they were being as energy efficient as possible. The 16 degrees offered by the Panasonic system is unique to the brand, and offers the best available option for a project such as this.”

PANASONIC TAKES HEAT OUT OF THE KITCHEN AT BURGER AND LOBSTER  

Panasonic’s air-to-water Aquarea system has been installed in the latest glamorous Burger & Lobster restaurant in Bath. The Octagon Chapel, a large listed building in the city centre, was converted to accommodate the restaurant, and Panasonic’s Aquarea system provided an extensive, energy efficient and unobtrusive heating and cooling solution.

Burger and Lobster has strict interior design guidelines to create an atmosphere that is relaxed yet luxurious, a comfortable environment for staff and diners. These guidelines do not allow systems such as the heating and cooling system to be obviously on show. With the added challenge of working in a listed building, Panasonic worked with distributor Oceanair and design and install specialists FWP to deliver an HVAC system that was not only powerful and efficient, but was also easy to install and could be concealed easily.  

The Octagon Chapel is a large, open space that has a high-ceilinged central area, which has been converted into the bar of the restaurant. It required a powerful heating and cooling solution to create a comfortable environment for staff and diners. Oceanair supplied the Panasonic Aquarea Monobloc air-to-water system, which offers high levels of efficiency and requires very little installation space, making it much easier to install than equivalent systems. The Aquarea heat pump was also chosen for its flexibility, as it can work well with a number of heating systems including floor standing units, low temperature radiators and even fan coil heaters.  

FWP used a range of units from Panasonic to subtly deliver heating and cooling into the restaurant. Floor standing chassis units were concealed behind partitions to avoid being seen, and ducted units and ceiling cassettes were discreetly installed above ceiling voids, to minimise the visual impact. Every component of the system was optimised to provide maximum efficiency and ensure that it did not impact on the interior design. This included the piping, which had to be designed and laid out very carefully so that it did not negatively affect the aesthetic.  

FWP were also able to use heat generated in the kitchen from cooking, to dramatically increase the efficiency of the system and generate huge energy savings for Burger and Lobster. The hot air captured by the kitchen extractor fan was used to pre-heat the water before it entered the Panasonic Aquarea air-to-water system, meaning the heat pump did not have to use as much energy to heat the water. The efficiency of the heat pump was further increased because of its positioning near the ice machine, as in winter it is able to use the warm air generated by the ice machine to heat water and provide heating in the restaurant.  

Control of the heating system is crucial in a restaurant environment, to ensure diners and staff are comfortable and neither too hot nor too cold. FWP specified Panasonic’s CZ-RTC2* controller, which enables sophisticated yet simple local control, so that restaurant staff without much expertise in heating and cooling systems can use it easily. The CZ-RTC2* allows employees to change the temperature, fan speed and air flow, as well as the operation mode. Straightforward control is essential to creating a comfortable environment in the restaurant, and ensuring that diners enjoy their experience.  

*Panasonic has recently launched its latest controller, the CZ-RTC4, which has a brand new interface and a wide range of features, making it easier than ever to create the perfect atmosphere.

Panasonic’s market-leading Aquarea heat pumps have been installed in a large property in St. Saviour, Jersey, to provide heating and hot water to the family house and home-based business.  Switching from an old and expensive heating system, the owners are now benefitting from substantial cost savings.  

In 2014, Jersey-based installer, Plumbing & Heating Services (PHS) Limited, was tasked with removing an existing heating system, and specifying and installing a new energy efficient solution for a large property in St. Saviour, Jersey.  With five bedrooms, three reception rooms, three bathrooms and adjoining chalet space, the property, which is used as both a family home and the premises for the homeowner’s business, required a system which could cope with the high heating demands.  

The original system was a dated oil fired boiler. Not only was the system inefficient, noisy and took up a lot of space, it was also causing condensation and dampness, due to the flue passing through the inside of the property. The brief from the client was for a quiet and compact system which would heat the entire home and outhouses efficiently, whilst also providing cost and energy savings.  

Due to the sheer size of the property, PHS required a highly efficient and reliable solution, which would be capable of working to the properties substantial requirements. Additionally, to ensure minimum disruption to family and office life, PHS Ltd sought a solution which would utilise the existing radiator and hot water cylinders already in place. As a result, the heating installer specified two Panasonic 12kW Aquarea Air Source Heat Pumps.  

PHS removed the oil fired boiler and a large 600 gallon oil tank, located in the outhouse, freeing up valuable storage space and negating the risk of oil pollution from the property. The two Aquarea heat pumps were then installed in a convenient location adjacent to the garage.  

“Our client is delighted with how quiet and efficient the Panasonic heat pumps have proved to be. Within the first year, the homeowner has made a 100%* saving on oil bills, and a noticeable reduction in running costs,” says Allan Lawson, General Manager at PHS. “We have worked with Panasonic many times in the past and have always found fitting the Aquarea range of heat pumps to be a fast and efficient process. Following the install, the results and payback our client is receiving makes Panasonic the ideal choice for both the installer and the homeowner every time.”  

Panasonic 12kW Air Source Heat Pumps form part of its popular Aquarea range. Boasting an impressive COP of 5.08, the Aquarea range of heat pumps are one of the most compact, versatile, silent, and cost-effective units available in the UK. The range features heat pumps from 3 to 16kW which have proven to make savings of up to 80% on heating expenses. Not only is Panasonic’s Aquarea range of heat pumps completely renewable and a cost-effective energy solution, but it also complies with current government incentives in the UK and Channel Islands, such as the Green Deal.

*100% savings were made in fuel and oil costs only. 

The attraction of a self-build project is that the owner can put more consideration into the products they specify, and explore how these solutions can benefit them in the future. It comes as no surprise that renewable technology is a high priority for self-build projects, and heating installers are seeing the attention turn from traditional heating systems, to solutions such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.  

Renewable technology has been a buzz word with end users for a number of years now. Thanks to the vast amount of information available online, and the various Government schemes available, consumers are becoming more knowledgeable on what renewable technology is.  This is an interesting development for installers, as it means that they are receiving more descriptive client briefs.  

For one forward-thinking family in Waterbeach, near Cambridge, building a modern family home from scratch enabled the design and specification of an all-encompassing heating and hot water system. Having investigated what the Renewable Heat Incentive entailed, the family opted to have an air source heat pump installed, and enlisted the help of MCS Accredited Installer, Eco Installer, who suggested a Panasonic Aquarea system.   

Eco Installer worked closely with local Architect, Freeman Brear, building contractor, Salmon Brothers, and the homeowner, to build and establish the ultimate eco-house.  The main necessities outlined by the client for a renewable heating solution were reliability, automation and ease of use.  

Renowned for its compact build, easy integration with other renewable technologies and consistent energy saving capabilities, Eco Installer chose Panasonic as the main heating and hot water provider for this new build property. Panasonic’s Aquarea T-Cap system is known for its constant capacity output, ensuring working noise levels are at a minimum. This was crucial to the homeowner, whose development was taking place in a built-up area where loud noises and disturbances would not have been greatly received.  

A 9kW Panasonic T-Cap Air Source Heat Pump was placed against the side of the house in the garden, along with a High Gain Cylinder and Buffer Tank hidden at the back of the garage. Once the Air Source Heat Pump was firmly in place, Eco Installer was able to integrate the system to enhance the capabilities of the properties newly installed under-floor heating, radiators, towel rails and hot water. This eco-conscious family also opted for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels on the roof of the property, providing electricity with Solar iBoost and feeding excess heat energy from the PV array into the water tank for free.  

The project completed in January 2015, a mere five months after it began. The family has now moved into the property and is now benefitting from constant heating and hot water. As the Aquarea heat pump is MCS accredited, the homeowner is also reaping the benefits from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), and every kWh of renewable energy produced.    

“For us, Panasonic’s Air Source Heat Pumps have always proved extremely reliable with little to no maintenance required once they have been installed,” explains Roland Gurner, Managing Director at Eco Installer. “The install itself is made quick and easy with its compact frame. This is a benefit to both us and the homeowner as it saves us both time and money. For a project which includes a number of renewable technologies, it is important to have a heat pump that works efficiently with other solutions. The Aquarea unit does just that. The end result is a fully functioning and intelligent heating and hot water solution.” 

A breath of fresh air for an old building - That was the brief for the conversion of a downtown office and commercial building in the centre of German city of Bochum into a university building complete with lecture halls and conference centre, the "blue square”.

The most important parameters for the project were:
·         Enough fresh air for 100 people on each floor
·         Use of the existing district heating system due to current contractual obligations
·         Air conditioning for secondary rooms
·         Limited space due to the inner-city location
·         Compliance with the Energy Saving Ordinance currently in force
·         Air temperature control, i.e. cooling and heating
·         Building data: Use of the first to fifth floors, each measuring 240 m², including lecture halls each measuring 130 m².

The requirements in the guidelines for places of public assembly meant each floor of the building would require approx. 3,000 m³/hr of fresh air. Early on in the planning phase, the decision was taken to use a central ventilation unit with a total of 15,000 m³/hr of fresh air and an integrated heat recovery element. The heat recovery rate is 75 % (depending on the operating condition). The air is distributed to each floor via an outdoor duct.

The integrated underfloor heating system covers the base load for heating, meaning the district heating is suitable for use here.

The only issue left to resolve was that of the air conditioning. This had to be done as much as possible on an individual floor basis depending on the layout of each lecture hall, as it was not always the same on every floor.

A VRF system (variable refrigerant flow) from Panasonic's ECOi series, which allows for individual temperature control for each cooling point, was therefore the obvious solution. Due to the wide-branching duct system however, it was not possible to use standard Panasonic components, as these do not have enough static pressure.

The ingenious approach of Bochum-based Climatic was to combine standard ventilation equipment from GEA with DX kits from Panasonic's VRF range. Each duct unit can heat or cool the air as appropriate, so temperatures do not fall below 14 °C in cooling mode or exceed 28 °C when heating. In addition, the air speeds had to be no greater than 1.5 m/s, to ensure comfort.

The cooling requirement for each lecture hall was estimated at 16kW and for the secondary rooms at 18 kW. The total cooling power required was calculated at 90 kW.

In order to minimise both the quantity of coolant in the entire system and the length of piping, two separate coolant circuits were selected, each with 14 hp / 45kW of cooling power.

The positioning of the two external components was also a problem, due to both the inner-city location and the building's listed status. The central air conditioning unit's position already took up the available roof space, both physically and with regards to the forces exerted on the building.

The solution was to set aside a room on the fourth floor as a plant room, which offered space for the control cabinet and the two external components. The air for both external components is drawn in via grills that were installed in the listed facade in place of windows. The air is then blown out again via two exhaust spouts over the roof of the plant room.
This solution also leads to reduced noise emissions.

For control, the team selected the central operating station from Panasonic's ECOi VRF range. This fulfilled the following requirements:
·         Free timer programming depending on the layout of the individual lecture halls
·         The ability to calculate energy costs individually in the event the building is rented to separate tenants
·         Web-based remote monitoring for service and elimination of faults, which ideally can be reset as they accumulate; otherwise, they can be analysed beforehand, allowing for better service planning.

The building started hosting lectures, ranging from business and law studies to cultural events, a year ago. Thanks to the outstanding energy efficiency ratio of 3.36 and the coefficient of performance of 3.85, the VRF system ensures energy efficient operation for both cooling and heating.

Many homeowners are looking at ways to utilise renewable energy to power and heat their homes, be it a heat pump or solar panels.  Panasonic has recently been involved in a unique residential property where both solutions have been installed and are working together to provide maximum energy savings.  

Originally a four-bedroom residential property situated in a village in Warwickshire, the homeowners invested the help of Nexus Building Solutions for a complete refurbishment and extra two-bedroom extension. The family were looking for a heating solution that would not only fit in well with the existing oil burner and radiators, but also provide reliable and superb-quality performance.  

Specifying 4kW Panasonic 250W HIC panels to accompany Panasonic’s T-CAP Monobloc Aquarea heat pump, PRO Partner Premium Installers of the month, Nexus Building Solutions has helped the property to benefit from extremely energy-efficient and cost-effective underfloor heating, which runs through six different zones within the house. Supplying heat to an extension for an elderly relative, the bedroom, living room and downstairs bathroom, as well as a two-storey bedroom and living room for the rest of the family, now all benefit from Panasonic’s renewable technology.  

There were two key motivators which lead them to decide on a new Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pump. Firstly the cost benefits; having a new large six-bedroom room property meant that their heating costs were significant and they were keen to find a solution that kept them warm while reducing their energy bills. Secondly the heat pump’s compatibility with solar thermal technology meant that the family could qualify for Government rewards from the FiT scheme and any surplus would go straight back into the pump. The family are now saving money every month compared to their previous fuel bills.    

“Since fuel prices continue to rise, we have seen a change in our customer’s heating needs, requirements and priorities,” says Avnash Jhita, Operations Manager at Nexus Building Solutions. “Faced with an economic climate that stretches outgoings, homeowners want energy-efficient heating and hot water on demand. Offering a heating solution that is affordable, reliable and offers an attractive return on investment, is vital for stimulating business.”  

Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pump does just this. With an impressive COP of 4.75 and option to add on a Panasonic PV panel, consumers are provided with a completely renewable and cost-effective energy solution, which sits in perfectly with current government incentives.   “We are delighted with the results from installing Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pump and PV solar panels,” says the homeowner. “Not only is the house warm and cosy, but the extra energy generated from the solar panels is transferred straight back into the pump. We’re so impressed that we’re currently in discussions with Nexus Building Solutions to install another Aquarea heat pump that will replace our oil system in the main house when a retrofit is required.”  

“Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pumps are very straight forward to use and easily controlled, just like a normal boiler - you flip down the lid, you select what sort of temperatures you want in the house for your hot water and what times you want it. It’s easy.”  

An extremely compact and versatile heating system – the Aquarea heat pump will be able to fulfil heating demands even in temperatures as low as -20°C. Independent tests have also shown that Panasonic’s air-to-water heat pump is capable of saving up to 78% on heating expenses, and far more efficient than fuel-fired boilers, gas boilers and electric heaters.  

Panasonic’s Aquarea is the most comprehensive, versatile and cost-effective range of air-to-water heat pumps on the market. It features heat pumps from 7 to 16 kW, single and three-phase alongside stand-alone and split-units. 

Rising energy prices coupled with the desire to be more environmentally friendly, lead an Essex family to make the switch to a more sustainable heating solution - Panasonic’s Aquarea air source heat pump.  

The Peters family were keen to make the change from their large and out-dated oil boiler in their Victorian home, The Old Rectory, to a more compact, energy efficient and economical system.  

There were two key motivators which lead them to choose the new Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pump. Firstly the cost benefits - having a large twenty room property meant that their heating costs were significant and they were keen to find a solution that kept them warm, whilst reducing their energy bills. The family are now saving approximately £200 per month compared to their past oil fuel bills - a considerable saving.  

The other significant reason for the install was the family’s wish to reduce their carbon foot-print and choose a system that was environmentally friendly. This follows a growing trend and greater demand for more sustainable energy and heating solutions.  

This particular installation was first approached by conducting an energy efficiency study – vital for a period property with over twenty rooms. Due to the house size the installers decided to fit two Aquarea units, in order to deliver the heat the house needs. Fortunately no changes were needed to the house itself, even the existing radiators were able to be retained. The house also had adequate existing roof insulation.    

“We are delighted with the results from installing the Panasonic Aquarea Heat Pump and the house always seems warm and cosy, despite such a cold winter” said the homeowner. “We are finding that heat pumps are a reliable system for our home, they don’t need any more maintenance than a gas or oil boiler and they deliver the hot water and heating that we need in our house, whilst saving money compared to our previous heating system.”  

“…We also like the fact that the Aquarea heat pumps are very straight forward to use and easily controlled, just like a normal boiler - you flip down the lid, you select what sort of temperatures you want in the house for your hot water and what times you want it. It’s easy.”  

Jonathan Evans of IME Systems Ltd, the installation company for this project commented: “We get asked sometimes what the benefits of the Aquarea heat pump systems are, so we tell our customers that Panasonic consistently produces reliable and good quality pieces of kit, and from our point of view as installers, they’re straight forward to install. Like any good quality air source heat pump they’re quiet and not intrusive, they don’t keep you awake at night with spinning motors and they don’t irritate your neighbours.”  

An extremely compact and versatile heating system – the Aquarea heat pump will be able to fulfil heating demands even in temperatures as low as -20°C. Independent tests have also shown that Panasonic’s air-to-water heat pump is capable of saving up to 78% on heating expenses, being far more efficient than fuel-fired boilers, gas boilers and electric heaters.  

Panasonic’s Aquarea is the most comprehensive, versatile and cost-effective range of air-to-water heat pumps on the market. It features heat pumps from 7 to 16 kW, single and three-phase, alongside stand-alone and split-units.  

Panasonic’s market leading heat pumps have been installed in the Meads Business Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire, to provide heating and air conditioning to the centre owner, London-based property development company St Modwen.  

The Meads Business Centre is a fully furnished office building set in the heart of Farnborough’s Meads district, surrounded by major retailers and leisure destinations. Installers Woodhouse Environmental Services were tasked with designing and installing a heating and air conditioning system that would be energy efficient and fast to install, without interfering with the design aesthetic of the interiors. St Modwen, the centre’s owners, also needed the system to be flexible enough so that it could be used by a future tenant without requiring any further changes.  

“The key concern was to select a system that was energy efficient, quick and easy to install and flexible enough for us to adapt the design to the needs of the site,” said Trevor Woodhouse, MD of Woodhouse Environmental Services. “Panasonic’s system was ideal for this project so for us it was really a simple decision. The tenant’s own facilities team agreed when they came over for a final inspection from the USA, they thought it was fantastic.”  

The architect working on behalf of the tenants, sustainability consultancy Hurley Palmer Flatt, had decided to have all the services on show with a flat concrete ceiling above and large vaulted areas in between. This presented a particular challenge to the design of the heating and air conditioning system, as it meant that the positioning of all the components of the system had to be carefully planned, including the units, ductwork, cable tray pipe runs and drain services. The components also had to be meticulously laid out to ensure that the system looked completely uniform to retain the aesthetic of the interior, which again presented a challenge to the installers from Woodhouse.  

These challenges required Woodhouse to design a system that was quick and easy to install, but that also provided functionality and control to the end user. Working with distributor Environmental Site Supplies (ESS), they specified a Panasonic system, which allowed them to create a flexible design with a high energy efficiency rating. Panasonic air conditioning systems also lead the industry with their low levels of noise, which enhance their value for use in such office projects because they don’t disrupt a peaceful and productive atmosphere. Woodhouse installed two Panasonic 3-Pipe ECOi MF2 VRF systems, an extremely efficient outdoor unit that can heat and cool simultaneously and is easy to install and maintain.  To meet the architect’s specified design style, inside the office they fitted multiple concealed ducted units, the Panasonic S-36MF2E5, and a wall-mounted unit, the S-36MK1E5.  

To ensure accurate zonal heating and air conditioning Woodhouse installed the CZ-256ESMC2, a web enhanced touch screen controller that gives central control to a designated user. This function also ensures that unauthorised individuals cannot interfere with the system by changing the temperature settings. The company also installed a range of energy recovery ventilation units, which improve running costs by reducing the load on the air conditioning units by about 20% and also ensure cleaner air coming into the building.  

Panasonic’s system installed on this project was comprised of a range of their most advanced products. The indoor units specified by Woodhouse are easy to install and maintain and, crucially for an office environment, have industry leading low sound levels, meaning disturbance is kept to a minimum. The intelligent controller allows flexibility in how much control is given to individuals, limiting their influence on factors such as temperature and timings of operation. The heat recovery units recover up to 77% of the heat in the outgoing air and also have very low sound levels. 

The Heal’s Building on London’s Tottenham Court Road has long been a home of innovation and high quality design. This creative spirit lives on in the newly refurbished building, with a cutting edge heating and cooling system from Panasonic that provides a comfortable environment for the staff of companies such as Netflix and Deliveroo.  

Consultants Cundall worked with Easy Air Conditioning to design and install a heating and cooling system flexible enough to meet the demands of a variety of office spaces spread over five storeys. The scale of the project demanded a powerful, efficient system, so Easy Air Conditioning and Cundall specified the Panasonic ECOi VRF system. During three phases of delivery Easy Air Conditioning installed 24 VRF systems comprised of 42 of Panasonic’s heat recovery and heat pump condensing units. Each VRF system is controlled by a Panasonic CZ-256ESMC2 touchscreen controller and is integrated into the building management system of the site, to provide a flexible and user-friendly heating and cooling solution.  

“When we worked out the scale of the project and how many units we would have to install, Panasonic’s VRF system became the obvious choice,” said Andy Wootton of Easy Air Conditioning. “We wanted to give the client a heating and cooling system that was easy to use and provided the capacity they needed, and Panasonic ticked all the boxes. They offer great products which are easy to install and very energy efficient.”

Panasonic heat recovery and heat pump condensing units lead the market in their ease of installation and maintenance, which were key factors on this project as the units were to be installed on the roof of the building where space was limited. The ECOi VRF system also puts energy efficiency at the forefront, while able to offer heating and cooling simultaneously at high performance, making it the perfect solution for a large office building with hundreds of staff.  

The floor to ceiling heights in the Heal’s Building are lower than one might typically find in a modern office building, due to its heritage as a furniture manufacturing facility. Easy Air Conditioning therefore selected and installed Panasonic’s MM range of horizontal ‘slimline’ ceiling-mounted units, designed for spaces with low ceilings. These units are specifically designed for applications where there is limited height above a false ceiling. However, as the architect did not want to fit a false ceiling in the space, due to the lack of height, this meant that the cold air supply from the outlet diffusers could potentially flow straight down onto the people who worked below them, causing pockets of cold air around the office.  

Easy Air Conditioning also took advantage of the off coil temperature control facility of the Panasonic units, to maintain an ‘off coil’ temperature above 12 degrees. This meant that the air emitted from the units was already slightly warmer than a regular cooling system, minimising the risk of draughts. It was also decided to have metal plates installed under the units, around the outlet diffusers, to assist in creating a Coandă effect, where the cool air, on leaving the diffuser, flows out horizontally along the underside of the plates, and reduces the risk of the air falling straight down onto the people below. It also helped in providing a consistent cooling effect across the office. 

Easy Air Conditioning supplemented the ceiling-mounted units with a large number of Panasonic’s MR1 series floor standing units, concealed discreetly in cabinets beneath windows. These units, specifically designed to be concealed in perimeter enclosures, enable flexible installation as supply pipes can be connected to either side of the unit from the bottom or the rear. This flexibility ensured that areas of offices nearer the windows, which can be warmer in the summer due to the sun, were cooled to a temperature consistent with the rest of the office. Without a false ceiling, the units, trunking and pipes of the air conditioning system were exposed, so the interior designers decided to embrace this and incorporate it into the stripped back, industrial-chic design aesthetic of the iconic Heal’s Building.

Server rooms containing elaborate technology become very hot, very quickly due to the heat emitted by the equipment. To ensure everything runs safely and reliably, temperature limits must be guaranteed. High internal demands however, do arise, not only because of technical equipment such as server racks, UPS (Uninterruptable power supply) systems or medical devices, but also because of the increasing density of upgraded or newly constructed buildings. All these factors mean the installation of air-conditioning units is indispensable.


An example can be seen at the Munich Municipal Hospital, one of Bavaria’s largest hospital associations.  The organisation has relied on air conditioning units to keep its UPS and server rooms cool for some time now. This prestigious medical establishment focuses on surgical procedures, among other specialities, and is one of the world’s leading hospitals in the field of hand surgery.

When the use of R22 coolant was banned completely at the start of 2015, the hospital had to renew its air conditioning system. The R22 ban means maintenance of the old equipment is no longer permitted where the coolant is concerned and the installation of a new air conditioning system was necessary on short notice, during operation, to prevent damage to the servers.  Also, improved energy efficiency was another benefit, as the new system offers the advantage of requiring at least 30% less electrical power to generate the same level of cooling capacity. The more units are replaced, the better the savings in running costs are.

This vision was pursued as early as autumn 2013. To that end, the hospital association’s planning department brought Elektro-Kälte-Wärme Forster, an electric heating and cooling firm from Schongau, into the preliminary planning stage for renewing the system. The contract was awarded and work began in March 2014. The most important points in the preliminary planning were the removal of the outdated R22 systems, the installation of the new systems and adapting them to the power requirements they had. In addition, the new air conditioning systems had to be integrated into the existing building management system (BMS).

By specifying Panasonic’s conversion solution, the existing R22 piping and electricity supply can still be utilised to install a new system which uses the R410A high-performance coolant. There are almost no manufacturer-specific restrictions apart from a clearly structured test procedure.

No interruptions to server
Furthermore, a redundancy switchover is provided to ensure the server runs without interruptions while adhering to the temperature limits. This was achieved by implementing Panasonic’s PAW-SERVER-PKEA interface, which ensures a redundant operation of two air conditioning systems. In this way, the interconnected systems can be controlled in redundancy or alternative operation, depending on the desired setting. As soon as one system switches to ‘failure’, the second immediately kicks in. The same is true if the ambient temperature exceeds the set point. Additionally, isolated contacts for switching on / off and an external failure report offer the possibility of external integration.

Already armed with the end-customer’s project specifications, Elektro-Kälte-Wärme Forster, who worked closely with Kaut in Munich, who offered constant help and advice from the initial concept right through to activation. As various modernisation measures were taking place in the hospital at the time, the project was divided into three phases and completed in 2014. It was, of course, necessary to respect the rest times in the hospital, as well as the fire protection conditions on-site.

Managing Director Lorenz Forster explains: “We chose Panasonic because we have successfully installed machines from the PKEA series in server rooms many times before. This particular product range, which is optimised for use in utility rooms was perfect for our end client.  It has special connectivity and runs very smoothly and very efficiently. These were decisive factors in the selection of this concept.”

Equipment installed
3 Panasonic CS-E9PKEA and CU-E9PKEA 3 Panasonic CS-E12PKEA and CU-E12PKEA 1 Panasonic CS-E15PKEA and CU-E15PKEA 4 Panasonic PAW-SERVER-PKEA system control with SPS-S7 (Siemens)
Technical features of the Panasonic PKEA air conditioning unit series
Use of existing R22 coolant pipes Designed for continuous operation Optimal efficiency, even when the outside temperature is -15 °C Resistant roller bearing Additional line temperature sensor to protect against freezing

Interface for the air conditioning of server rooms
PAW-SERVER-PKEA interface for server rooms with isolated contacts for simple integration into BMS.Up to two PKEA indoor units can be connected to one interface.- The interface offers the following functions for server rooms:
- On/Off switching through isolated contact
- Temperature settings (simple setup via the interface, no computer required)
- Redundancy system (simple setup via the interface, no computer required)
- Alternative operation (simple setup via the interface, no computer required)
- Failure report through isolated contact (simple setup via the interface, no computer required)

A new building, housing 84 apartments in the municipal city of Cornella de Llobregat, Barcelona, has seen each home individually fitted with Panasonic’s Aquarea air to water heat pump system to achieve a ‘B-class’ energy rating for the entire building.  

The new housing development compromises 84 homes covering six floors, one commercial property, parking and storage space on the ground and second floor.  

For each of the six floors, 14 apartments have been built around a central courtyard, with access to a perimeter corridor. Behind the exterior, modern architecture and colourful design of the building, the developers required the building to incorporate the parameters to achieve a high ‘B’ energy rating.

 The project developer was ‘IMPSOL’, a public entity that economically depend on the metropolitan area of Barcelona.  

In order achieve this particular energy rating, the heating, ventilation, air conditioning hot water systems needed to be cost and energy efficient enough to run an entire residential building complex. Initially, a centralised gas boiler and a cogeneration system were envisaged for this project.  

However, after careful thought, it was decided a system which implemented renewable technology would be better suited. An individualised heating and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) system that would use the latest heat pump technology to heat water was required. Choosing this second option meant that, due to the aero thermal renewable energy technology offered, the developer would not have to install solar panels for hot water production which requires the Spanish legislation.

There were several reasons why IMPSOL specified a DHW system instead of the original idea of a centralised gas boiler. These included:
• The performance improvement by an air to water system, particularly for cold climate housing
• Centralised boilers require numerous adjustments and tuning which involves extensive occupation of the dwellings
• A centralised community facility requires consistent and expensive maintenance  

For a system that would achieve all renewable technology and DHW requirements, whilst ensuring an energy rating of ‘B’ would be reached, the developer looked to Panasonic’s Aquarea system. Not only are these units infamous for energy efficiency, high COP levels and working to ideal temperatures, but it produces aero thermal, renewable technology, widely recognised by European Directive 2009/28/EC.  

Meeting the strict criteria set by IMPSOL, Panasonic’s Aquarea systems allowed each home to benefit from excellent heating and cooling aspects. At the same time, these systems were affordable and met the regulatory Spanish requirements for renewable energy inputs in the production of DHW and CO2 emissions.

Panasonics Technical Services and Project Managers from the City of Cornella de Llobregat organised a clever system to integrate energy saving measures across the residential complex. This included: implementing a Panasonic Aquarea System, increasing insulation and executing cross ventilation in all apartments.    

As a result, the desired energy rating was obtained, with a system that offers even more comfort to homes and, in turn, reduces maintenance costs. This clever system has also proved valuable for IMPSOL. The properties are of a higher value than anticipated, as homeowners enjoy the high energy efficiency and full air conditioning and heating system within each property.

Panasonic are celebrating as part of the winning team that won the ‘Energy Balance’ award at the Solar Decathlon Europe competition which took place in Versailles, France.  

A joint project between the University of Anger, France and the Appalachian State University in the United States, ‘The Reciprocity House’ was one of 20 projects competing at the event which took place from 28th June 2014 to 14th July 2014 at The City of the Sun Park, Versailles.    

Panasonic’s 5kW Aquarea unit was installed in the project and its outstanding performance helped the team to win the award.  

Based around the concept of a townhouse, the Reciprocity house adapted seamlessly into the context of an urban-French home offering the space and ability to perform as a fully functioning house on either one level or up to four floors.  

The envelope of the house was designed to provide thermal insulation, whilst a passive standard "sun shading" provided simultaneous climate protection and energy production. Other energy saving facilities applied to this property included 20 mono-crystalline modules on the roof-terrace, with a total capacity of 4.8 kWp, which were attached to a galvanized steel chassis at an inclination of 18°.  

"When we were contacted by the team, while the house existed only on paper, we did not hesitate to join them in this adventure,” comments Marie Giraud, from Panasonic Heating and Air Conditioning France. "We are very proud of this award and offer our congratulations to the entire team involved in The Reciprocity House."  

Inspired by the original American Solar Decathlon, the Solar Decathlon Europe was an international competition that united universities and colleges from around the world to design, build and develop full-scale, fully-functional and affordable solar homes.  

The international judging panel inspected each entry on its energy-saving aspects, environmental transition density, simplicity, cost, mobility, innovation and contextualisation.

Panasonic was called upon by Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd to provide equipment for call centre giant, WDS, to retrofit its busy offices with an energy-efficient Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Working against strict time and space constraints, Panasonic’s VRF systems coupled with large ducted and wall mounted indoor units were specified for a quick, simple and energy efficient install.  

WDS negotiated with the building owners, St Modwen Properties PLC, a multi-million pound property development and investment company, to redevelop one of three buildings at the Discovery Court Business Centre in Bournemouth.  

With the brief to remove and replace the old, existing system with a high-performance, easy-to-install HVAC system, the design and build contractor, Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd, required a product that offered a large selection of different units, providing a maximum performance system to cater for this large building.  

WDS Call Centre (a part of the Xerox group) provides customer service solutions to some of the world’s best known technology and communications brands including Tesco mobile, Google and many other blue-chip brands.  

This complete system would need to cater for the high density office, providing exceptional heating and cooling efficiencies whilst maintaining close conditions, introducing continuous fresh air and removing stale exhaust air, ensuring a comfortable work environment at ideal temperatures. The install was to be undertaken whilst the tenants were still in residence.  This meant that it was imperative for staff disruption levels to be kept to an absolute minimum.  

Woodhouse Environmental Services initiated a fast track install programme between June 2013 and October 2013, splitting the renovation into three phases to cover each ‘zone’ of the building, satisfying a tight budget, and remaining within the allocated time.  

In the first phase, Panasonic’s integrated VRF and heat recovery ventilation systems were installed to replace the existing air cooled chilled water system operating on R22 along with a ducted fan coil system, which no longer provided the efficient and reliable service in this demanding application. Specifying Panasonic’s VRF unit made for an all-round easy-to-use system, whilst it’s clever, innovative integrated technologies meant wasted energy was avoided and significant savings could be made on the buildings annual energy bills. Additional extras including an energy monitoring touch screen control with multi-zone temperature adjustment, making this Panasonic system the efficient, ideal replacement that was so desired.  

As part of the second and third phases, Panasonic’s ducted indoor and wall mounted units were also incorporated in the building refurbishment. Not only were these systems integrated to provide fresh air input and stale air removal, but they also fitted the outlined noise criteria. Panasonic was able to supply all of this equipment on short notice so as not to delay the project.  

As a result, Panasonic proved to provide the most energy efficient units on the market, suitable for this large-scale project. With approximately 250 members of staff based in each zone, the quick turn-around, replacing the old systems and fitting brand new Panasonic equipment, meant staff were able to move straight back into the refurbished offices immediately on completion.  

A homeowner in Lombardy, Italy, is reaping the rewards of using not one but two renewable energy sources to heat their home and produce hot water. Thanks to Panasonic’s intelligent technologies and the ease at which they can be integrated with other systems, an Aquarea 7kW-heat pump is harnessing the energy from the property’s 3kW-solar panels on the roof to ensure energy efficiencies and financial savings.  

The resident had wanted to make the most of the energy produced by the photovoltaic panels, and made enquiries about whether it was possible to link the panels to a heat pump.  An Aquarea heat pump was installed, and the two technologies are synced and managed using a Heat Pump Control Manager (HPM). The HPM can be adjusted to optimize the heat output of the heat pump, as a function of the independent production of energy.  

Thanks to the HPM, it is possible to manage and exploit the overproduction of electrical energy – as captured by the photovoltaic panels - and store it in the form of hot water by using the Aquarea heat pump.  

This project is a brilliant example of how considerable financial savings can be made by integrating technologies in the home. Through making the most of renewable and reliable energy sources such as energy from the sun, households are able to guarantee a warm and comfortable home for years and years to come, without having to worry about increases in energy prices.   

The heating system uses an Aquarea Bi-block High Performance 7kW (High Connectivity Hot and Cold), which is connected to solar thermal and photovoltaic panels. In this configuration, when the solar panels produce sufficient energy to cover the consumption of the heat pump, the water temperature stored inside the tank increases up to 55°C. For this particular installation, an outdoor unit was installed in the courtyard of the property and the hydronic kit in the utility room below, along with the HPM.  

Alessandro Ferrara, Regional Key Account for Panasonic said: "Our Heat Pump Manager is the only programmable controller on the market that can manage a heat pump based on photovoltaic energy production.  This product offers the market several benefits including speed of installation, efficient and well-integrated installations and commissioning of the system”.  

Using the HPM control system enabled the owner to cut heating costs while maintaining high performance heating and cooling even in adverse weather conditions. The HPM also enables the homeowner to monitor the Aquarea remotely.  

Gaetano Nigro, Regional Key Account for Panasonic, said: "The homeowner has been more than satisfied with the choice of Aquarea and HPM. He said he chose Panasonic because he wanted the reliability of a well-known brand. The ease of connecting the solar panels and Aquarea heat pumps was also a key motivation."

As homeowners begin to move away from oil, LPG and electric heating systems, there is a high demand for a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution. A Cumbria-based family opted to switch to Panasonic’s Mono-Bloc air source heat pump just over a year ago and have since benefitted from savings of up to £1,200.  

This seven bedroom house in a rural community outside of Cumbria had been relying on an oil tank to provide heating. With the UK experiencing colder winters, the oil tank required more regular oil refills. This, combined with rising oil prices, prompted the homeowners to look for an alternative solution which would provide financial and environmental benefits.  

In November 2012, air source heat pump specialist, Heacol Ltd, was enlisted to provide an energy-saving solution. It was decided that the installation of a heat pump was imperative for economical heating to be achieved. The new heat pump would assist the existing oil boiler in creating a long-life solution with high energy savings.  

Panasonic’s 12kW Aquarea Mono-Bloc air source heat pump was specified by Heacol Ltd due to its  low start-up current and operating power (compared other heat pumps), making this system particularly suitable for this application which was bound by the rural electricity grid.   The Mono-Bloc system works with the oil boiler to provide hot water and heating throughout the entire house, whilst using minimum energy consumption.

This is achieved by the high temperature heat pump pulling fresh, clean and more importantly, free air and transferring this into sustainable energy to heat the home.  Panasonic’s Aquarea systems are proven to reduce energy costs and can achieve a COP of 4.74*, as well as energy consumption and CO2 emissions.  

The Panasonic’s Mono-Bloc unit proved to substantially lower the cost of the families heating. In the 12 month period following installation, the oil tank had not been needed to be refilled at all.  

“The homeowners are extremely happy with the Panasonic Aquarea Mono-Bloc system as they are achieving impressive energy savings,” explains Brendon Uys, Managing Director of Heacol Ltd. “The benefit for us, was that the system was extremely easy to install, with a simple controller and programming method. The system offers long-term stability and is extremely reliable.  

As a result of installing this highly efficient heating system, which has excellent seasonal performance, the homeowners are now able to leave their heating on continually throughout the winter. Even with continuous energy use, cost savings for the homeowners have reached £1,200 within the first year of installation.

MCS certification was issued to the property at the end of the project.  

* The 9kW Aquarea T-Cap 

Installer Company: Nexus Buildings Solution
Year installation: 2013

Background: Panasonic has recently been involved in a unique residential property where both solutions have been installed and are working together to provide maximum energy savings. Originally a four-bedroom residential property situated in a village in Warwickshire, the homeowners invested the help of Nexus Building Solutions for a complete refurbishment and extra two-bedroom extension. The family were looking for a heating solution that would not only fit in well with the existing oil burner and radiators, but also provide reliable and superb-quality performance.  

Project Challenge: There were two key challenges which lead to the installation of a new Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pump. Firstly the cost benefits; having a new large six-bedroom room property meant that their heating costs were significant and they were keen to find a solution that kept them warm while reducing their energy bills. Secondly the heat pump’s compatibility with solar thermal technology meant that the family could qualify for Government rewards from the FiT scheme and any surplus would go straight back into the pump. The family are now saving money every month compared to their previous fuel bills.    

Solution: Specifying 4kW Panasonic 250W HIC panels to accompany Panasonic’s 6kW T-CAP Monobloc Aquarea heat pump, PRO Partner Premium Installers of the month, Nexus Building Solutions has helped the property to benefit from extremely energy-efficient and cost-effective underfloor heating, which runs through 6 different zones within the house. Supplying heat to an extension for an elderly relative, the bedroom, living room and downstairs bathroom, as well as a two-storey bedroom and living room for the rest of the family, now all benefit from Panasonic’s renewable technology.

With an impressive COP of 4.75 and option to add on a Panasonic PV panel, consumers are provided with a completely renewable and cost-effective energy solution, which sits in perfectly with current government incentives.

An extremely compact and versatile heating system – the Aquarea heat pump will be able to fulfil heating demands even in temperatures as low as -20°C. Independent tests have also shown that Panasonic’s air-to-water heat pump is capable of saving up to 78% on heating expenses, and far more efficient than fuel-fired boilers, gas boilers and electric heaters.   Panasonic’s Aquarea is the most comprehensive, versatile and cost-effective range of air-to-water heat pumps on the market. It features heat pumps from 7 to 16 kW, single and three-phase alongside stand-alone and split-units. 

Installer Comments:  “Since fuel prices continue to rise, we have seen a change in our customer’s heating needs, requirements and priorities,” says Avnash Jhita, Operations Manager at Nexus Building Solutions. “Faced with an economic climate that stretches outgoings, homeowners want energy-efficient heating and hot water on demand. Offering a heating solution that is affordable, reliable and offers an attractive return on investment, is vital for stimulating business.”

3rd Party Comments: “We are delighted with the results from installing Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pump and PV solar panels. Not only is the house warm and cosy, but the extra energy generated from the solar panels is transferred straight back into the pump. We’re so impressed that we’re currently in discussions with Nexus Building Solutions to install another Aquarea heat pump that will replace our oil system in the main house when a retrofit is required. Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pumps are very straight forward to use and easily controlled, just like a normal boiler - you flip down the lid, you select what sort of temperatures you want in the house for your hot water and what times you want it. It’s easy.”  

Installation Data
Range: Aquarea
Product: 4kW Panasonic 250W HIC panels and 6kW T-CAP Monobloc Aquarea heat pump
Quantity: 1

• The Panasonic 'Smart House' shows visitors how to live in a house with zero emissions.
• Save, create, store and manage energy are the key factors to an efficient home.  

The world is struggling to reduce emissions. However, changes in technology allow homeowners to achieve a zero emission lifestyle in their home.  

Panasonic envisions a future in which all families can almost completely eliminate CO2 emissions through the use of efficient appliances and the combination of solar power generation, fuel cells and storage batteries. Panasonic demonstrates this in a 'Smart House' in Ariake, Tokyo. Visitors are invited to experience what it would be to live in a house with practically zero emissions.

The Panasonic ‘Smart House’ highlights the four key factors to being energy efficient – saving, creating, storage and power management.

Save energy  
Whether you save energy, depends on the appliances which are used in the home. These days it is easy to find the most energy efficient product as most of them have an energy label.  

Panasonic has proposed that by 2016, over 80% of its labelled models will achieve one of the first two energy efficiency classes. This is already the case for some of Panasonic’s products. For example, its refrigerators have an insulation panel called U-vacuous, which allows twenty times more insulation than traditional panels.  

Panasonic’s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) products also support this development.  It air conditioning units have an energy saving technology called ECONAVI.  This is a smart sensor system which is capable of controlling the intensity of sunlight, movement, activity level and human absence, automatically adjusting the cooling output and saving energy efficiently. This saves energy of up to 38% in cooling mode and up to 45% in heating mode.

Panasonic also used a system of sensors in its washing machines. This is the 3D sensor that adjusts the rotational speed to optimize the effect of the fall in the drum and maximize water and energy.  

Meanwhile, the Panasonic dryers have a heat pump, based on the same principle as heating with an air conditioner.  

Panasonic’s Inverter technology ensures optimal performance while minimizing energy consumption. In air conditioning systems for example, inverter technology allows the system to quickly reach the desired temperature and then keep it all the time increasing energy savings and comfort. Washers, dryers and refrigerators also feature Panasonic inverter technology.

Lighting is also very important in saving energy in a home. Using a Panasonic LED bulb instead of a traditional light bulb, results in energy consumption dropping by 85%. In addition, LED bulbs have a service life up to 40 times higher than incandescent bulbs.

Create energy  
It is important or a home to have the tools to generate energy by itself with minimal CO2 emissions. A good example is solar panels.

Panasonic aspires to be one of the three leaders in the field of solar panels by 2016.  

Panasonic Home Solar Power Generation System HIT are able to:  
• Offer one of the highest ratios of conversion efficiency: 24.7%.
• Provide energy production 5% higher than conventional solar panels.
• Ensure a high performance even in warm weather conditions.
• One of the most reliable products in the market, with a failure rate of 0.0036%. Of the 3.3 million solar panels that are sold in Europe, there has only been 120 cases requiring revision.  

Another tool for energy is the fuel cell for home use. Fuel cells are a highly efficient method to generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Furthermore, the remaining residual heat of reaction is used to generate hot water. This system can save around 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, compared with a house that runs on electricity and heat with a heating system with gas. 

Panasonic was the first company in the world to sell fuel cells for use in the home.  It is called ENE FARM. Since its launch in May 2009, Panasonic has sold 31,000 units in Japan (up to September 2013). In Europe, Panasonic has two R & D centers located in Langen (Germany) and Wales (United Kingdom) that focus on developing residential fuel cells for the European market. Although not yet marketed in Europe, these research centers work closely with utility companies related to energy.

Store energy  
The storage of energy in a home is achieved through a combination of solar power generation, fuel cells and storage batteries.  

Devices such as Panasonic batteries lithium-ion, allow homeowners to conserve energy and ensure stable power supply.  

In June 2012 Panasonic started mass production of a set of lithium-ion compact, safe and long lasting systems. Thus, Panasonic has become the first company to mass produce a system of its kind in Europe.

Manage energy  
It is important to be able to control when, how and how much energy is consumed.  This is why the smart homes of the future integrate systems for managing home energy such as Panasonic’s Smart Home Energy Management System (SMARTHEMS). The main features of this system, which incorporates AiSEG (Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart Energy Gateway (SEG), are:

 • Real-time measurements of the consumption of electricity, water and gas. For electricity, the monitor displays the current state and the CO2 balance of the entire house, estimated electricity charges as well as the ability to generate energy through solar energy or fuel cells. The different types of data, including the amount of charge of storage batteries, can be monitored through televisions, computers, smart phone screens and other displays.  

• Artificial Intelligence (AiSEG) and Smart Energy Gatewway (SEG) is the control center SMARTHEMS, which allows connection and control of electrical equipment and appliances in the home, and helps to increase energy savings. 

• The cloud will play a key role in the field of energy. The cloud is essential not only to connect the devices, but also to anticipate and respond to consumer needs - both at home and outside. Panasonic has partnered with some of the world's leading IT companies to convert this vision into reality. In fact, Panasonic and IBM have agreed to work together to evaluate the commercial and technical appliances connected future in the cloud value. 

On 6th February 2014, an experimental, next-generation convenience store was opened as part of a collaborative project between Lawson, Inc. and Panasonic Heating and Cooling at the Panasonic Headquarters in Moriguchi, Japan.

In April 2013, Panasonic and Lawson launched their collaborative project in which they shared their retail and technology visions.  The store is directly managed by Lawson, and is operated in the same way as a regular Lawson store whilst utilizing Panasonic technologies.

With three main goals, both Panasonic and Lawson wanted to investigate ways in which they could fuse their businesses together and offer:
Eco-friendly solutions: via the introduction of equipment and systems to enable reduction of power usage by 50%; HIT solar panels, lithium-ion storage batteries, CFC-free showcases, LEDs/lighting control and air-conditioning/ventilation control Convenience with the aid of ICT: Alternate ways of sales promotion, such as using digital signage; through the introduction of a camera-based in-store marketing system Healthy lifestyle choices: By introducing in-store cooking appliances; through the installation of a relaxation corner that offers a sense of comfort to customers Panasonic and Lawson were able to trial the environmental, store operation and security alternatives in a public environment. This provided Lawson the opportunity to use this outlet to experiment with ways in which to strengthen its customer-orientated business, whilst at the same time utilising a range of equipment from Panasonic including air source heat pumps, air conditioning systems and air curtains, putting them into practice in a retail environment. 

The two companies will judge the effectiveness of this concept store based on actual operational data, enabling them to make improvements and then extend the accumulated knowledge and know-how to Lawson stores across Japan as a result of the experiment.

"Lawson and Panasonic decided together to create a convenience store by using Panasonic's technologies to address various challenges we face in serving our customers daily,” explains Lawson COO, Tamatsuka. “Throughout this experiment, we have been faced with many challenging requests for Panasonic and we have greatly appreciate the positive approach they constantly showed whilst solving these demands."

Enokido, Panasonic Executive Officer said, "Environment, health, and information and communication technology (ICT) are important aspects of the food industry which are often exploited. This experimental store allowed both companies to enhance practice in all of these areas, and work towards a customer engaging and innovative business. We hope to keep evolving our technologies and services for an advanced future in home technology sector."

A family in Sudbury, Derbyshire is benefiting from savings of up to £100 per month after Trent and Dove Housing Ltd and contractor, J Tomlinson replaced their existing solid fuel boiler with a Panasonic air source heat pump.  

Trent and Dove Housing Ltd provide affordable housing for rent and part ownership across East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.  One of the housing association’s aims is to supply renewable technologies to provide its tenants with more efficient, cost effective systems.  Working with J Tomlinson, Trent and Dove Housing has tried and tested various options including photovoltaic, solar thermal and a number of air source heating installations.   

The housing association was presented with an opportunity to provide a family in Sudbury with a more efficient heating system, and J Tomlinson specified Panasonic’s T-Cap 9kW Mono Bloc Air Source Heat pump.  

Mrs Collyer and her family originally had a solid fuel boiler which provided both heating and hot water.  While they were reasonably satisfied with the system, they were concerned about the mess and the time involved in cleaning and maintaining the system.  There was limited control over the solid fuel boiler, which also made it extremely difficult to control the heating. When the option to change to an air source heat pump arose, Mr and Mrs Collyer were more than happy to proceed.  

The installation commenced on the 1st November 2013 following an initial survey. During the survey, the tenants were advised about the process and benefits of having a new system installed. The preparatory work was then undertaken by J Tomlinson. A base was formed for the external unit and a new power supply fitted. A lamp was also installed into the outside storeroom where the new cylinder would be positioned.  The J Tomlinson team visited the site three days later and installed the Panasonic Aquarea unit.  The whole project took seven days to complete, with a supervisor from J Tomlinson and Panasonic engineer commissioning the air source heat pump on the 7th November 2013.  

“We are very pleased with the end result,” commented Neil Knightsmith, Contracts Manager at J Tomlinson. “The system was easy to install and is now generating great savings for the tenants.  There is an evident increase in demand within the social housing sector for energy efficient and easy-to-manage heating systems. We are experienced in replacing expensive fuel or oil boilers, and providing alternative renewable heating solutions. Panasonic makes this daunting move for customers an easy adjustment. The Mono Bloc T-Cap system is compact, requiring minimum space which is often an issue in social housing.”  

J Tomlinson team visited the property approximately six weeks after the installation, and were delighted to find out that the tenants are already saving between £10 - £20 per week on fuel costs.  This saving is attributable to the Panasonic Aquarea heat pumps being an efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution compared to using solid fossil fuel boilers, oil and other electrical systems.   Panasonic’s air-to-water Mono Bloc Air Source Heat Pump is designed specifically for the UK market, where space is limited and high performance is required.  The outdoor and indoor units are combined into one easy-to-install and compact enclosure, saving time and installation costs. With a COP of 4.41, up to 78% savings can be made on heating expenses.  

When Cambridgeshire housing provider Luminus Group required a sustainable heating and hot water system for their new development of apartments in Wisbech, Panasonic’s Aquarea range of air source heat pumps fitted the bill perfectly.  

The Ferry Project is a charity within the Luminus Group that helps homeless single adults in the Fenland area, by providing both emergency accommodation and longer-term help. The aim of the charity is to help people achieve independent living with a home of their own and equip them with essential life skills.   

A three storey block of flats owned by the group was identified as the location for a new residential site for the charity. The property has been converted into a six flat development consisting of ten bedrooms together with shared communal kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms.

It was important that heating and hot water costs were kept to a minimum and ensure hot water supply could meet the demand, so Luminus chose Panasonic’s Aquarea High Temperature 12kW split units as it met their requirement for a consistent high flow temperature, would be space saving and reduce the running costs associated with electric storage heating.   

Commenting on the installation, Mark Diaz, UK and Ireland Country Manager of Panasonic Heating & Cooling explains: “We were delighted that Luminus chose to install our Aquarea HT heat pump range in their new development.  The HT’s ability to provide hot water up to 65°C made it an ideal choice for this installation where they had specific high flow temperature requirements. We developed the Aquarea HT heat pump to answer the demand for a truly “green” heating system, which is much more flexible and cost-effective than a traditional fossil fuel boiler.”  

John Conroy, Maintenance Manager at the Luminus Group said “Luminus Group is committed to providing a premium brand service to our customers.  When we looked at a sustainable heating and hot water system for our apartments in Wisbech, we wanted a company that shared our vision and were able to supply an innovative solution. The success of this project was due to an excellent product underpinned by great teamwork.”  

The Aquarea HT offers outstanding performance, even at very low outside temperatures. The HT can produce 65°C hot water even down to -15°C. The HT is also very quiet in operation with no noise inside the house as there is no double stage compression.   Panasonic has achieved excellent performance using only single stage compression by optimising the Aquarea HT for use with the environment-friendly refrigerant gas R407C. R407C works on much higher temperatures than R410A, which means the HT can produce hot water at 65°C using only one stage of compression while still maintaining high system efficiency.  

Aquarea HT also employs Panasonic’s patented SCEB (Sub-Cooler plus Evaporator Bypass) cycle to achieve high heating capacity performance even at low ambient temperatures, meaning that no electric heater back-up is required, even at minus 15°C.

Year installation: 2012

Background:  Built in late 2012, the new nursing home in Montcenis, in the region of Saône et Loire, has a capacity of 85 rooms. Spread over 6100 m2, the property consists of several buildings including residential ‘villages’ offering single rooms and a main building on 3 levels which includes common rooms, administrative offices and kitchens.This nursing home is known as an EHPDA (établissements d'hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes) a type of retirement home for dependent elderly people. All residents are over 60, are no longer able-bodied and require regular medical attention. The state carries out regular inspections and guarantees good practice.

Project Challenge: All the buildings in this development feature a performance level 2005 and BBC thermal performance 53% higher than the RT 2005. Particular attention has been paid to the thermal performance and energy efficiency of this new nursing home. The building has therefore been equipped with excellent external thermal insulation. The main objective was to limit energy consumption and keep maintenance needs and costs low.Given the nature of the institution and the changing seasonal needs of the residents, the system needed to be able to provide either heating or cooling, and be able to produce hot water, whilst being reliable with a high energy performance.

Solution: Faced with this type of challenge, the versatility of the system helped determine the choice of the Panasonic gas-driven VRF system, ECO G.  Such a system ensures hot and cold water, preventing the need for specific cooling equipment with low noise levels. The other major advantage of the Panasonic system is its very low energy consumption and its ability to meet the needs of heating, cooling and hot water – which is vitally important for a residential project such as a nursing home.


Building Energy analysis: At the Montcenis nursing home, an outdoor unit feeds a domestic network of low consumption radiators, covering 75% of the building’s heating needs. Two condensing gas boilers provide additional power. Finally, nearly 15 % of the hot water needs are covered through energy recovery from the ECO G system.

Installation Data
Range: ECO G

Year Installation: 2012

Background:  A seven storey apartment block located in Xativa will include 176 flats, 8 staircases and 2 basement parking areas.  This extensive project has been developed by Rational Architecture, a company that promotes efficient construction and sustainability.

Project Challenge: As part of the project, Rational Architecture was provided with a detailed brief including the installation of a heat pump to control ventilation and air flow. Heat Pumps would cool the building residents during the hot summer and equally heat during the cooler winter seasons. Another important requirement was that this building would be submitted for approval to the recently-introduced "20-20-20" European Objective. This European objective aims to eventually increase energy efficiency in Europe by 2020. This requires a 20% reduction of primary energy consumption within the European Union. In order to achieve this, greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 20%, and the contribution of renewable energy needs to be increased by 20%. 

Solution: Panasonic’s ECO G System was chosen. With the temperatures in Valencia reaching on average 40°C during the summer and 15ºC in the winter, the Panasonic’s heat pump system works to control water temperature. This means they remain low during the appropriate season, avoiding high energy consumption which is produced when unnecessary high temperatures of water is generated. This operation is reversed during the warmer months. Within the building, each apartment housed two ECO G systems, one 20 HP and one 30 HP unit, creating a total of 282 kW per room.

Building Energy analysis:  The ECO G System has an annual COP average of 1,412 and EER of 1,557. This is higher than the ratings of conventional heat pumps due to the efficiency of the system at low temperature. As a result, the development is sustainable, energy efficient and constructed to a high standard.

Installation Data
Range: ECO G

System: WH-SDF03E3E5, WH-UD03EE5, 5 O/U 
Inst. capacity: 5x3 kW 
Owner: Block Watne, new installation in  Stavanger (Norway) 
Year installation: 2013

Background: In Rossåsen, Some 25 kilometres south of the Norwegian oil capital Stavanger, the construction company Block Watne has built five low-energy houses.

Project Challenge: The buildings are so energy-efficient, that heating the tap water consumes almost twice as much energy as the heating of the building itself. Installing electrical hot water boiler is prohibited in new buildings in Norway, due to very strict building regulations, which also states that at least 60 per cent of a building’s energy consumption must come from alternative/renewable sources.  

Solution: Block Watne decided to install an air-to-water heat pump for the hot water production. A 3kW heat pump in combination with a 200 litre water tank is enough to fulfil the needs of a four-person household, and cuts the energy consumption in half! Compared to an electric hot water boiler, requiring some 4,700 kWh/year, the heat pump system only consumes 2,240 kWh/year.

Control: Control is the standard control panel that follow the indoor unit.

3rd Party Comments: Mr. Niklas Kiiveri  (EcoConsult A/S, Project manager company): This was the first passive-house project for EcoConsult and it has been an interesting case involving a “high performance” setup of equipment. Mainly because of the high temperatures that the system will be working with, and at the same time the demands for very low energy consumption. We are very pleased with the solution so far and are now running two of the houses with extra energy meters installed, to thoroughly documents the systems’ true performance.

Project Management: EcoConsult
AS Installer co.: Dalaker Rør AS
Installation Data:
Range: Aquarea

El hotel  LAVIDA es un hotel vanguardista e innovador, ubicado en el entorno de PGA Catalunya Resort (Girona). El objetivo consistía en dar servicio a las 52 habitaciones del hotel y climatizar el comedor. Para las habitaciones se quería incluir un servicio de aire primario a unidades interiores y un control individualizado por estancia.

Straffan Manor has recently been announced as an award winning development in the Panasonic PRO Awards 2014. A Panasonic Aquarea heating and hot water system was installed in all 21 of the 5-6 bedroom luxury homes in Straffan Co.Kildare, Ireland.  

The Straffan Manor development was constructed by Mulberry Properties Ltd – a second generation family business, renowned for building prestigious homes in Ireland. Panasonic PRO Partner Mick O’Shea Heating and Plumbing Ltd and Panasonic distributor Heat Merchants completed the team to bring this solution to life.  

The Brief
The client, Mulberry Properties Ltd was dedicated to not only comply with building regulations but aspired to surpass them to set a new standard. “The building industry has evolved dramatically over the past 2 years, with major emphasis on several aspects of design and construction. This includes a whole new approach to insulation quality, air-tightness and highly efficient renewable heat and energy sources” explains Fergal Flattery of Mulberry Properties Ltd. The key objectives in the construction of these new homes were to ensure that they achieved an A2 building energy rating utilising renewable energy sources and exceed the requirements to reduce the carbon emissions outlined in Part L. In addition to building homes with the best possible infrastructure, the comfort of the future occupants was also of paramount importance. Mulberry Properties Ltd wanted to install a user friendly heating system that would be easy to operate and maintain now and in the future, as well as complement the overall aesthetics of the development. Other key features taken into consideration were energy efficiency, low running costs and minimal disruption or excessive ground works during the construction phase.

Challenges
Requirements for high efficiency in low ambient conditions and aesthetically pleasing units located away from the dwelling with a small footprint and no pipe work heat-losses were a challenge to the team. Mick O’Shea explained, “The utilisation of solar thermal technology combined with gas fired appliances in this project were briefly considered, but not selected in the final design of the heating system as it was determined that the changes to the fabric of the building and the required roof space for an adequately sized solar thermal installation were prohibitive”. In addition, the risk of Legionella in tanks for stored hot water was a concern, with the additional costs and adverse effects on energy efficiency of heating this water.  

The Panasonic Solution
After extensive consideration between Shane Duffy of Heat Merchants, Mick O’ Shea and Mulberry Properties Ltd, it was decided that a system featuring a heat pump was the best option with the Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap heat pump being the preferred option for the Straffan Manor homes. This option offered the capability to integrate the heat pump with other additional renewable energy solutions, thus delivering high performance whilst remaining energy efficient and affording the added bonus of low running costs. The excellent build quality of the Aquarea units coupled with the availability of a local Panasonic service engineer sealed the deal.  

The new homes now benefit from the Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP 12kW split system, which generates 100% of the domestic hot water and heating needed for the homes all year round, without the need for back up from a supplementary system. With energy saving being a priority, the energy consumption of the heat pump was offset through pairing it with a thermal store and photovoltaic panels.  

The requirement of heating stored hot water to eliminate the risk of Legionella and the associated increase in costs and decrease in energy efficiency was addressed by installing a Kingspan 540 Litre thermal store with domestic hot water coil.   Unlike conventional systems, there is no need to prioritise between heating and hot water. Due to the large volume of the thermal store there is never a dramatic drop in the temperature, allowing the Aquarea heat pump to comfortably recover the temperature. This solution maintains the efficiency of the heat pump keeping both energy consumption and costs to a minimum.   

In-roof solar photovoltaic panels were installed on the houses in Straffan Manor to complement the Panasonic heat pump. This will yield approx 1530 kWh of energy per annum and avoid CO2 emissions of 1,356 kg per annum. (See attached support document). Photovoltaic technology was selected over solar thermal systems as the heat pump has already satisfied the thermal requirements and was deemed to already deliver both value and return on investment. The solar PV system delivers total carbon neutral energy with minimal maintenance required. It was also easily integrated with the architects design and allows for future expansion.   

“As the heat pump relies on electricity, the client felt that having the capability of generating electricity would add to the value that the heat pump delivers. The client also decided to use underfloor heating on the ground floor which is ideally suited for use with a heat pump and thermal store. The houses in this development are air tight and as a result when the ground floor slab is heated this will, in turn, heat the whole building. Underfloor heating achieves optimal results and efficiencies from the heat pump,” concluded Martin Flattery of Mulberry Properties.  

Summary
Panasonic’s heat pump technology was a key component in the team being able to offer a first class heating system for the Straffan Manor residents. The Aquarea T-Cap split system exceeded all expectations and gained the properties A2 energy ratings, just 1 step below Passive house status. These new award winning houses will provide families with comfortable homes that are efficient and economical to run and easy to maintain for many years to come. Martin Flattery of Mulberry Properties Ltd concludes, “We are thrilled that Straffan Manor has received this prestigious Panasonic PRO Award and it is a credit to everybody involved”

Ireland’s leading real estate organisation, Savills, recently acquired additional office space in Dublin’s city centre, at a location where power supply was extremely challenging with a grid operating at capacity.  Coupled with this, the property itself is a famous listed building, housing the company’s 170 Dublin-based staff and provides state of the art hospitality and leisure facilities for the Savills employees.  

Ethos Engineering was employed as the M&E consultant with L Lynch and Co working as the mechanical contractor, and Tech Refrigeration installing the solution. This team was tasked with providing a heating and cooling solution fit for such an iconic building that would cope with the demands that would inevitably be placed upon it, keep running costs low and provide a good payback period.  

Challenges

The main challenge with this project was the lack of available power as the City Centre grid location was overloaded. When appraising the options available for Air Conditioning, Tech Refrigeration suggested Panasonic’s revolutionary gas-powered GHP technology. Jim Weldon, Director at Tech Refrigeration explains, “There would be a huge cost involved in upgrading the electricity grid with other solutions so Panasonic’s GHP VRF range was the ideal solution for this type of commercial application, especially due to the power restriction.  The consultants were also looking for a system capable of providing controllable comfort to the client's employees, offering flexible and efficient temperature and air flow management.”  

The Panasonic Solution

A complete installation of a Panasonic GHP VRF system capable of coping with a 243 kW Load was carried out, utilising the ECO G 3-way units. These outdoor units require only a single phase supply and as such allow the building’s electrical power to be used for other critical electricity demands which is vital in a large office space. The excess heat from the engine means that the gas heat pump air conditioner has no need for a defrost cycle, meaning lower running costs and a reduction in Carbon emissions. Heating outputs are also maintained even at ambient conditions as low as -20°C.     

Ethos Engineering commented, “The deciding factor for choosing a Panasonic Solution was the ability of the GHP system to use off-coil temperature-control. This enabled us to ensure the air condition would never reach a temperature that would be too cold for the occupants and instead, would be controlled to remain at a neutral, comfortable temperature. Each indoor unit has a built-in air temperature sensor which adjusts temperature automatically, something which other systems on the market just could not provide.”  

Ethos Engineering, L Lynch and Co and Tech Refrigeration worked closely with excellent support from Panasonic in Ireland to commission this system in such a prestigious location. The capability of the ECO G 3 way system to optimally cool and heat simultaneously with individual operation of each indoor unit from only one outdoor unit offers a flexible system to meet the demands of a busy office environment. The reduction of power loadings, especially during peak periods saves money and means the system’s payback period is noticeably shorter.

The project has been such a success that it has recently been awarded a Panasonic PRO Award for Best Contribution of efficient projects within Europe.

Europe’s leading corrugated packaging company, Smurfit Kappa Group, has recently refurbished its headquarters in Dublin.  Alongside a new, modern and stylish interior, the building also benefits from heating and cooling solutions by Panasonic.  

Smurfit Kappa Group decided to undertake a major refurbishment of the property and wanted to fully upgrade the interior as well as the building services for this unique 1970s built office block.

Local installer, Tech Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, alongside consultant Ethos Engineering, have created a comprehensive, energy efficient and cost effective heating and cooling solution that features 81 indoor concealed ducted units, four GHP (gas heat pump) outdoor units, and 6 PACi systems from Panasonic.  

One of the key air conditioning design issues that the project team had to face was the lack of mains power available on site. This presented some challenges, but an innovative solution was agreed: the project would use Panasonic’s innovative GHP system. Being mainly powered by gas, a GHP system will deliver low running costs, reduce CO2 emissions and equally important for this particular project, eliminate the need for an expensive electricity supply upgrade that an alternative solution would require.  

Panasonic’s GHP range is extensive and leads the way in efficiency and versatility, being especially suitable for those commercial projects where power restrictions apply.

Jim Weldon of Tech Refrigeration & Air Conditioning was delighted with how the project team worked together to deliver a first class, innovative solution for a blue chip client:  “This was a prestigious project to be involved in, as Smurfit Kappa is an internationally renowned brand. As such, the challenge for the whole team was to make sure a suitably high spec system was created,” he comments. “I think we achieved that with everyone playing their part, all topped off by the advanced Panasonic GHP technology which ensured all our project goals and challenges were met.”  

While there was the mains power issue, the urban location of the Smurfit Kappa building also meant that any noise produced by the system condensers would need to be kept to a minimum.  Tech Refrigeration & Air Conditioning was able to reassure the client that Panasonic GHP runs as quietly as any equivalent system that is powered by electricity. Furthermore, running cost comparisons were drawn up by Panasonic Ireland and the favourable results were a critical factor in the specification process.  

Smurfit Kappa, alongside many forward-thinking businesses, wanted to ensure that carbon emissions would be tackled in a positive way. The project team was able to highlight how much energy would be saved using GHP, with a resulting 30% less carbon emissions into the atmosphere.  

The system is also extremely user-friendly and on-site staff take advantage of the Panasonic centralised controller to closely monitor use and management of the system around the building. Functionality includes a diagnostic health check of all systems and associated controllers.  In fact, the intuitive, user friendly nature of the controller, has been remarked upon by the client.  

The project has been such a success that it has recently been awarded a Panasonic PRO Award for Best Contribution of Efficient Projects within Europe.

The Brief
Nestled between The International Financial Services Centre, The Convention Centre Dublin and The 3Arena, Dublin’s 40-acre EastPoint Business Park provides state-of-the-art cost effective, flexible and well serviced office buildings to a thriving business community of 50+ companies and 6,000+ employees. The Business Park is set in beautiful landscaped surroundings alongside the Tolka Estuary and Dublin Bay.  

Easily accessible, EastPoint is home to Irish and International ‘Blue Chip’ companies, including one major, internet search giant. This particular company occupies 50,000ft² of office space in this prime location, which required a sustainable and energy friendly heating and cooling solution.  Dublin-based Panasonic PRO Partner, Tech Refrigeration was the installer for the Panasonic-specified VRF solution.    

Challenges
The first challenge was the size and design of the building. System Installer Jim Weldon from Tech Refrigeration says, “This search engine giant needed to find a system that would more than comfortably cope with the 50,000ft² office footprint. The open atrium in the centre of the building was an aesthetic feature, however, cooling such a large space covered in glass in the height of summer and then heating it during the winter was a major potential issue.” This company employs over 280 staff from over 24 nationalities and keeping everyone comfortable was a real challenge.  However this was overcome thanks to the performance and flexibility of Panasonic’s heating and cooling technology.  

The Panasonic Solution
Panasonic’s 3-Pipe ECOi MF2 6N Series VRF solution was specified as a result of an excellent recommendation from the consultant Ethos Engineering, as it offers the best solution for this most demanding of applications.  

In a bid to ensure the comfort of the staff, the Panasonic system has a wide temperature setting range from 16-30⁰C. The large floor plan of the office space proved no problem for the ECOi MF2 range, as it is adaptable to various building types and sizes due to the options to select the best fitted airflow / static curve. In total, the installation covered four floors.  

“A major advantage of the Panasonic system over the competition was the ability for off-coil temperature control” continues Jim. “A sensor within the indoor units allows the overall system to adjust the supply-air temperature to a pre-set minimum temperature. This temperature is adjustable during commissioning to between 7 and 22⁰C.  This not only increases comfort, but saves energy and running-costs.”  

With any large scale system, maintenance will always be a factor. The benefit of using this Panasonic range is that even when an indoor unit requires maintenance, other units continue to function to decrease down-time and provide optimum system performance. Aside from the technical ability of the Panasonic hardware, the support of a local Panasonic installer with extensive experience, and the knowledge of the consultant, added to the confidence in this system.  

Summary
A key feature of this system was the ability of the Panasonic ECOi MF2 system to offer various comfort levels over different areas – and on such a large scale. The benefit of using this 3-pipe Panasonic VRF solution over a water-chilled system is the ability to offer efficient, demand based control, localised to each unit to provide either heating or cooling, offering maximum comfort and efficiency. With one outdoor unit chassis size offering economical dimensions, this solution offers maximum benefits and output with market leading COP as well as noise reduction.  

The project has been such a success that it has recently been awarded a Panasonic PRO Award for Best Contribution of efficient projects within Europe.

For many years, the search for a reliable, efficient and long-standing renewable energy solution has been at the top of the agenda for social housing providers, councils and communities alike. Renewable technologies not only provide a cleaner, safer and more efficient heating and hot water solution, but these technologies are above all cost effective.  

Whilst all renewable technologies can protect tenants from the growing risk of fuel poverty, certain systems are better suited to different properties. It is crucial for installers to specify the right system for each project, allowing the tenants to enjoy maximum benefits.   

A great example can be found at the Wealden District Council.  In fact, Ecosphere Renewables has just been awarded a top prize in Panasonic’s PRO Awards, winning the Best Residential Project in the Social Housing category for its ambitious project with Wealden District Council. This project has already seen 110 Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pumps and tanks successfully installed, delivering significant benefits to both the council and the tenants.    

The Brief
In August 2013, Wealden District Council launched a £291,000 pilot scheme, grant-funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The aim was to update the heating systems of 110 village properties to fall in-line with the Government’s energy efficiency targets by 2015.    

Led by Abdul Hussain, the Wealden Home Energy Efficiency Officer, East Sussex based installer Ecosphere Renewables, signed a ten year contract to replace the solid fuel heating and electric storage heaters with a reliable, efficient and durable renewable technology solution within these properties.      

“Despite using other large manufacturer-branded air source heat pumps in the past, it was obvious that switching to Panasonic’s Aquarea Mono-Bloc units would be more beneficial to our customers and the environment,” explains Abdubl Hussain. “At the end of the day, cost, reliability and COP performance is essential for meeting council objectives and ensuring that our residents are in a well-heated, happy environment. Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pumps offer just that, and are fully compatible with solar PV panels.  Heat pump technology is also eligible for payments through the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).”  

Originally, 60 units from another manufacturer were trialed alongside two Panasonic Aquarea units. After extensive comparisons, the Panasonic units delivered better value and higher efficiencies. With an impressive co-efficiency performance rating of 5.08 and compatibility with solar PV panel technology, switching to the Aquarea air source heat pumps improves performance for the Council’s tenants – as well as the surrounding environment.
     
Challenges
This project had major challenges as there was a significant variety in the types of properties requiring new systems. The houses were mainly rural buildings, built from the 1900’s to 1990’s, with differing construction materials, insulation and existing heating systems.  An additional challenge to be addressed was the variety in the tenants themselves, from families with small children to persons of an elderly age. With little knowledge of renewable technologies, a number of tenants were unsure about replacing their existing, traditional heating system with a new renewable technology.

Therefore, over a series of days, Panasonic took its fully working Aquarea air-to-water demonstration trailer to the Wealden district, allowing visitors to see the system first hand, hear how quiet it is, and appreciate its compact size. Representatives from Panasonic, Wealden District Council and Ecosphere were on hand to answer any questions and explain the benefits of having a heat pump installed. That same day, over 40 residents signed up to the Wealden District Council’s programme.   

The Panasonic Solution 
Now, 110 Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pumps and Panasonic tanks have been installed, with the project continuing for a further eight years. The systems specified include the Aquarea Mono-Bloc in 6, 9 and 12kW, along with ten Bi-Bloc units, which are installed across a block of ten flats.   

“This is one of the largest projects we have ever worked on - with strict budgets, hundreds of tenants relying on our install and tight deadlines to work to, we had no room for fault when specifying our choice of technology. We have installed Panasonic’s heat pumps for many years and have always found its systems to be one of the most reliable and efficient technologies on the market today,” says Sam Phyall, Renewable Energy Manager at Ecosphere.  “We are proud of the impact our installs have had on the community already. One family of five had their solid fuel back boiler with separate immersion heater replaced with an Aquarea unit; they are now saving £150 a month on their heating bills compared to before.”                   

Panasonic’s Aquarea air source heat pumps have a COP of 5.08, meaning for every one unit of heat the pump consumes, a further 5.08  units of heat is created.  This will reduce the Wealden District’s carbon footprint by an impressive 5000 tonnes over the next seven years and, on average, will save tenants £500 a year on heating bills. By replacing oil boilers and inefficient storage heaters, Wealden District Council has also seen a significant reduction in maintenance costs and breakdown call outs.                     

Panasonic’s heat pump technology qualifies for the governments RHI scheme, meaning the council will   benefit from an average payment of £500 per property per year over seven years.                    

As a result, Ecosphere Renewables has helped Wealden District Council reach its targets under the Home Energy Conservation act. The council are now considering heat pumps for all their off gas small   properties and flats within the Wealden District.   

Gennevilliers, 26 January 2015 – Panasonic Heating and Cooling has just fitted out the Renault-Nissan dealership in Romans-sur-Isère (southern France) with two ECO G VRFs.

Heating in the Renault-Nissan dealership in Romans-sur-Isère was originally provided by a gas-fired air heater. The dealer wanted to change the system so it would provide both heating and air conditioning. Using a 100 % electric VRF presented some problems. Considering the footprint of the building (1450 m²), such a solution would have consumed too much electricity, so much it would have required increasing the power supply to the site. This is why the dealer preferred the Panasonic Gas VRF solution, a system capable of providing heating and air conditioning without causing an increase in energy costs.  

An air ventilation system combining aesthetics, efficiency and innovation
The heating and air conditioning system had to meet strict criteria. It had to respect the design of the site and the Renault-Nissan visual identity while providing maximum comfort to customers and employees and limiting the site’s electrical consumption. Particular care was taken with the aesthetics. Panasonic preferred interior units that were as discreet as possible (ductable), and customized the housings to the colours of the dealership so as to integrate them harmoniously with the decor.  

Panasonic VRF, combining simplicity and effectiveness
Split into two buildings, the Romans-sur-Isère dealership’s footprint exceeds 1450 m² with offices, sales areas, delivery areas, and a computer room.   No fewer than 30 interior units were installed (high-pressure ductable units for the sales areas, housings and wall units from the offices, two mini splits for the computer room and is the after-sales area) and two ECO G VRF units placed on the roof of the building. The reversible system can provide either heat or cooling in optimal conditions of comfort: each room is independent with a temperature control by thermostat. “This dealership is the perfect demonstration of the advantage of a gas VRF solution, especially when the site to be air-conditioned is subject to severe energy constraints,” highlights Hervé Guillard, manager at Panasonic Heating and Cooling in France.  

Focus on the Panasonic Gas VRF
A professional solution, the Panasonic GHP VRF range is a market leader. This range has been specifically designed to save energy, especially for projects subject to restrictions in electrical power. These systems offer high effectiveness and performance with maximum relia bility. They enable considerable energy savings. Using Panasonic Gas VRF limits maintenance costs and is the perfect solution to heating, air-conditioning and cooling needs. The noise level is considerably reduced, which is particularly important to guarantee the acoustic comfort of users and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Air Conditioning System: FSM LA1 Series: 239 systems
Twenty series: 538 systems
Cooling Capacity: 6,425 kW / 1,825 USRT
Indoor Units:
Low-static ducted: 999 units
Twenty ducted: 538 units

This residential development includes 253 houses—247 of which are semi-detached—with floor areas ranging from 198 to 271 m². Each house is appointed with a garage, a garden, and a rooftop balcony.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 42 outdoor units
Cooling Capacity: 1,834 kW / 524 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted: 135 units
4-Way Cassette: 128 units
High-static ducted: 20 units
Control System:
Intelligent controller: 2 systems (with web monitoring)
Wired remote controller: 283 units

The Bekasi Hospital is a government hospital that serves the community of the Indonesian city of Bekasi, West Java.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 21 outdoor units
Cooling Capacity: 989 kW / 281 USRT
Indoor Units:
High- & mid-static ducted: 116 units
Control System:
P-AIMS basic software with communication adapter: 1 system
Wired remote controller: 116 units

The Persada Hospital in the city of Malang is a modern five-storey medical facility that covers an area of one hectare. The hospital currently runs three operating theatres, an imaging and radiology centre, and a number of intensive care units, pediatric wards, and in-patient clinics.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 3-Way ECOi MF1 Series: 55 systems
Cooling Capacity: 1,498 kW / 426 USRT
Indoor Units:
1-Way Cassette: 235 units
4-Way Cassette: 61 units
Slim low-static ducted: 142 units
Low-silhouette ducted: 74 units
Wall mounted: 18 units
Control System:
Intelligent controller: 3 systems
Communication adapter: 3 systems
Simplied remote controller: 530 units

Shippensburg University is a public university located on a rural campus in south-central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1871 as Cumberland Valley State Normal School, the university serves the educational, cultural, and social needs of students not only from throughout Pennsylvania but also from other states and from overseas. Shippensburg currently has a student base of around 7,000 full-time undergraduates and 1,300 full-time graduates, taught by around 300 full-time and 130 part-time academic staff. Since 1985, many of the university’s original historic buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

An Ideal Choice for Educational Institutions
A Panasonic VRF system was recently installed in one of Shippensburg’s student residences. Having earlier considered a four-pipe hydronic system, the university found the Panasonic solution to be more cost effective. The system allows each dormitory room to be heated or cooled as needed, and heat recovery makes the entire building highly energy efficient. Panasonic’s local representative, Envirocon Associates, Inc., designed and implemented the project. As well as ensuring correct installation, Envirocon performed extensive system diagnostics and programming. Shippensburg’s satisfaction is evident in its plans to install Panasonic ECOi VRF systems in three further buildings.

Air Conditioning System: FSV ME1 Series: 38 systems
Cooling Capacity: 1,487 kW / 422 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted: 17 units
4-Way Cassette: 217 units

The Technopark of Nobosibirsk Academgorodok was established to provide a base for innovation in technology. The first section of the complex was designed specifically for businesses working in the field of nanotechnology. Other sections of the technology park host companies focusing on a variety of areas in information technology.

Gennevilliers, France, 30th April 2014 – A winery based in the small village Boutiers-Saint-Trojan, France, is benefitting from a Panasonic VRF system which supplies exact temperature requirements for the wine making process and is achieving outstanding results.

As many wine connoisseurs will already be aware, the winemaking process is a delicate and controlled art. The pressures, pumps and presses, and most importantly, the heat, must all work to precise figures in order for a high quality product to be made.  

The winery owners had been using electricity to power the coolers required for the important fermentation process. This traditional method proved inadequate with fluctuating power supplies that provoked power cuts and affected the smooth running of the harvest.  

A temporary solution was found with the rental of a generator, but this was an expensive and short term solution. A group study was conducted, to compare gas and electricity sources for the most efficient units in terms of power and cost.  

With the results landing in gas-powered favour and with a pre-existing gas supply on the winery site, winery consulting firm, Vinithermo Consulting, specified Panasonic’s ECO G High Performance VRF System as the ideal solution.  

Panasonics VRF range is the market leader in the professional heating and cooling market. All models are noticeably easy to install and quiet to run, whilst maintaining good thermal control and a particularly high level of performance. Its annual operating costs are particularly low, suggesting a real alternative to systems running on electricity.  

Panasonics ECO G System not only works as a power supply to the wine chiller, but the engine, which is fuelled by natural gas or LPG, is also used as a heat generator for this project. The heat generated by the operation of the engine is retrieved using a specific exchanger. This is then used to preheat the domestic hot water used by the winery owners.  

"The transition from cooling to heating is performed quickly and without complication,” says winery owners, Serge Renaud and Damien. “The installation has worked throughout the harvest period of 2013 to the highest levels we have achieved and offered a good level of performance. Huge gas and energy savings have already been made in our first harvest since installing this unit with an expected return on investment being achieved within a short three years. ”

Air Conditioning System: FSV ME1 Series: 47 systems
Cooling Capacity: 1,605 kW / 456 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted: 115 units
4-Way Cassette: 49 units
Ceiling: 59 units
Low-static ducted: 60 units

Words from the designer and installer:
When we were designing this project, we had to maintain a balance between cost, reliability, and technical parameters. A major issue was the climate in Novosibirsk, which is extremely tough on VRF systems—it’s common to see rapid and very large temperature changes here. So the installed system had to be able to function effectively within stable operational parameters and provide totally reliable air conditioning for the shopping mall.
In the end, our decision to choose a Panasonic VRF system was influenced by our own personal experience, as well as by the recommendations of some business colleagues who were already using a Panasonic system.

System: Panasonic Air-to-Water Heat Pumps
Installation Capacity: 5 x 24/28 kW
Owner: Brabrand Boligforening
Installation Year: 2014

Background: Brabrand Boligforening has constructed 75 low-energy houses in Hasselager near Århus. The houses have been constructed in clusters with 15 houses sharing a single heat pump installation. The first families moved in in the fall of 2013.

Project Challenge: To construct low-energy houses, which are self-sufficient in water and heating supply. The carbon-neutral houses have been constructed in accordance with the new 2020 low-energy regulations.

Solution: Each house cluster is supplied with hot water and heating from a Panasonic T-CAP Air-to-Water Heat Pump, which is powered by a solar cell system.
The T-CAP Air-to-Water Heat Pump maintains its heating capacity down to -15ºC. All heat pumps are supplied with a HPM1 control system.

Building Energy Analysis: The houses have been constructed in accordance with the new 2020 low-energy regulations, and maintain a very low energy consumption for room heating and production of hot water.

Control: Panasonic Intelligent control with energy distribution for central controller, with web setting for monitoring from distance.

Spec-in co.: HVAC Engineering A/S
Installer co.: HVAC Engineering A/S
Project Management: HVAC Engineering A/S
Distributor: Air-Con A/S

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 19 systems
Single split: 67 systems
Cooling Capacity: 1,519 kW / 432 USRT
Indoor Units:
4-Way Cassette: 46 units
Mid-static ducted: 39 units
Control System:
P-AIMS basic software with communication adapter: 1 system
Wired remote controller: 46 units
Wireless remote controller: 39 units

Panasonic has a long history in Hong Kong. This was the first overseas market where Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita sold his company’s products, in partnership with the Shun Hing Group. Today, Panasonic carries this legacy forward by providing Hong Kong businesses with energy- and space-efficient air conditioning solutions. This 31-storey office building on King Yip Road is located on a total site area of around 930 m², with each floor providing around 450 m² of usable area. The installed Panasonic FSM VRF air conditioning systems achieve an average cooling capacity of about 70 kW per floor.

Air Conditioning System: FSV ME1 Series: 42 systems
Cooling Capacity: 2,045 kW / 581 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted: 7 units
Low-static ducted: 20 units
4-Way Cassette: 250 units
Control System:
Wired remote controller: 277 units

Words from the installer:
Modern high-end office buildings demand high-end comfort, and that includes air quality. For this project, we opted for a sophisticated Panasonic ECOi VRF system to comprehensively fulfil all of the installation requirements. We used a wide array of different indoor units that deliver significant energy savings and that can be controlled centrally. The government client was highly satisfied with the solution.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 3-Way ECOi MF1 Series: 18 systems
Cooling Capacity: 656 kW / 186 USRT
Indoor Units:
4-Way Cassette: 6 units
High- & mid-static ducted: 51 units
Ventilation System:
ERV ZDY2 series: 46 units
Control System:
Wired remote controller: 51 units
T10 connection for ERV: 36 points
Intelligent controller: 2 systems

Opened in 2012, Le Centurie is a shopping complex located in the province of Padua in northeastern Italy. So that it could integrate with a surrounding area rich in historical buildings, the mall was built primarily with natural materials. Just over half of its total area of 40,000 m² is devoted to merchandising, with 40 commercial spaces offering fashion, electronics, homeware, and health and beauty products.

Sai Aarav Motors is a Nissan auto dealership located in the Gujarati city of Mehsana. The company’s new showroom was recently constructed in a favourable location in the historic part of Mehsana, close to the city’s main tourist attractions.

Air Conditioning System: VRF Master Series: 966 systems
Room air conditioners: 458 systems
Cooling Capacity: 16,737 kW / 4,755 USRT
Indoor Units:
Slim low-static ducted: 3,062 units
Wall Mounted: 886 units
Control System:
Wired controllers: 1,178 units
Wired remote controllers: 2,682 units

Panasonic Appliances Air-Conditioning (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (PAPAGZ) installed energy-efficient VRF inverter-type air conditioners in a new deluxe condominium in Guangzhou. To preserve the exterior appearance of the buildings, PAPAGZ held in-depth consultations with the client regarding the installation space for the outdoor units. The client chose Panasonic because of the company’s excellent brand image, the proven cost performance of its products, and its adherence to strict Japanese levels of quality control. Another key factor was the close location of its plant in Guangzhou, which allowed PAPAGZ to respond quickly to customer needs before, during, and after the installation process.

Air Conditioning System: FSM LA1 Series: 67 systems
Twenty series: 105 systems
Cooling Capacity: 1,391 kW / 395 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted: 150 units
Twenty ducted: 105 units

Located at the waterfront in Wanchai, this modern and well-appointed 41-floor residential building contains 177 units, each of which enjoys an expansive harbour view. Units in the 160 metre-high building feature 3.5-metre ceilings and range in size from 46 to 372 m². Amenities include the Skyclub on the top floors, which includes a gym and an indoor heated swimming pool, and the third-floor podium garden with mini lawn-bowls court. The Gloucester has already received the BEAM Society of Hong Kong’s coveted Platinum accreditation.

Air Conditioning System: Inverter multi-split room air conditioner
Indoor Units:
Wall mounted S series (with ECONAVI)
Control System:
Panasonic HEMS

The Singapore government has designated sections of the city’s Punggol urban development as test areas for eco-friendly home energy solutions. Panasonic recently supplied a number of households there with new air conditioners and sophisticated Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) that help families monitor their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and cut their utility bills. Families that used the Panasonic system were full of praise for its convenience and operability by smartphone. They reported that the system increased their awareness of energy consumption and helped them to make positive changes to their lifestyles.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV LE1 Series: 156 systems
Cooling Capacity: 2,338 kW / 664 USRT
Indoor Units:
Slim low-static ducted M1 series: 210 units
Mid-static ducted F2 series: 147 units
Control System:
Wired remote controllers: 357 units

Targeting business people working in the Panama Pacifico area, Mosaic is a sophisticated urban residential development comprising 145 condo apartments. The team of engineers and architects working on the Mosaic project considered many alternatives before deciding on a Panasonic air conditioning solution. Influencing the client’s choice was Panasonic’s track record of quality and reliability, allied to the fact that it offered the most cost-effective and space-efficient solution. After analysing the architectural plans, Panasonic engineers proposed a solution incorporating multi-split systems that allow each apartment to use a single outdoor unit to service several indoor units.

Air Conditioning System: 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 22 systems
Cooling Capacity: 802 kW / 228 USRT
Indoor Units:
High-static ducted: 5 units
High wall: 5 units
4-Way Cassette: 28 units
1-Way Cassette: 6 units
Ducted: 95 units
Control System:
Wired and wireless remote controllers

The name Royal Orchids is synonymous with high-end residential projects in the Delhi region. Having established itself as a major player in Delhi with numerous completed projects, Royal Orchids specialises in converting land into eco-green homes that are fully equipped with modern conveniences. The Eco-Green Homz project was built in South Delhi’s affluent Defence Colony district, a locality that is home to numerous notable Indian figures.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 96 systems
Cooling Capacity: 2,184 kW / 620 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted K1 series: 476 units
High-static ducted E1 series: 3 units
Control System:
Wired remote controller: 385 units

Heera Windfaire is a new residential development in the town of Ernakulum, the commercial capital for the state of Kerala. The Heera Group is engaged in a diverse range of business activities that include property development, hotel operation, civil contracting, and tourism-related projects. The Group harnessed 20 years of experience in high-end residential property development when building the 95 luxury apartments that comprise the Heera Windfaire project.

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 109 systems
Cooling Capacity: 5,370 kW / 1,526 USRT
Indoor Units:
4-Way Cassette: 537 units
Control System:
System controller: 10 systems
Communication adapter: 5 systems (for 3rd party BACnet IFU)

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 99 systems
Cooling Capacity: 3,667 kW / 1,042 USRT
Indoor Units:
High-static ducted: 153 units
Control System:
System controller: 2 systems
Schedule timer: 2 systems
Intelligent controller: 1 system (with web monitoring)

Air Conditioning System: VRF 3-Way FSV MF2 Series: 8 systems
Cooling Capacity: 302 kW / 86 USRT
Indoor Units:
Wall Mounted K1 Series: 112 units
4-Way Cassette U1 Series: 4 units
Control System:
P-AIMS Central Controller: 1 system
Wired Remote Controller: 116 units

Air Conditioning System: VRF 2-Way FSV ME1 Series: 14 outdoor units
Cooling Capacity:  677 kW / 193 USRT
Indoor Units:
High- & Mid-static Ducted: 94 units
4-Way Cassette: 17 units
Wall Mounted: 21 units
Control System:
Wired Remote Controller: 132 units

Words from the River Park managing director:
The main reason we chose a Panasonic VRF system was for its cost performance. Our decision took into account the costs associated with the VRF equipment, the installation, and ongoing operation—an important point that a lot of companies don’t consider.
Knowing the strong reputation of the Panasonic brand also helped us feel confident in our choice, as did the recommendations of business colleagues who have recently installed Panasonic systems in their buildings.

Norwich, UK.
Type of project: Refurbishment
Installer Company: Fridge Spares Wholesalers (FSW)
Year installation: 2012

Background: After responding to customer feedback, the Mercure Norwich Hotel’s owners embarked on a project to install in-room air conditioning to enhance the comfort of their stay.

Project Challenge: The hotel required stylish indoor units, capable of providing cost-effective, reliable air conditioning in the 68 bedrooms of the hotel.

Solution: 45 Panasonic Etherea ECONAVI air conditioning units were fitted because the innovatively eco-friendly units proved to be an all-round cost-effective and energy-saving solution. Panasonic’s Etherea range incorporates the innovative Econavi technology. Econavi features an intelligent human activity sensor to optimise air conditioner operation according to room conditions – it detects and reacts to human presence and activities.

Building Energy analysis: The hotel rooms are now constantly monitored with the ECONAVI sensors and patrol systems; detecting human presence and levels of activity, adjusting the cooling, heating and air flow levels accordingly.

3rd Party Comments: “Fundamentally the ECONAVI system within Panasonic’s air conditioning wall mounts really sold it to us as suppliers and advisors. We knew from the off-set that contractors and consumers alike can see the obvious benefits from the Etherea’s energy saving initiative”, says Peter Emanuel, Air Conditioning Product Manager of FSW.

Background
Housed in a building built in the year 1883, neoclassical style, was one of the first palaces that were built in one corner of the District of l'Eixample in Barcelona. The 5* Grand Luxe hotel, which opened its doors in 1992, integrates the façade of the old palace with a modern glass structure. In 2012 the building replaced its existing air-conditioning system with Panasonic’s ECOi system. The 120-room hotel also has a gallery of Egyptian art from the collection of Jordi Clos.

Challenge of the project
The challenge presented by this project was to replace an existing VRF system without affecting the normal activity of hotel. The main objectives were to reduce running costs, provide a more comfortable atmosphere with more precise temperature control, and quieter operation for guests. In addition, the property required excellent after-sales service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The solution
The heat recovery system is ideal for a hotel of this category. A smart combination of 2 pipe and heat recovery units significantly reduced the investment costs, without affecting the requirements of comfort. Thanks to the modularity of the system ECOi, the installation was performed plant-by-plant without affecting the normal activity of hotel.

Control
The integrated system control was provided by the KNX/EIB interface and in addition, a central touch panel with web server (CZ-256ESMC2) was installed for centralized system control


INSTALLED SOLUTION

ECOi Range (Electric VRF)

Outdoor Units:
ECOi Heat Recovery: 12 x U-14MF1E8
ECOi 2 Pipe: 1 x U-8ME1E8; 5 x U-10ME1E8; 2 x U-14ME1E8
Mini ECOi: 3 x U-6LE1E8

Indoor Units
Duct Type MM: 3 x S-22MM1E51; 60 x S-28MM1E51; 99 x S-36MM1E5; 27 x S-45MM1E5
Hi Static Pressure ME: 1 x S-73ME1E5; 6 x S-106ME1E5; 5 x S-140ME1E5; 1 x S-224ME1E5; 5 x S-280ME1E5
Ducted Standard MF: 1 x S-56MF1E5; 1 x S-140MF1E5
Ceiling MT: 3 x S-45MT1E5

Controls:
Hard Wired Wall Controller: 233 x CZ-RTC2
Centralized Touch Screen: 1 x CZ-256ESMC2.

Connectivity and BMS:
Interface KNX/EIB: 2 x PAW-AC-KNX-128.

System: GHP + hydraulic kit
Installation capacity: 822 kW
installation Year: 2013

Background
INPS institute is the most complex social security institution in Europe. By implementing standards and laws that govern the world of social security, INPS manages more than 500 articles concerning social security. Each Italian region has provincial headquarters. One of the provincial headquarters in Tuscany is located in Siena, via Lippo Memmi, near the centre of the town just 10 minutes far from the famous square Piazza del Campo. Its dimension is 9,237 square meters and it is divided into two floors.

Challenge of the project
First challenge: best economical tender.
Second challenge: In order to improve the energy efficiency and the value of the building the owner has decided the refurbishment of the building office for INPS (Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale). The building is near some residences and the consultant needs outdoor units with a low level of noise and respect the restriction on power to run conventional HVAC installation.

The solution
The heating and cooling system air to water is composed by 13 Gas Heat Pumps 2 way and 13 hydraulic kits, connected to the existing water indoor units. Each hydraulic kit controls a pump to move the water in the existing plant. The choice of this solution was determined by the following benefits: best economical tender, high performance in heating and cooling in severe weather conditions, powerful cooling/heating of the rooms, quite mode of the outdoor units, flexibility of installation.

Control
13 wired timer remote controllers were installed to set actions for each day and for service information

INSTALLED SOLUTION

GHP + hydraulic kit

Outdoor units 
1 x U-16GE2E5      
5 x U-20GE2E5      
7 x U-25GE2E5       

Indoor units 
6 x S-500WX2E5    
7 x S-710WX2E5    

Controls 
13 x CZ-RTC2

Owner: C’è Casa e Casa Srl Boves (CN), New building in Italy
System: Aquarea High Performance 9 kW
Outdoor unit WH-UD09CE5-A,
Indoor unit WH-SDF09C3E5
Inst. capacity: 9 kW
Installer company.: Termoblu
Project Management: Marco Mauro - Architettura e Costruzioni Srl
Year installation: 2012  

Background:
KlimaHouse Gold is the first residential villa in Piemonte to benefit from the installation of two 9kW Aquarea High Performance units. Located in rural North West Italy, Panasonic’s renewable heating system is part of a major rebuild project, with the now modern villa replacing a traditional local mountain house.

Project Challenge:
The challenge for this project included specifying a product for heating systems and sanitary hot water, which would satisfy the Gold Class energy certificate technical requirements; energy-efficient as well as fairly priced.
    
Solution:
Technically advanced and cost-effective, Panasonic’s 9 kW Aquarea High Performance heat pump is also compatible with a solar panel system and therefore proved the ideal solution for this challenging project.

3rd Party Comments:
“We recommended this model because of its high technical characteristics and great value for money in comparison with others on the market" - Luca Giordano, Distributor.
“We have compared many products and done technical scrutinizing, but no one guaranteed the same results of Aquarea  system"- David Parola, Owner/Contractor
“We had no problems at all, this product is intuitive and easy to install” – Michele Pellegrino, Installer

System: 2-way ECOi system, 6 O/U 
Inst. capacity: 3x76 kW (heating) 3x16 kW (hot water)
Owner: Block Watne AS, new installation in Drammen (Norway) 
Year Installation: 2013 

Background:  Bergås Terasse is a new condominium complex, under construction in the outskirts of Drammen, some 50 km west of Oslo. It consists of three block buildings with 14 apartments each and a common garage underneath. The first families will move in into the apartments in the summer of 2013.

Project Challenge: Norwegian regulations prohibits the use of oil or gas heating, or electrical radiators for heating new houses. It also stipulates that a minimum of 60 per cent of the energy consumption has to come from alternative/renewable sources. District heating was not an alternative, as it isn’t available at the location. And a geothermal energy system was too expensive.

Solution: An air-to-air heat pumps provide the heating, and is combined with a heat recovery system. Each of the apartments has its own duct unit. There is also an additional four wallhanged units per house for the common areas (entrances and staircases). The hot water is produced with air-to-water heat pumps. The outdoor units are placed in separate building, to reduce noise, save valuable indoor space and facilitate service.

Building Energy analysis:  The houses are built according to the very strict Norwegian building code TEK10, and have very low energy consumption for room heating and production of hot water.

Control: Panasonic Intelligent control with energy distribution for central controller, with web setting for monitoring from distance. Each apartment has a Panasonic Simplified controller installed.

3rd Party Comments: Mr. Niklas Kiiveri   (EcoConsult A/S, Project manager company):   There have been many difficulties under way in this project, but so far they have all been solved during the process. There is no other project in the Nordics to compare with, so with help from Panasonic we went out in Europe to find one that was as alike as possible. We also had to build up a “new” in house faculty understanding parallel to the plumbing, electrical, ventilation and carpenter competences already well-established in the construction team. The buildings might also need place for a cooling system. But our first opinion is that the VRF system absolutely is here as a viable solution for the future building culture in the Nordics.

Spec-in co.: EcoConsult AS 
Installer co.: Totaltek AS 
Construction co.: Block Watne AS 
Project Management: EcoConsult AS
Installation Data
Range: ECOi

This was the choice taken by a family from Devon who has recently installed an Aquarea 14kW High Connectivity Heat Pump with 300 litre water cylinder in her home.
Debra is certainly reaping the benefits of switching; “The Aquarea system allows us to control exactly how much energy we’re using over the course of 12 months. With our old oil based system we were totally at the mercy of the charges imposed by the energy supplier. We can now predict our energy costs as we can shop around for an energy supplier that can give us a good price for our electricity. The unit is so economical and is saving us between £600-£900 per year, just to do exactly what our old oil-fired system did before.”

When restaurant chain Carluccio’s wanted to reduce their energy bills as well as their carbon footprint, it was the Panasonic Aquarea air to water heat pump system that provided them with the perfect sustainable solution. The implementation of an intelligent and effective system by FWP UK Ltd and Oceanair granted this project first place in the 2015 Panasonic PRO Awards under the category “best restaurant project”.

Installers, FWP Air Conditioning, together with distributor Oceanair were asked to install a system which would provide the desired volume of hot water, at the correct temperature while at the same time reducing energy costs. 

The attraction of super energy-efficient heat pump technology continues to grow and with the Government continuing to demand that businesses make big cuts to their carbon emissions, heat pump technology can help them to do so in an efficient way.  

Following a consultation with Carluccio’s, it was decided that their new site in the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield would be the ideal location as it had the correct attributes for the installation of an air to water heat pump system.  Previous restaurants in the chain had been fitted with a more traditional 12kW boiler system.  

FWP installed a 12kW Aquarea T-CAP mono bloc unit which would allow  for the free air from the kitchen roof space to be transferred through condensing unit providing hot water at the optimum temperature.  With a high coefficient of performance (COP), for every kW of electricity the system uses, it provides 4kW of energy. This makes the Aquarea far more cost effective than a conventional heating system.

The Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pump converts the latent thermal energy found in fresh air into clean, efficient and sustainable heating and hot water. The conversion process (transferring heat from one place to another) is made possible by advanced inverter-driven technology that is similar to a domestic refrigerator.  

Meters were installed on the units to monitor energy use of the heat pump and immersion heaters since it was installed.  Commenting on the savings achieved, Tony Evanson from Oceanair said: “When Carluccio’s compared the Sheffield site to one of their existing restaurants of a similar size, the energy savings were considerable.  To heat the water for their Leeds restaurant cost £3782 whilst at the Meadowhall site the comparable cost was just £951. These sizable savings mean the site will see a return on investment in about 2 years and has achieved a COP of about 3.91.”

The T CAP (Total Capacity) line-up from Panasonic is able to maintain the same nominal capacity even at -15°C without the help of an electrical booster heater. T-CAP is also able to provide extremely high efficiency, whatever the outside temperature.

Compact mono-bloc air-to-water heat pumps are perfect for where space is at a premium as it was in the restaurant. Panasonic’s Aquarea 12kW mono-blocs combine the outdoor and indoor units into one package that is simple to install and easy to operate.  

Alison Stanton, Development Director from Carluccio’s said: “We strive for sustainability wherever possible right across our business and were keen to trial air to water heat pumps at our new Sheffield restaurant.  The results of the trial show us that we can achieve significant savings on our energy costs as well as reducing our carbon footprint.  We hope to now install Aquarea units at all of our new developments and potentially retro fit ASHPs to our existing 50 restaurants.”

Panasonic has partnered with Cool Planet, the renewable energy design and installation arm of British Gas, to deliver an industry-leading, eco heating solution for the BASF House, part of the ground-breaking Creative Energy Homes Project at the University of Nottingham.  

Cool Planet has retrofitted Panasonic’s pioneering Aquarea air-to-water heat pump technology at this showcase home for housing innovation and energy efficient design.  

The aim of the Creative Homes Project is to demonstrate compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes using low energy principles from the PassivHaus standard. As one of seven homes constructed on Green Close, near Nottingham University’s Department of the Built Environment, the BASF House allows assessment of various low carbon and renewable energy technologies, providing the University with invaluable performance data. With its eco-efficient house, BASF demonstrates its competencies as one of the leading providers of products, systems and solutions for sustainable construction.  

Following the completion of testing on a biomass boiler, Cool Planet installed a 9 kW Aquarea monobloc unit in the BASF House in spring 2011. The installation was completed quickly and efficiently, without Cool Planet even having to change the property’s hot water cylinder.  

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the partnership of Panasonic and Cool Planet on this retrofit project” says Gill Kelleher, Project Manager for the BASF House. “From day one they’ve got to grips with the unique technical challenges and installed a simple to understand and operate ASHP (Air Source Heat Pump) solution whilst not forgetting to give outstanding customer service that everyone expects from a company like British Gas”. The Aquarea unit is proving itself an efficient performer. It serves the 2-storey dwelling’s wet radiator system and is capable of raising the water temperature within the hot water cylinder from 27oC (typical overnight standing temperature) up to 43oC (typical acceptable hot water temperature) within 1 hour.  

Because it uses air as the energy source, Aquarea also sets the standard for air-to-water heat pump energy efficiency. It can provide fuel bill savings of up to 78% compared to direct electric heating.  The system generates a COP of 4.74 which means that for every kW of electricity consumed, it returns 4.74 kW of energy, i.e. 3.74 kW more than a conventional electric heating system which has a maximum COP of 1.   Post graduate students living in the BASF House are able to monitor and control the operation of the Aquarea system through a special touch-panel Web-brick display interface.  

Xiaofeng Zheng, Nottingham PhD student, adds “We’re very impressed with Panasonic’s Aquarea air-to-water heat pump. We were surprised at both its intelligence and ability to make our life as tenants easier. I can’t believe how quiet and easy it is to control.” 

Panasonic’s Aquarea is the most comprehensive, versatile and cost-effective range of air-to-water heat pumps on the market. It features heat pumps from 7 to 16 kW, single and three-phase alongside stand-alone and split-units. These high-efficiency heat pumps are designed to operate at outside temperatures as low as –20°C, and also provide cooling in summer.  

Three versions are available. The Standard Heat Pump, as installed at the BASF House, the High Temperature Heat Pump (water output temperature of 65°C) and the Aquarea T-CAP (T-CAP for Total capacity) which is able to provide heating and hot water, whilst keeping the same nominal capacity, even at -15°C. 

Background: Controlled temperature and monitoring is a necessity for any facility dealing with pharmaceutical storage and manufacturing processes. DDD Pharmaceuticals’ new site in Watford not only required controlled cooling for the warehouse, but also heating and cooling facilities for the offices at the plant.

Project Challenge: DDD Pharmaceuticals provides a complete service for manufacturing pharmaceutical products for clients in the health and beauty sectors. As with most pharmaceutical products, to maintain the safety, performance and efficiency of a product, the environment in which the item is manufactured, stored and distributed must be carefully maintained.  With around 15-tonnes of product on-site, a reliable solution was required.

Solution: For the manufacturing and storage phase at DDD, Panasonic’s new ECOi VRF range was specified as the ideal solution for the plant. Seven 16kW cooling only cassettes were installed in the pharmaceutical facility, with a further five to heat and cool in the offices, all piped from the same outdoor units.

Building Energy analysis: To meet the requests of DDD, TF Solutions opted to use Panasonic’s ECOi outdoor units with the indoor cassettes. The units are able to achieve an incredible COP performance of up to 4.04 when cooling and 4.56 whilst heating – giving excellent savings. The installation also makes the site compliant of the R22 regulations.

3rd Party Comments: “The requirement at DDD, although not unique, was somewhat complex” explains John Wakefield, designer of the HVAC installation at DDD. “Whilst constant and recordable conditions were required in the pharmaceutical storage and manufacturing facilities, we also needed a system that could provide adjustable heating and cooling to other onsite amenities. The Panasonic solution allowed for us to combine both these needs into one system, allowing for simultaneous operations whilst only requiring one set of outdoor units.”  

Hinkley, UK
Type of project: Refurbishment

Installer Company: Pick Everard.
Year installation: 2012

Background: The ailing chiller system serving the National Grid’s Hinckley critical call centre needed to be replaced.  National Grid needed a reliable and cost-effective solution.

Project Challenge: The Hinckley plant houses the highly important gas leak call centre that runs 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. It was crucial for the system to not only be dependable, but also be highly energy efficient.

Solution: The Pansonic ECO-G system installed allowed for more efficient control and performance. The National Grid site’s existing system of two chillers was replaced by seven Panasonic ECO-G’s. This technique of using multiple systems provides a much higher resilience compared to only one or two units. If a fault in one arises, the combination of heat pumps ensures that it is able to provide continuity of service.  

Building Energy analysis: The new ECO-G system installed on site has been a very straight forward transition. Not only do the units provide continuous service to the site, they have also allows the costs involved in running the units to be significantly reduced.    

3rd Party Comments: “The ECO-G system installed allowed for more efficient control and performance,” explains Jeff Fleming from Pick Everard, installers of the project. “With the highest reliability rate, the ECO-G ensures individual and efficient control and performance. This is a far more convenient method, and reduces the overall consumption of the unit, removing unnecessary wastage that would result from more traditional air conditioning systems.”

Barnstaple, Devon, UK
Type of project: New build
Specifying company: Energy Specialists
Installer Company: e-Future Plumbing Year installation: 2012

Background: An eco-house, donated by local builders Loosemore & Son, gives students hands-on experience of training on the latest energy-saving equipment, providing some of the first steps on the ladder to becoming competent installers in the building services industry.

Solution: The timber-framed house, containing a Panasonic heat pump, originally designed to have the same layout as a modern home – living areas, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms – has now been adapted to create a training environment with workshops, classrooms and offices.

Building Energy analysis: The Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP monobloc system gives students the opportunity to get to grips with the latest heat pump technology. Panasonic’s T-CAP heat pump produces water temperatures of 50 to 55’C and is a super-efficient way of reducing heating costs dramatically by up to 65 per cent. The system achieves an impressive COP (Coefficient of Performance) efficiency of 4.47.    

3rd Party Comments: “I like the Panasonic Aquarea T-CAP. It is very efficient and quick to heat up. We needed a high temperature heat pump for the job and this was just right. The T-CAP is excellent for retro-fits, coping well with the temperatures necessary to run the radiators in a house of this size, something other heat pumps are not able to do.”  Darren Kirk, of efuture Plumbing and Renewables