As an industry, we are fairly hidden from the ‘average’ person, who only notices the air conditioning or heating equipment we manufacture, install and maintain, when the weather makes it hotter or colder than usual.
Yet air conditioning engineers actually have a hugely important role to play in helping us all mitigate the effects of modern life on the environment.
There is now a pressing need to address rising fuel prices, climate change and energy security, and the UK Government is introducing tough legislation to help, but clearly, this can only go so far.
Yet air conditioning engineers actually have a hugely important role to play in helping us all mitigate the effects of modern life on the environment.
There is now a pressing need to address rising fuel prices, climate change and energy security, and the UK Government is introducing tough legislation to help, but clearly, this can only go so far.
To make a real difference, everyone involved in the built environment has to work together to ensure that we all minimise energy requirement.
The country is facing stringent, legally-binding carbon reduction targets, and buildings of all forms currently accounting for over 40% of carbon emissions in the UK.
If we can address the largest draw on energy - the way we heat, cool and ventilate these buildings – even the smallest improvement will have a significant effect in reducing total energy consumption and help to lower bills.
The country is facing stringent, legally-binding carbon reduction targets, and buildings of all forms currently accounting for over 40% of carbon emissions in the UK.
If we can address the largest draw on energy - the way we heat, cool and ventilate these buildings – even the smallest improvement will have a significant effect in reducing total energy consumption and help to lower bills.
Simplifying the Controls
As the industry responsible for this equipment, we have a key role to play in ensuring that it is designed, fitted, commissioned, and maintained to deliver the most effective and efficient system.
Part of this process lies with us as the manufacturer finding more ways of increasing the efficiency of the equipment. We also need to constantly look at simplifying the controls for systems, so that end users can simply get the best out of their kit.
Part of this process lies with us as the manufacturer finding more ways of increasing the efficiency of the equipment. We also need to constantly look at simplifying the controls for systems, so that end users can simply get the best out of their kit.
Up to Speed on Energy Saving Technology
A large part though lies with you the installing engineers, who not only need to be completely up to speed on the latest energy saving technologies, you also need to be fully supported throughout the process from design-stage to customer handover.
Certainly that’s what we try to deliver on our training courses and I think it is vital that we all now approach our jobs with this energy reduction, planet saving philosophy in mind.
Certainly that’s what we try to deliver on our training courses and I think it is vital that we all now approach our jobs with this energy reduction, planet saving philosophy in mind.

Ben Bartle-Ross is a trainer at Mitsubishi Electric. If you have any comments on this column of any other training issue contact him by email: Ben.Bartle-Ross@meuk.mee.com.