11 November 2025
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Barnfield College in Luton has addressed air quality needs and environmental concerns with the first UK installation of Aermec’s six-pipe CPS system and NRP chiller.
The CPS six-pipe multifunction unit efficiently delivers simultaneous heating and cooling and provides domestic hot water up to 73ºC. It was launched in mainland Europe at the start of 2024 and is now contributing to the decarbonisation of the college campus.
In previous building projects Barnfield College had relied on VRF systems and traditional boilers for hot water. But it was keen to explore alternative solutions that could offer tangible energy-efficiency improvements in its buildings and the reductions in energy loads and carbon footprints that it was looking to achieve.
The latest project is the second phase of the college's development, providing a four-storey facility on the New Bedford Road College campus, replacing the current campus on Enterprise Way which provides construction and engineering courses.
Aermec collaborated with its Irish distributor, Shilliday Refrigeration, Irwin M&E and building services consultants WP3, who focused on the college’s environmental impact and the need to ensure the new building was resource and energy efficient.
WP3 Director James Everdell said: “Aermec’s innovative 6-pipe solution aided us in resolving the trade-off between low-grade heat efficiencies and high-temperature domestic hot water production inherent in modern energy efficient systems. Aermec and Shilliday’s input into our extensive and iterative energy and carbon modelling allowed us to optimise function and operational efficiency for Barnfield College year-round.''
David Evans, Aermec’s National Sales Manager, added: “We have delivered a cost-effective, intelligent HVAC solution that optimises the building’s energy use and carbon emissions.”
Along with the CPS multi-function unit, an NRP chiller, TRS heat recovery units and 64 VED fan coil units (FCUs) were specified due to the efficiencies, reductions in carbon emissions and the superior acoustics offered by the FCUs.
The multi-function unit provides high efficiency even with partial loads and provides a cooling capacity of 164.2kW to 491.1kW and a heating capacity of 175.6kW up to 504kW. This provides Barnfield with simultaneous medium temperature hot water for heating and low temperature water for cooling as well as direct hot water (DHW) at 70°C at the same time.
Calorifiers are used to store the hot water equalling 20,000 litres and produced without flame and smoke, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to using a traditional boiler.
Cath Gunn, Principal of Barnfield College, said: "Our new state-of-the-art building is designed to meet the needs of today’s students while preparing us for a sustainable future. By incorporating cutting-edge technologies like Aermec’s HVAC system, we’re creating an environment that not only reduces emissions and energy costs but provides students with access to modern facilities that reflect real-world industry standards."
