ebm-papst launches free energy efficiency app

ebm-papst has launched a free iphone app that calculates the energy efficiency benefits of using EC technology over AC

The app, called Go EC, calculates the annual cost of using AC technology. It asks the user to enter a small amount of information, such as the number of fans, operational uptime and cost per kWh, and then compares this with relative cost of using EC technology – which is considerably more energy efficient and, therefore, cost effective.

James Cooper, product manager at ebm-papst UK, said: “EC technology has been shown to be, on average, 30% more energy efficient than conventional AC technology. It is time the market fully embraced a move to EC and now we’re giving companies a quick and easy way to compare the two technologies.

“This new app provides a concise benchmarking solution which creates a compelling reason for people to go further than simply ‘thinking’ about EC technology. Most importantly, it also calculates a projected payback period, which we hope will help customers overcome their reservations about making the investment. Typically the question has been ‘why should I switch to EC?’ We hope this app will move the market closer to asking why they haven’t yet switched to EC.”

In addition to showing the annual projected cost savings, Go EC reveals the carbon savings associated with switching from AC to EC technology. With many companies signed up to the CRC Carbon Efficiency Scheme, reducing carbon emissions from air-movement technology will cut the amount of carbon allowance that they will have to purchase.

Cooper continued: “With energy security so high on the agenda, taking steps to reduce energy consumption is vitally important for all businesses, not just from a cost perspective, but also from a long-term ecological standpoint.”

The app is completely free to download and is available now from the Apple App Store, which can be accessed via your iphone, ipad or itunes.

I found this article on the RAC air conditioning magazine very interesting, you can now see all the latest HVAC news on our website www.hvacforum.co.uk under the news feed tab.

Government will learn from 'inefficient' feed-in tariff

Climate change minister Greg Barker has insisted the government must learn its lesson from the “inefficient” feed-in tariff scheme.


Speaking at the launch of the renewable heat incentive today, Mr Barker said the RHI scheme had to provide certainty for the tax payers who were funding it. Any reductions in incentives would take place through “gentle lowering of tariffs rather than them balancing on a knife edge”, he said.

Under measures to be backdated to July 2009, organisations using renewable heat will receive quarterly payments for 20 years from the date they enter the RHI scheme.

The scheme will be introduced in two phases, with up to 25,000 households supported in the first phase and the domestic market to be targeted in combination with the Green Deal from October 2012.

The minister was responding to a question about whether the government could still provide certainty in the market following its decision to fast track the feed-in tariffs review for large scale solar suppliers.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne said the government had to avoid a “boom and bust” system when trying to get off the oil hook.

He added: “I expect heat pump technologies will be the ones that will be key in terms of heating our households.”

Mr Huhne said renewable heat installers would expect to receive a 12 per cent rate of return on their investment.

He said a clinic or health centre with an energy use of 920,000 kw hour per year could expect to spend £300,000 on a ground source heat pump and would receive a subsidy of around £27,600 per year.

However commercial scale air source heat pumps will not be supported in the initial phase of the scheme but will be included from 2012.

Mr Barker said the onus was now on the renewable industry to drive down the scale of technologies so that they can be beneficial to three-bed houses and that at present, the only technology that was proven on a small scale was solar thermal heating systems.

The government also wants to see schools, hospitals and libraries undertake the scheme and said it will be focusing on non-domestic buildings for industry, business and the public sector in the initial phase of the scheme.

It is expected that around £56m will be spent on the scheme in the first year with the RHI costs rising on a steep trajectory to £860m by 2014.

Commercial Gas / Heating Engineer

Reference VAC-362
Industry Sector Air Conditioning, Combustion/Gas
Salary £31,000 to £33,000 Per Annum
Benefits Vehicle + overtime + 33 Days Holiday
Locations Avon, South Wales, United Kingdom, Wiltshire
Contract Type Any
Date Posted 18 March 2011

My client is a major UK Facilities Management company employing over 8,000 people with an impressive client base, including a major UK Retailer. We are looking for a Commercial Gas / Heating Engineer to work on the full range of HVAC equipment in retail premises. This is a permanent day shift role working on planned and reactive electrical maintenance You will hold a recognised qualification and be trained up in Commercial Gas together with ACS/Corgi registration. You will be hands on, with a can do attitude

To apply click here

Commercial Gas / Heating Engineer

Reference VAC-361
Industry Sector Air Conditioning, Combustion/Gas, Mechanical Building Services
Salary £31,000 to £33,000 Per Annum
Benefits vehicle + overtime + 33 Days Holiday
Locations Cornwall, Devon, United Kingdom
Contract Type Any
Date Posted 18 March 2011


My client is a major UK Facilities Management company employing over 8,000 people with an impressive client base, including a major UK Retailer.

We are looking for a Commercial Gas / Heating Engineer to work on the full range of HVAC equipment in retail premises.

This is a permanent day shift role working on planned and reactive electrical maintenance

You will hold a recognised qualification and be trained up in Commercial Gas together with ACS/Corgi registration.

You will be hands on, with a can do attitude.


To apply please click here

Domestic Gas Breakdown Engineer

An Experienced Domestic Gas Breakdown Engineer is required for a leading name in the industry. You will be carrying out reactive and planed maitenance on boilers and central heating systems through Oxford and Gloucester areas. You must have excellent fault finding and boiler diagnostic skills coupled with the highest Customer Service skills. You must be able to fault find and diagnose first time and have been a gas engineer carrying out Gas boiler breakdowns for some time.

In return a great package is offered which includes, a basic Salary £30k Circa + Bonus, Fully expensed van - Private use and fuel, sick pay, Pension, Life insurance, 33 days holiday and much more.

Apply for this role click here

New HVAC Forum Posts: Career/Training advice

Hi all,

Due to recently been made redundant I have had to start a new career so I am new to the refrigeration/air conditioning trade and would like some advice and information regarding RCI reports.

I have previously spent in excess of £4000.00 training to become a refrigeration/ac engineer and found that getting into the industry with a lack of previous knowledge to be very difficult. I have now got employment and have been working as a self empoyed ac installation engineer for almost one year, and although it has been a very good learning curve for me I am still interested in furthering my education/career and have an interest in doingacireports. But I have my doubts in investing my little remaining redundancy money, so would be interested if anyone could enlighten me about the quantity of work available/likelyhood of getting enough work with my very limited experience/and also would taking this course actually be a benefit to enhance my chances of gaining full time employment.

I have already completed the following training-
Refrigeration technical certifcate,
Refrigeration safe handling,
Pipework and Brazing Certificate,
F-Gas Certification,
Nvq-2 in instalation.

HVAC Vacancies

Refrigeration Engineer Cleveland, Co Durham, Northumberland, Tyne Wear, United Kingdom, £36,000 to £40,000 Per Annum, Vehicle and other company benefits

Refrigeration Engineer – M62 Corridor,

Refrigeration Engineer, Cheshire, Cumbria, Manchester, Merseyside, United Kingdom, £40,000 Per Annum, plus vehicle and other company benefits

Refrigeration Service Manager, Essex, Kent, London, United Kingdom, £38,000 to £43,000 Per Annum, Car, Bonus, Pension, Healthcare, 25 Hols

Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Engineer, London, United Kingdom, £32,000 Per Annum, t/t + o/t + van