Mitsubishi Electric
Joins Sustainable
Energy Campaign
As one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of heating and cooling solutions, we at Mitsubishi Electric have long pioneered the use of energy efficient air conditioning. In recognition of our leading position we’re proud to have recently been accepted as a Partner by the European Commissions Sustainable Energy Campaign.
The Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (www.sustenergy.org) is a European campaign organised by the Directorate-General for Energy & Transport of the European Commission. It aims to raise awareness and change the landscape of energy use in Europe to contribute to achieving the EU’s energy policy targets within the fields of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean transport and alternative fuels. Campaign Partners are sustainable energy public and private stakeholders who are committed to a sustainable energy project or programme intended to have a significant impact upon the related energy environment in the European Union. Mitsubishi Electric are proud to be part of the Campaign and look forward to making a huge difference.
The introduction of our Green Gateway Initiative - a bold and ambitious 10-point plan to help the UK achieve a reduction of over 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year, by the year 2016 - has resulted in us receiving welcome recognition from the EU Body.
“Our initiative allows Mitsubishi Electric to move beyond being known as solely an ‘aircon manufacturer’ and focus people’s attention on the real issues of how we provide sustainable comfort in our buildings.” commented Donald Daw, Commercial Director for the Hatfield-based company.
The Green Gateway Initiative was launched at the House of Commons in June 2007 and includes technological developments and new thinking combined with simple behavioral changes such as better maintenance regimes or simply not using just the thermostat as an on/off button. The ten individual points of the initiative focus on ways in which we can implement a significant impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions and subsequent energy bills in UK buildings by greatly reducing energy consumption. Each point focuses on the different elements of energy use in our homes and in commercial properties and they tackle issues such as: How better maintenance regimes can improve energy use and reduce bills; When it is cost effective to upgrade old equipment; and Where the real energy cuplrit is in the home and what can be done about it. Further details can be found at www.greengatewayinitiative.co.uk.
Mitsubishi Electric developed the Green Gateway Initiative after stunning the air conditioning industry in February 2007 by declaring itself against the idea of a rapid growth in the UK’s residential air conditioning market.
“The industry has long seen this as the next big sales generator, but we realised that if many of the UK’s 26 million homes install air conditioning then the energy consumption of the country would go through the roof.” said Donald Daw. “This is completely unsustainable and in actual fact, with the temperate climate of the UK there are other, more efficient ways of solving the problems of overheating in the summer for the vast majority of homes.”
The full initiative will take time to fully implement, but these examples already clearly demonstrate the scheme’s potential for success:
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•Global bank HSBC, supported by Mitsubishi Electric, has examined the use of equipment in three of its branches and found that changing old equipment for modern, inverter driven systems can halve its energy consumption. As a result HSBC now plan to invest up to £16 million to replace equipment in 800 stores, which could equate to CO2 reductions of 10,200 tonnes and operational cost savings for the bank of £2.2 million per annum.
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•In September 2007 we asked our sales team to add an extra quote to all submissions highlighting the same equipment for each job, but with the additional cost of a heat recovery system (utilises recovered energy from outgoing air to either heat or cool incoming fresh air and therefore reduce energy consumption). As a result, sales of our heat recovery range has grown significantly, which is great news for us, but more importantly, has saved over 1,620 tonnes of CO2 to date, equating to financial savings for these customers of more than £260,000.
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•Since its launch in September 2007, our Ecodan heat pump heating system has been welcomed by housebuilders and Housing Associations alike, all needing to achieve Level 3 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. Ecodan uses natural energy from the outside air to provide hot water and heating whilst offering savings in CO2 emissions of 41% and reduces running costs by up to 31% when compared to modern gas boilers.
Further information can be found at
