Global warming affects us all, which is why in a time of such peril Plumbzall, one of Melbourne's leading plumbing services, has decided to go green and be a part of the green plumbing initiative. With the major changes in the climate all over the world, more people are opting for eco-friendly homes. As part of this initiative, the business has decided to increase the use of environmentally friendly fixtures that will reduce the amount of water being used in your homes. The use of products such as low-flow showerheads, flow regulators and dual flush toilets, will significantly reduce water consumption in Melbourne homes.

Plumbzall provides a number of plumbing services including heating and cooling repairs and maintenance. Provisions such as insulated pipes and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems will be part of their appliance installation process. These changes in the plumbing system will not just be targeted toward a particular system but the entire house. The business will also be providing a whole house filtration system that is energy-efficient, environment-friendly and is also good for one's overall health.

The founder and owner of Plumbzall, Mr. Gabriel Tomasini says, "in a time like this using eco-friendly material and systems within your homes is the best way to keep the environment safe as well as maintain your own health. Most of these eco-friendly installations will contribute to a reduction in water and energy consumption." Their plumber Sunbury service is said to be ready with all the material required for sustainable plumbing installations. Their team of plumbers will be urging all customers to get the installations for their plumbing systems. "Most people don't even know about these small steps they can take towards saving the environment. We are just here to inform our customers of the benefits of these sustainable installations and install the fixtures in their homes," says Mr.Tomasini.

About Plumbzall:

Based in Sunbury, Plumbzall has been in the business for several years. They provide efficient and effective plumbing services in Melbourne. Quality plumbing service provided at competitive rates by professional licensed plumbers.

Visit Plumbzall website here - https://plumbzall.com.au/

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Media ContactCompany Name: PlumbzallContact Person: Gabriel TomasiniEmail: Send EmailCity: Sunbury, MelbourneCountry: AustraliaWebsite: https://plumbzall.com.au/

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The Plumbzall Green Plumbing Initiative in Sunbury - Press Release - Digital Journal

After months of wildfires that have ravaged many parts of Australia, and the unending bushfire season showing no signs of abating, the quality of air is abysmally poor with pollution from the smoke reaching hazardous levels. From office buildings, hospitals, hotels and schools to homes, every space presents a risk for occupants from the hazardous air quality.

As a specialist in track and sealing products, Cowdroy explains in this article how you can prevent the thickening smoke from entering your home.

Stay indoors

Whenever the Bureau of Meteorology issues a poor air quality alert, try to stay indoors as much as possible with all windows and doors closed. Particle levels are likely to be higher outdoors than indoors, so if you are particularly sensitive to these, definitely limit the time you spend outside.

Run your air conditioner

Add a filter to your air conditioner to prevent smoky air from seeping into your home. When the air outside is clean, ventilate your home the natural way by opening all the windows. You could invest in a portable air filter to lower the level of indoor smoke particles. These filters also work effectively in a well-sealed room.

Install weather seals

Also known as a weather strip, a weather seal is used to seal gaps around moveable building components such as doors and windows to prevent air leaks. Cowdroy weather seals are designed to provide an infiltration barrier, preventing conditioned air from leaking out and keeping smoke, dust and insects from entering the enclosed space.

Even if your home is well-insulated, smoke can still leak in through gaps. Weather sealing your home against air leaks is one of the simple and affordable upgrades you can undertake to guard against exterior pollutants, says Peter Doyle, business development manager at Cowdroy Retail. By directly addressing air leakage, weather seals can significantly enhance occupant comfort. It is worth investing in the small things that make a big difference.

Cowdroys CM7 perimeter door seal is suitable for all single and double hinged doors (laundry doors, garage doors or entry doors) and effectively locks in thermal comfort, lowers heating and cooling bills, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions for the lifespan of your home. This PVC and rubber seal fits around the door frame for added insulation and has self-adhesive backing with optional nails.

Suitable for doors measuring up to 2100mm (H) x 1000mm (W), the CM7 is available in white and brown, can be simply cut to size, and is quick and easy to install, providing homeowners an affordable and effective solution for improving air quality and insulation within a home. This product can also be used in conjunction with CM3 automatic door seals.

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Keeping the smoke out of your home - Architecture and Design

HVAC system temperature diagnostics depend more on your skill and understanding than the accuracy of the test instrument youre using. Lets take a look at several test methods, tips, and terms to see how you can sharpen your ability to solve your customers problems.

Well focus on air temperature measurement methods for now. Well save combustion, refrigerant, hydronic, and electrical system temperature diagnostics for a future article.

Hopefully youll learn some new way to improve as you read on. I personally re-learned one method I had forgotten and saw two test methods in a new light as I wrote it. Thank goodness were still learning.

Equipment Temperature ChangeThe most common HVAC industry temperature measurement is equipment temperature change. It requires measuring air temperature into and out of the heating or cooling equipment. The two measurements are subtracted from each other to find the temperature change over the equipment.

Avoid false temperature readings. Place your probe far enough away from the coil, heat exchanger, or motor, so its surface reads only air temperature and is unaffected by radiant heat of the equipment. Some tests may require you to install test ports in the duct system to insert your probe into the most accurate position in the air stream.

To avoid false temperature readings, place your probe far enough away from the coil, heat exchanger, or motor, so its surface reads only air temperature and is unaffected by radiant heat of the equipment.

Assure equipment is operating. Equipment cycles on and off to satisfy momentary heating or cooling demands. When testing, verify the equipment is operating at full capacity and the system is stabilized. You may inspect the burners or check compressor amp draw for instantaneous verification. If the heating or cooling cycle has just ended or is just beginning, air temperatures can change up to 50%. Diagnostics are worthless under these conditions.

Delta TThe term,Delta-T, (DT ) represents the difference between two temperature measurements. Delta-T describes the most basic testing and diagnostics. To find the difference between two temperatures, subtract them from each other. For example, air temperature entering the heating equipment is 66.5 and leaving air temperature is 110.7. To find the DT between the two, do the math: 110.7 - 66.5 = 44.2. The equipment DT is 44.2.

Take related temperatures at the same time. Steady state rarely exists in the field. If the equipment is heating or cooling, the temperatures into and out of the equipment change moment to moment. Take multiple temperatures at the same time to increase accuracy.

Use calibrated instruments. When you use two different instruments, verify each reads the same as the other for accurate DT calculations. Several dual-wand instruments are now on the market that perform this function. Affordable multi-probe sensors which communicate to a data collection point are also available. These instrument packages considerably increase temperature diagnostic accuracy.

Record Temperatures to the Nearest Tenth of a DegreeOne temperature test method labeled fanatical by HVAC novices, is to read and record to the nearest tenth (.1) of a degree. Almost all digital instruments now read to the tenth of a degree, so please take the time to record the decimal place.

Allow the system temperature and instruments to stabilize. When moving a probe from room temperature air into a heating airstream, the difference may be 50or more. Allow time for the probe to stabilize and settle down before recording readings.

Many technicians watch the tenth of a degree stabilize until it remains unchanged for 10 seconds. As soon as it does, the reading is deemed stable and recorded.

See small changes as you work towards a solution. As your experience and accuracy increase and you become accustomed to watching and recording decimals, youll learn to see through changes in tenths of a degree. Then youll be hooked as you jump to the next level of skill and precision.

When Airflow Changes, Temperatures ChangeIn a cooling system, when airflow decreases, temperature change through the equipment increases. And when airflow increases, temperature change through the equipment decreases. Temperature change over the equipment increases as less pounds of air move across the coil; less pounds of air means less heat transfer, so temperature changes goes up.

Temperature change over the equipment increases as less pounds of air move across the coil; less pounds of air means less heat transfer, so temperature changes goes up.

Without measuring airflow, you assume airflow. Unless you verify airflow is delivered at equipment specifications, your temperature diagnostics will be wrong in direct proportion to your airflow diagnostics.

When technicians measure a 20 DT over cooling equipment, many assume the system performs well. But what if system airflow is at 250 cfm per ton? Is 20the right temperature change? No. It would be higher.

Plot fan airflow. A quick and easy way to determine fan airflow is to plot it from the manufacturers fan tables. Measure total external static pressure and determine the fan speed setting. These two data points can plot fan airflow on the manufacturers fan tables in minutes.

Once you know airflow, your diagnostic accuracy will skyrocket.

System Temperature Measurement MethodsMove your thermometer beyond the equipment to open an entire new world where you can discover system performance opportunities. Duct heat losses and gains are missed if you only measure equipment temperatures.

There are times when equipment in cooling mode was diagnosed to perform perfectly. But at the same time temperatures at the grilles and registers indicated the system was adding heat to the building. The culprit is duct temperature gain from a 140 attic.

Measure register temperatures behind the register. Many supply registers are designed to mix room air by throwing air streams up to the ceiling, along the wall, or along the floor. Air is mixed as the register airstream pulls room air to its face.

If air temperature is measured at the register face and not behind it, supply air temperature readings can be off by up to 40%. Use a probe that can go between the register vanes to measure supply air readings behind it.

Carefully evaluate your temperature test methods and practice the knowledge and tips offered here. Odds are youll enjoy a simple, but valuable break-through as you improve your troubleshooting skills.

Rob Doc Falke serves the industry as president of National Comfort Institute, Inc., an HVAC-based training company and membership organization. If you're an HVAC contractor or technician interested in a free test procedure to measure average register airflow, contact Doc at robf@ncihvac.com or call him at 800-633-7058. Go to NCIs website at nationalcomfortinstitute.com for free information, articles, and downloads.

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Give Homeowners What They Want A Great HVAC For A Great Price - Contracting Business

Key Companies Covered in Commercial Refrigeration Compressors Market Research Report are Carrier Corporation, Daikin Industries Ltd., Johnson Controls Pvt. Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric, Bitzer, Emerson Climate Technologies, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Rechi Precision Co., Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Huayi Compressor.

Pune, Jan. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market is projected to gain momentum from a rise in the adoption of HVAC systems by the pharmaceutical industry to preserve raw materials and medicines. According to a published report by Fortune Business Insights, titled, Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Reciprocating, Rotary, Screw, Others), By Cooling Capacity (Up to 1 kW, 1 15 kW, 15 100 kW, Above 100 kW) By Application (Refrigerator and freezer, Refrigerated Display Cases, Transport Refrigeration, Beverage Coolers and Freezers, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026, the market is projected to reach 221.7 Million units by 2026, thereby exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. However, the Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market size stood at around 161.4 Million units annually in 2018. The increasing number of hypermarkets and supermarkets requiring HVAC systems is another crucial driving factor.

The report provides elaborate analysis of the emerging as well as current Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market trends and dynamics. Extensive analysis of the market is done by monitoring the key players and following product positioning within the market framework. Detailed analysis of all the regions are presented. They determine the untapped areas and prevailing opportunities in these regions.

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Increasing Usage of Packaged Food & Beverages to Drive Market Growth

There is a rise in the demand for industrial refrigeration systems in the FMCG industry. It is due to the increasing usage of packaged and processed food & beverages in the emerging countries across the world. Additionally, there is an urgent need to prevent spoilage of semi-processed food and drinks. Numerous innovative technologies, such as IoT-enabled refrigeration monitoring solutions further lead to the Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market growth. Also, at present, the developing economies are either refurbishing or upgrading their traditional cold storage infrastructure. It, in turn, is affecting the market growth positively. However, expensive nature of maintenance and high energy consumption may hinder market growth in the coming years.

Transport Refrigeration Segment to Lead Owing to Rising Demand for Frozen Food

In terms of application, the Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market is segregated into refrigerator and freezer, refrigerated display cases, transport refrigeration, beverage coolers and freezers, and others (vending & ice machines). Amongst these, the transport refrigeration segment had acquired 11% Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market share and it is projected to reach the highest CAGR during the forecast period. It would occur due to a rise in the per capita income and increasing demand for frozen food. Furthermore, growing cross-continent and highways networks for quick road freight transportation as well as expansion of the pharmaceutical industry would contribute to the growth of this segment. Transport refrigeration aids in minimizing wastage of food. Therefore, the rate of penetration of it is extremely high in emerging nations.

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GEA Group Introduces StarCO2mpressor to Expand its Portfolio of Natural Refrigerant Compressors

GEA Group, a prominent technology supplier for the food processing industry, headquartered in Germany, unveils StarCO2mpressor, its latest range of mobile compressors for air conditioning and heating in October 2019. The company presented its new breakthrough product at Busworld that was held in Brussels from October 18 to 23. The product is equipped with a novel drive gear design that is based on a reciprocating technology. GEA is expanding its natural refrigerant compressors portfolio with economically and ecologically efficient technology. The special oil management and welded steel housing with an advanced oil pump would ensure minimized leakage potential and high robustness.

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List of the most renowned companies operating in the Commercial Refrigeration Compressor Market. They are as follows:

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Commercial Refrigeration Compressors Market to Exhibit a CAGR of 4.1%; Need to Prevent Spoilage of Semi-Processed Food Items to Boost Growth: Fortune...

PSC Mechanical and Tony Kelly Heating & A/C Install Donated HVAC systems | 2020-01-10 | ACHR News This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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PSC Mechanical and Tony Kelly Heating & A/C Install Donated HVAC systems - ACHR NEWS

AUGUSTA The state will double the rebate it provides to homeowners who install certain kinds of heat pumps, Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday, as the state pushes toward its goal of having 100,000 of the energy-saving heating and cooling units installed in Maine homes by 2025.

Mills said the initiative, the result of a law she signed in June, does not use taxpayer funds. It will maintain Maines trajectory as a national leader in beneficial electrification replacing high-carbon fossil fuels with cleaner electricity while lowering heating bills and creating quality jobs, she said.

The rebates went into effect on Jan. 1.

The rebates from the Efficiency Maine trust will increase from $500 to $1,000 for the first heat pump installed in a home if it meets the highest-performing Tier 2 criteria for performance and efficiency. The rebate for a second heat pump will also be doubled, from $250 per home to $500.

These new rebates will help make high-performance heat pumps more attainable for more Maine people, and the effects of this initiative will ripple across Maines economy, Mills, a Democrat, said in a prepared statement. Not only will it help create good-paying jobs, boost small businesses, and promote workforce training at our community colleges, but it will also help Maine people save money on their heating bills and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, helping us protect our environment and fight climate change. I encourage Maine people to see what they are eligible for.

Heat pumps meeting the so-called Tier 1 rebate standards will continue to be eligible for a $500 rebate for the first indoor unit and $250 for a second indoor or outdoor unit, as in prior years. In addition, enhanced $2,000 rebates are now available to homeowners who receive heating assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Seven years into our programs promoting this new generation of heat pumps, specially designed for cold winters, we continue to see growth in consumer demand, which tells us these new models really work well, even when its freezing outside, Efficiency Maine Executive Director Michael Stoddard said.

Mills predecessor, Republican Gov. Paul LePage, was also bullish on heat pump technology and touted the energy saving devices as well in 2014 LePage had 22 heat pumps installed at the Blaine House, the governors residence.

A high-performance heat pump can help an average Maine home reduce its oil consumption by 270 to 540 gallons per year. It can also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 3,600 to 7,250 pounds per year per home for each high-performance heat pump.

If the state reaches it goal of 100,000 residential heat pumps statewide, Maine consumers would be expected to save save $30 million to $60 million annually, according to estimates made by the Efficiency Maine Trust.

The trust provided $6.57 million in rebates on 11,701 heat pumps in 2019, according to trust officials.

Some heat pumps, called mini-splits, are part indoors and part outdoors. They use refrigeration technology to extract heat from outdoor air. In the summer, they work in reverse to provide air conditioning.

The devices are popular because they cost about one-third as much as a central heating system. They come in various sizes; typical retail prices for single-zone models range from $3,000 to $5,000. Depending on how big a home is and how well its weatherized, a unit can satisfy 50 to 75 percent of year-round demand.

The news conference was held at the F.W. Webb Company in Augusta, and included a representative of Burnham-based Hometown Heat Pumps. They are two of the more than 400 businesses that form the supply chain serving heat pump customers in Maine, according to Mills.

Customer service has been our top priority along with helping our customers save substantially on heating and cooling costs, Hometown Heat Pumps owner Christie Whitcomb said. This has allowed us to grow quickly and become a leader in the heat pump industry.

David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System, promoted the systems training programs for heat pump installers and technicians.

This sort of initiative is why we remain focused on providing critical, relevant workforce training at the community colleges, Daigler said at the event. As industries and policies shift, we adjust our programs to make sure students and trainees are learning the latest techniques and technologies to keep up with industry needs.

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Maine will double its rebate on certain heat pumps for homeowners - Press Herald

Smart thermostats can make sure it's the right temperature indoors andcan help reduce your energy bill, too. Thats because these devices can monitor temperature and humidity inside and outside your home, your comings and goings, and tailor heating and cooling cycles accordingly. And, because they're connected to your home Wi-Fi network, you can monitor, program, and control smart thermostats using your smartphone.

After testing a dozen models, the best smart thermostat is the5th-generationEcobee($249) for one main reason: It comes with a wireless sensor you can place in a remote room in your housesuch as one that doesn't heat or cool as fastand lets you set the Ecobee to keep the system on until that room comes up to the temperature you want. Plus, the Ecobee has Alexa built in, so you can interact with Amazon's voice assistant without purchasing an Echo or an Echo Dot.

If you're looking for something less than $100, we recommend the Honeywell RTH6580WF 7-Day Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat. It's not as fancy as the Ecobee, but its still one of the best smart thermostats and works with many smart home systems.

See all of our top picks for the best smart thermostats below.

The best smart thermostat overall

Works With: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech, Wink, IFTTT | Remote Sensors: Yes | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: Yes | Works Offline: Yes

Better speaker

Full Alexa support

Improved remote sensors

Works with Spotify

Large

Big bezel

The best smart thermostat overall, the 5th-generation Ecobeelooks and acts much like theEcobee4, but with a few big improvements. It's among the best Alexa compatible devices because it offers all of Alexa's features, including calling, messaging, and Drop-In. The new Ecobee also has a much better speaker and Spotify support, so it's now good for playing tunes if you're looking for a device to provide some background music. Most importantly, the new Ecobee has redesigned remote sensors that have much better range and battery life.

Read our full Ecobee (5th gen) smart thermostat review.

Nest's thermostat is a cinch to set up.

Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Logitech, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, WeMo, Wink, Xfinity | Remote Sensors: No | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: Yes | Works Offline: Yes

Large display

Works with multiple smart home systems

Intuitive Interface

Easy to install

Can't monitor temperature in multiple rooms

Doesn't work with Apple HomeKit

The third version of this Google-owned thermostat has a larger and sharper display than its predecessor. Like before, the Nest Learning Thermostat can talk to hundreds of other smart home devicesfrom the Logitech Harmony remote to the Amazon Echo to the Nest Camso it can automatically change the temperature when someone comes home, or if youre about to watch a movie. While it has a retro-style circular design, its brushed stainless steel finish and turning mechanism all feel premium. This thermostat combines the best of the past with the future, and is one of the best smart thermostats that's Google Home compatible.

Read our full Nest Learning Thermostat review.

Our favorite cheap smart thermostat

Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, | Remote Sensors: No | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: No | Works Offline: Yes

Inexpensive

Works with a lot of smart home devices

Basic design

This is the best smart thermostat for those on a budget. The Honeywell RTH6580WF Wi-Fi Thermostat offers much of the same functionality as the Nest and Ecobee, but for less than half the price. While it looks like a run-of-the-mill thermostat on the outside, a Wi-Fi link lets you control this thermostat from your smartphone, just like the more expensive models. Plus, it can link to other smart home gadgets, such as smart locks, and can be controlled via voice. In all, it's a great bargain.

Read our full Honeywell RTH6580WF smart thermostat review.

A simple smart thermostat that lets you use remote sensors

Works With: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech, Wink, IFTTT | Remote Sensors: Yes | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: Yes | Works Offline: Yes

Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit

Attractive interface

Easy installation

works with remote sensors

Lacks geofencing

The Ecobee3 Lite is the best smart thermostat for those with less-involved heating and cooling systems. Still, it has many of the same functions as the Ecobee 5th gen, including a color touchscreen, intuitive interface and deep smart home integration. Ecobee also updated the Lite model to work with remote sensors (as with the full-price Ecobee4), so you can set it to keep the heat on until a room in a far corner of your house reaches a certain temperature.

Read our full Ecobee3 Lite smart thermostat review.

An inexpensive way to make your window AC units smart

Works With: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Remote Sensors: No | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: No | Works Offline: No

Easy to set up

Has robust scheduling, geofencing

Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT

No controls or display on device

If you don't have central air conditioning, then it's a bit harder to regulate the temperatures in your home during the summer. The Sensibo Sky is the best smart thermostat for those with in-wall or window air conditioners that have IR remotes. It's inexpensive, can be controlled remotely, and lets you create schedules for when they should turn on and off. It even has geofencing, so it can turn your AC on as you get home. Now that's cool.

Read our full Sensibo Sky review.

A lower-priced Nest thermostat

Works With: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Remote Sensors: Optional | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: No | Works Offline: Yes

Cheaper than original Nest

Simple installation

Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

Does not support two-stage heating/cooling

White display can be hard to read

The Nest Thermostat E ($169) is another excellent smart thermostat for less than $200. It's easier to set up than the pricier Nest Learning Thermostat, but still has many of the same features. However, it doesn't support as many HVAC systems, such as two-stage heating and cooling, and its all-white display can be hard to read from a distance.

Read our full Nest Thermostat E review.

A thermostat with useful remote sensors

Works With: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Remote Sensors: Optional | Self-Installation: Yes | Motion Activation: No | Works Offline: Yes

Responsive sensors

Easy to set up

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

App could be more intuitive

No Apple HomeKit integration at launch

The Honeywell T9 incorporates what we think is one of the best features for smart thermostats: Remote sensors that can measure the temperature and see if there's a person present, so that the thermostat can better adjust your HVAC system to make sure all rooms are comfortable.However, the Honeywell app could be easier to use, and this smart thermostat doesn't support Apple HomeKit.

Read our full Honeywell T9 smart thermostat review.

We install each thermostat in a home or apartment and live with it for at least one week, to see how it handles different conditions. This includes not just changing the temperature, but also evaluating its accompanying app and web portal, if available. If the thermostat works with other smart home devices or Web-connected services (such as Alexa), we test that functionality as well.

For the most part, installing a thermostat, smart or not, is a fairly easy process, usually involving nothing more than a screwdriver and about half an hour of your time. Here's our video guide for installing a Nest thermostat, however, the procedure is similar for almost any thermostat.

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Best smart thermostats 2020 - Reviews, ratings and comparisons - Tom's Guide

A request for information (RFI) has always sounded like a rather timid affair. Government departments regularly issue RFIs to the private sector, nongovernmental organisations and the public. Its a request. Not a demand or a statutory requirement. These requests generally result in a flurry of activity, and a plethora of responses.

Take the recent RFI briefing session held at the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office of the department of mineral resources and energy on emergency electricity procurement to alleviate the current Eskom crisis. It soon became apparent that the organisers had completely misjudged private and public interest. Staff members were frantically wheeling in chairs to accommodate the throng of respondents. If only Eskom was as quick to accommodate wheeling electricity to the grid as the band of chair-people.

Wouldnt it be refreshing if the public sector, and state-owned entities such as Eskom were as keen to respond to requests for information. It would save a whole lot of time on issuing Promotion of Access to Information Act requests to get data that would allow for a far more informed response to their RFIs. Data that is routinely posted in real time on utility dashboards in countries all over the world.

To the matter at hand: providing information to the mineral resources and energy department.

Best scientific information tells us that by 2050, we had better have fully decarbonised our energy economy. It also tells us that we had better achieve at least 80% of this decarbonisation by 2030. Ten years for the easy parts of the fossil fuel economy, and 20 years for the more stubborn remaining 20%, embedded in things such as long distance air travel.

If this appears daunting, seems impossible or is deemed highly improbable, then savour the following information, a full-on mind-blowing sweetener. If we trundle along in business as usual mode, then the world is set to spend $18-trillion a year on energy in 2050. If we electrify our entire energy economy, this drops to just less than $8-trillion. How is this possible? It turns out to be all about thermodynamics and transfer inefficiencies of one energy form to another.

Burning coal to make electricity is about 33% efficient, meaning that 100 units of energy locked away in coal produce about 33 units of electrical energy. Two-thirds is wasted away as heat, as well as energy to propel small particulate matter into the atmosphere, to wreak their nasty breed of respiratory havoc on those within the range of the pollution plume.

Take the modern internal combustion engine motor vehicle. One would think theyre efficient. If you drive frugally, not too hard on the peddles, you may exceed 20% efficiency in a petrol-driven vehicle, and up to 30% in a diesel-propelled vehicle. The balance is pretty much all waste heat and hot air.

The third big pillar of energy usage industrial processes such as smelting and large scale heating and cooling are in fact more efficient. If you burn coal, oil or gas to heat something, then you make use of the energy directly as heat, and you dont have to go through the transformation to either electricity or kinetic energy in the form of propulsion, as in a car.

So, if we transition to 100% electric, we spend $8-trillion a year instead of $18-trillion a year. Great sweetener.

Mark Jacobson and his team at Stanford University, use the term 100% water, wind and solar (WWS) to signify this transition. All electricity is produced from either wind, solar or water (hydro, geothermal, wave, tidal, electrolysis and hydrogen production). So we have two 2050 end members: business as usual or water, wind and solar (WWS).

Some additional information in response to the RFI. If we stick with business as usual, the estimated global health costs predicted by the World Health Organisation are $30-trillion a year by 2050. Translated into human lives, thats about seven million deaths caused by poor air quality from the combustion of fossil fuels.

As regards climate change marginal costs, conservative estimates for business as usual energy are $29-trillion more than water, wind and solar energy. In other words, the business as usual 2050 total global energy cost is just shy $80-trillion, or 10 times the cost of a switch to 100% WWS.

Jacobson and his team are not thumb-sucking this information. They have modelled WWS energy transition plans for 143 countries, responsible for about 97% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Their global figures are the sum of the detailed country by country models. These models factor in local demand profiles, estimated demand growth, estimated population growth and so forth. Their simulations have been set to accept zero non-delivery of electricity. In South Africa, that translates to zero load-shedding. Nada.

They have a plan for South Africa. But then so does a research group, in Finland of all places. Not much to do during those long winter nights in Finland, they sit in small huddled groups. Someone chips in: Why dont we model the South African energy system and dream about sunshine? They all nod, and get to work. Their model differs in detail, but is uncannily similar to Jacobsons model. Lets drink to that.

There is a cry from the backbenchers: What about the workers? Globally, there will be 27-million more permanent, direct jobs created than lost. In South Africa, the figure is about 250000. And that is before you factor in jobs associated with the decommissioning and rehabilitation of coal-fired plants and coal mines. It also takes no cognisance of potential new jobs in, say, the agricultural sector using significant water resources that will be freed up during decommissioning.

Here comes the punchline. If South Africa picks the water, wind and solar route, and transitions to 100% WWS by 2050 (and 80% by 2030), then we need to produce at least four times as much electricity by 2050 as we currently do. Compare this to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 demand estimates and see how wrong they are.

By 2050 we will need just shy of 1000 terawatt hours (TWh) a year. The IRP 2019 projects a demand of between 360 and 420 TWh, about 40% of the WWS estimate.

A transition to WWS will save us 90% of our energy costs, inclusive of those often ignored externalities. The IRP 2019 focuses on electricity demand in a business as usual case. It takes little or no cognisance of a WWS transition. It is wrong. Why would we fight to have a dirty, harmful, business as usual energy system when we can have a clean energy system at a tenth of the cost? I wouldnt. Would you?

So, what do we need to construct between now and 2050 to effect the 100% WWS transition?

The exact mix of wind, water and solar, as well as the amount of accompanying energy storage, which includes green hydrogen storage, differs from model to model. Jacobson makes it clear that they present but one of a myriad of models for the transition plan for each country.

The differences in the models are a function of differing proportions of on-shore and off-shore wind, and the splits between residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale solar. These ratios are a function of future costs, as well as country specific regulatory and tariff structures. For instance, are flexible rooftop solar installations making up millions of micro-grids to feed surpluses into the distribution networks allowed by the regulators?

So the models are all dominated by wind and solar, and it is mainly the proportions that differ.

I had a crack at modelling a fit for purpose WWS energy mix for 2050 for South Africa. One of the constraints was zero shortages (aka load-shedding). The other key parameter was a least cost mix of storage-backed WWS. We require 240 gigawatts (GW) of solar, 150GW of wind and 90GW/360 gigawatt hours of storage. The average cost of the electricity in 2020 rand terms, before delivery through the transmission and distribution grids is of the order of R0.90 a kilowatt hour. This cost is based on current costs of solar, wind and storage.

For simplicity, if we divide these figures by 30, we need to install 8GW of solar, 5GW of wind and 3GW/12 gigawatt hours of storage a year, each year, forever. There will need to be a continuous rolling replacement build programme after 30 years of usage.

It just so happens that if we construct the new generation fleet at these annual recommended rates, we will be able to retire the entire coal fleet by 2030. It will not be a case of making space to undertake deep maintenance on an ailing coal fleet, in the hope of squeezing some extra TWh out of the older members of the fleet. It will be more a case of allowing between 3GW and 4GW of the coal fleet to be retired each year, and buried with a modicum of dignity.

This then is the recommended solution to the current energy crisis. It is not a panicked knee-jerk, ad hoc response to the state of the coal fleet. It is simply the first step of transitioning to 100% water, wind- and solar energy by 2050.

Clyde Mallinson is a geologist who currently focuses on the energy sector

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The path to a zero carbon future - Mail and Guardian

Vancouver International Airport will close the level one road access to the domestic terminal for construction starting next week.

According to a media statement, road access will be closed for approximately six months to install district energy piping as part of YVRs new Parkade and Central Utilities Building (CUB) projectstarting Jan. 14.

The project includes a geoexchange system a heating and cooling system that uses the earths energy found below the surface which will be implemented into the airports structures.

Courtesy shuttles, TransLink buses and pre-arranged commercial pick-ups will be affected during this time: Courtesy shuttle pick-ups and drop offs have been moved to departures level three. There are signs inside the terminal to direct travelers to appropriate shuttles. The N10 TransLink bus stop has been relocated outside the domestic departures check-in on level three. And, all pre-arranged commercial pick-ups will be on level two at international arrivals starting Jan. 14.

Pedestrian access to the parkade from the domestic terminal building is still open through designated walking routes.

According to Zoe Weber, YVRs communication specialist, the geosystem at YVR will be one of the largest in Canada when its completed and will help meet growing passenger demands while reducing its environmental footprint by supporting YVRs heating and cooling needs across the terminal complex.

It is our goal to work efficiently in order to complete the construction in the shortest time frame possible and with minimal impact on passengers and visitors to the airport.

The new utilities building, about 67,000 square feet in size, is expected to be built by 2021 and fully operational by 2022.

For more information on transportation to and from Vancouver's airport, visit YVR.ca.

-With files from Maria Rantanen

Read more from the Richmond News

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YVR construction will close ground level road access starting next week - Vancouver Is Awesome

Immediately after the Nest Learning Thermostat, the creation of a pair of former Apple engineers, debuted eight years ago, I wanted one. I was intrigued by the prospect of having a thermostat that learned the comings and goings of a household to build a heating and cooling schedule.

But early Nests were expensive and had issues with some heating and cooling systems (they still do). I may love tech, but I was, frankly, a little intimidated by the notion of installing one. And until recently, I was not living in a home where I could do that.

But when Black Friday 2019 rolled around, the stars aligned and the price dropped so I made the leap. It helped that both my wife and I loathed the programmable thermostat that came with the condo we bought in 2018. We were motivated.

GET SMART: Think simple when first adding smart devices to your home

I installed the Nest and have been living with it for more than a week now. Here are some early thoughts:

I was worried that Id screw up some aspect of the installation and create problems with my AC system which, when you live in Houston, is a critical part of ones residential infrastructure. But the process was fairly straightforward. The Nest smartphone app walks you through it, and the Nest comes with labels that let you designate which wires go where before you disconnect your old thermostats mount. Theres also a compatibility checker on the Nest website.

The only hitch involved the junction box where the thermostat wires terminated in the wall. It was taller than the holes for the Nests mounting plate, so I had to get creative with attaching it to the wall. But overall, the process was smooth, and my AC system is running like a champ.

I really love the ability to control the Nest in different ways. Yes, you can use the smartphone app, but you can also link it to an Amazon Echo or a Google Home smart speaker. Being able to say Alexa, set the thermostat to 74 is a pleasure.

The Nest does indeed learn your patterns, and after a few days, it begins to do automatically what you have been doing manually. We like it very cold when we sleep; I then turn the AC back up to sensible levels when we awake. Within a few days, the Nest was automatically making these changes. There are separate schedules for heating and cooling, which is handy in Houstons frequently bipolar weather.

HOW TO: Shop for internet service in Houston

As youd expect, there are some annoyances. Theres no way to set the temperature manually and then hold it, whats known on other thermostats as a temporary hold. The next time a scheduled change comes up, it overrides the manual setting. You can, however, delete the upcoming scheduled item - but if you want the hold to last a while, you have to delete ALL the upcoming items until you want the hold to end. Another workaround involves changing several settings - either way, these are kludges for a simple feature that should be built into the Nest.

If you want to have more than one person in the family control the Nest from a smartphone, you have to download and install a second app. Google bought Nest a few years ago, and now you must use the Google Home app to add a family member. If youve already got Google smartphone devices, you probably already have this app. If not, having to snag a second piece of software just for that seems unnecessary.

One of the Nests benefits is that it supposedly can save money on your energy bill. Its too early to say if thats happening, but the Eco feature that auto-sets the unit not to run when it senses you are away seems to be working. Well see what our electric bill looks like when Houstons brutal summer temperatures roll around. Ill report back at midyear.

Meanwhile, if you have questions about the Nest Learning Thermostat, please ask them.

This story originally appeared in Dwight Silvermans Release Notes newsletter. Sign up at https://houstonchronicle.com/releasenotes.

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Lessons learned from installing a Nest Learning Thermostat - Houston Chronicle