In spring and summer our gardens bloom with life. While this may seem nice, it can also cause people suffering from seasonal pollen-related asthma and allergies, such as allergic rhinitis. But what is pollen and how can you protect your family from its possible effects?

Pollen, which usually appears as a fine powder, is microspores that are transferred from one plant to another, resulting in the fertilization and production of new plants. As temperatures rise, pollen production increases causing a variety of symptoms in people with pollen sensitivity including sneezing, nasal congestion, redness, itchy eyes and tearing and / or itchy nose or runny nose.

There are three main types of pollen that together extend the pollen season from early spring to late autumn.

• Pollen from grass: It is the main culprit for asthma and pollen allergies associated with pollen and can affect people from March to October. Grass pollen can cause extremely strong reactions.

• Tree Pollen: While different types of tree pollen occur at different times of the year, tree pollen is usually only a problem from February to June.

• Weed Pollen: Weed pollen most often causes allergic rhinitis. It usually prevails in summer and early autumn.

Daikin air purifiers are the perfect way to ensure that indoor air is cleaner, healthier and cleaner, minimizing the negative effects of pollen on your health.

Daikin air purifiers:

Minimize the symptoms of asthma and allergies by removing dust and pollen particles from the air.

They protect your health by filtering out airborne bacteria and viruses, and also eliminate 99.98% of the human coronavirus HCoV-229E.

They inject moisture into the air when it is very dry, helping to keep your skin healthy.

· They control odors so that your home always smells fresh and clean.

We are a proficient company offering a wide selection of services for all size projects in the areas of Solar Energy, Photovoltaic Systems, Geothermal Energy, Net Metering, Swimming Pools, Air Conditioning, Central Heating, all kind of Mechanical Installations. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Via: Hooi Koorts

Via: Daikin Europe

Have you ever felt warm water trickle out of a garden hose that’s been sitting in the sun? If so, then you have witnessed solar water heating in action.

Now imagine that same water moving slowly though a system specifically designed to heat and store water – that is the essence of solar thermal water heating. People have for centuries used water heated by the sun and stored it for bathing, hand washing, cleaning clothes, heating homes and much more. The solar thermal systems used today combine the most efficient techniques for capturing the sun’s heat with modern plumbing systems to produce cost-effective hot water and reduce the need for gas or electricity to heat water.

A Solar Thermal system works by harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it into heat, that is then transferred to your home or business. The solar collector utilises the sun’s rays to heat a transfer fluid which is a mixture of water and glycol, to prevent the water from freezing in the winter. There are a number of different solar thermal designs, but all are based on the same simple principle as the garden hose. Each has its pros and cons, and each is suitable for a specific application. 

An important distinction among solar thermal systems is whether they are of direct or indirect design.

In an indirect system, also known as “closed loop,” a simple pump moves the antifreeze solution through a loop into the solar collector, through the collector’s pipes, and out of the solar collector. Then, the sun-warmed antifreeze solution flows into a heat-transfer unit where it warms the cool water heading into a conventional hot water tank. The antifreeze solution then returns to the pump and again flows into the solar collector without ever mixing with the building’s water. Indirect systems are encouraged in climates with extended periods of below-freezing temperatures. We primarily install these types of systems. We find they produce the greatest amount of energy, more consistently, with a greater service life than other types of systems.

A direct system, also known as “open loop,” is a little simpler. There is no antifreeze solution; the water heated directly by the sun is the same water used by building occupants. A thermometer and controller sense when the solar collector is warm and ready to heat water. The controller starts a pump that moves cold water into the solar collector, where it is heated. The solar heated water is then stored in a conventional hot water tank. It is typical, especially during high use or periods of little sun for the water to be kept warm through supplemental gas or electricity. This type of system, because it circulates pure, potable water through an outdoor collector, is susceptible to freezing in many climates, unless safeguards are added.

• Solar Thermal Under floor heating
  

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• Solar Thermal Heating of domestic water
  

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• Solar Thermal Heating of the pool
  

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• Combination of the above
  

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We can provide you solutions for an integrated solar thermal system and we can advice you how you can minimize your energy costs by utilizing the sun as a source of renewable energy.

When investing in an air conditioning system, the right type, model and performance play an extremely important role. Air conditioners significantly affect your comfort and health at home. These tips will help you choose the right air conditioner for your space and needs, so that you make the most of your investment.

All Daikin units cool homes with an energy efficiency of up to A +++, the highest on the market, while keeping the electricity bill low. With our solutions you will enjoy a perfect atmosphere throughout the year in an energy friendly way.

When choosing an air conditioning system it is important to determine the required cooling efficiency. A system with very low power provides unsatisfactory results, while a system with more qualifications than required has a stronger air flow than required, resulting in unpleasant comfort. Finding the perfect performance is a balancing act, but your Daikin installer can help you with that.

When installing an air conditioner with an outdoor unit, many people only pay attention to the indoor unit because it is more visible indoors. But the location of the outdoor unit is probably more important as it can significantly affect the proper functioning of the whole system. The outdoor unit is located in the heart of the air conditioning system, so you should not forget it. Ensure that air inlet and outlet are not obstructed by obstacles or leaves. Take a look at your unit before the start of the summer and winter seasons to ensure optimal operation.

Do not wait for the first hot day to order your air conditioning system. Firstly because you will not be the first to want a quick installation of a unit and the program of authorized installers will be full. Secondly, it takes time for the air conditioner of your choice to be sent to you. The time period between ordering and actual installation can take several weeks. Indicatively, the installation of an air conditioner usually takes one working day for a room. The exact installation time depends on the exact installation conditions.

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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the air quality in a building or structure, the air that the occupants of the building breathe every day.

When planning new resiednetial buildings, schools, offices or light commercial buildings, many factors need to be considered. Apart from the construction factors, there are also issues of heating, cooling and something that is often neglected: indoor air quality.

Did you know that the indoor air we breathe, at home, in the office or even in a hotel room, can actually be much more poluted than the air outside?

• The 90% of our lives is spent indoors
• The indoor air quality can be 2-5 times worse than outdoor air quality because of pollutants, such as pollen, bacteria etc.

With the right system (air conditioner, ventilation, air purification equipment), contaminants such as pollen, spores, concrete dust, bacteria, viruses or germs can be removed from the air by filtration. The smaller these particles are, the more dangerous they are to our health, so particulate matter is categorized according to its size.

Ventilation systems ensure optimal air conditioning conditions by providing a fresh, healthy and comfortable environment for buildings of all dimentions and different applications. In a completely enclosed space in a bulding, air cannot enter/leave easly, leaving air pollutants remaining and accumulating in the room. This can effect the health of the people in the room. Ventilation is essential for diluting and removing these air pollutants. A well-maintained ventilation system and and adequate air exchange rate have proven to be an effective solution to protect people from contaminants, incluidng visruses.

Daikin ventilation products are perfectly combined in a total heat pump solution, so that it is possible to reduce the number of individual systems and independent suppliers for your HVAC-R system

To achieve optimal ventilation, Daikin maintains the highest standards of energy efficiency and has a wide range of options to achieve the filtration and level of hygiene required for your project.

With a good filtration system you can collect very small particulate matter from the air stream but the viruses, bacteria and fungal organisms that accumulate are not inactivated. They can continue to reproduce and possibly cause disease. To prevent this from happening, air disinfection is required.

Flash Streamer

Superior air treatment through the unique Flash Streamer technology

Daikin’s patented Flash streamer technology disables more than 99.9% of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

The huge streamer discharge hits allergens and hazardous chemicals, breaking down and breaking down surface proteins, which are then destroyed by oxidation.

During the test, allergens are placed on the electrode of the streamer discharge unit and then photographed with the electron microscope after being irradiated.

UV-C lamp

UV energy inactivates viral, bacterial and fungal organisms so that they can not reproduce and possibly cause disease.

The entire UV spectrum has the ability to inactivate microorganisms, but UV-C energy (wavelengths 200 – 280 nm) provides the greatest microbicidal effect.

UV-C disinfection and sterilization is widely used in hospitals.

However, the UV-C lamp is a danger to the health of the human body.

By treating the fresh recirculation air with a UV-C lamp directly inside the air management units, pure germ-free air can be achieved without exposing the human body to the harmful UV lamp.

Via Cyprus Daikin Europe

Photo Credits: Shutterstock

Well-designed lighting will give you the ability to change the mood of your yard and highlight architectural features such as a waterfall, spa or a stone wall of your pool. It also offers night-time visibility, improving your pool’s safety and extending the time you can utilise it.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are one of the most popular fittings for swimming pools. As a greater emphasis has been placed on energy-efficiency, LED technology has become a standard feature slowly replacing incandescent bulbs.

The fittings work by pumping voltage through the semi-conductor which emits light whereas incandescent and halogen lights rely on burning filaments. LED fittings simply work by plugging them directly into the power source.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LED pool lighting is more expensive up front than halogen or incandescent lights, they will save you in the long run due to their energy-efficiency. Incandescent lights typically run from 300 to 500 watts, whereas LED bulbs use as little as 42 watts.

By installing LED lights in your swimming pool, you’ll see greater savings in your electricity bills.

GREATER LIFESPAN

LED pool lighting is durable, with well over 20,000 hours of power. Quality LED brand names can last for 10 years or more. This will reduce for those lower cost products.

LOW MAINTENANCE

With the lamps lasting for longer than other light fittings, LED products typically require fewer replacements as they contain tough diodes. That means, you’ll be spending more time enjoying your well-lit pool and less time maintaining it.

VISUAL EFFECTS

LED lights are available in a variety of colours which gives you the ability to create visual effects to set the mood. Highlighting features of your pool can be achieved through the quality of light and the even, deep glow that LED lamps permit. Change the light at the touch of a button.

AUTOMATION

Unlike halogen lights, LED lamps can be automated with most models offering an optional remote control. Most will also have integrated smartphone apps for those who prefer a more tech-savvy experience.

One of the main disadvantages of LED lighting over other fittings such as halogen models is that they aren’t able to be serviced. This means if the internal componentry of the LED lights fail, the fitting needs to be replaced. While the light itself can last up to 10-12 years, the other components probably won’t nearly last as long and will degrade over time.

Cost is another drawback of LED fittings. Beyond the higher upfront costs of the lights, LED lighting requires specific transformers and converters to utilise the right voltage that’s between 12-32v. This will require additional electronic equipment which will increase the overall cost. Fortunately, these transformers aren’t too expensive and are generally fairly reliable.

LED lighting are also somewhat susceptible to leaking, just like halogen fittings. Thankfully, the refined resin-filled LED light fittings largely solve this problem. If you do have to replace a broken LED fitting or a pool light that has leaked, you can swap them over for the resin-filled LED version.

Via Eco Outdoor

Whether you are a business owner or homeowner, it’s important to make sure your HVAC-R equipment is up to date and operating at full capacity. From complying to new regulations to incorporating the latest energy efficient technologies, we can upgrade your equipment to improve its reliability and lower costs in the long run.

Quick & Quality replacement for R-22 and R-407C system

›  No disturbance of your daily operations

› Re-use your system infrastructure ensuring a quality replacement quickly

› Replacement done over the weekend won’t interrupt your business

› Prevents unexpected breakdown

› Lowers running costs

› Protects the environment

› Improves comfort

Peace of mind

› Avoid higher maintenance costs and possible failures of older R-22 or R-704C systems

› Focus on your core business and let the new Daikin system take care of the rest

Replace systems of other manufacturers

› Does your building also use equipment from a manufacturer other than Daikin? Don’t worry, those can be replaced as well, offering highly-efficient and flexible Daikin technology

Lower costs compared with total refurbishment

› Cut running costs and improve comfort by using the newest technologies

› No interruption of your business activity and no costs for moving or redecorating

Split replacement of outdoor and indoor while keeping refrigerant piping

Commercial

› VRV replacement of outdoor and indoor while keeping refrigerant piping

› Chiller modernisation: upgrade components to secure refrigerant compliance and extend lifetime

› Sky Air replacement of outdoor and in door while keeping refrigerant piping

› VRV replacement of outdoor and indoor while keeping refrigerant piping

› Chiller modernisation: upgrade components to secure refrigerant compliance and extend lifetime

› Sky Air replacement of outdoor and in door while keeping refrigerant piping

Chiller    modernisation:    upgrade components to secure refrigerant compliance and extend lifetime

Always operational

No interruptions to daily business while replacing the system thanks to phased-in, fast installation.

Smaller footprint, more performance

› Save space

› Connect more indoor units to the new outdoor unit, to increase capacity.

Unique automatic refrigerant charge

› Eliminates the need to calculate refrigerant volume

› Ensures that the system will operate at optimum conditions even if you do not know the exact piping lengths

› Ensures a quality replacement

A reliable, high-quality solution

› Top quality

› Enhanced comfort

› Unique range of indoor units, e. g. Daikin’s innovative roundflow cassette:

› 360° air discharge

› Optional presence sensor and floor sensor

› Optional auto-cleaning filter

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Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields.

As an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.

ASHRAE has published two statements to define guidance on managing the spread of SARS–CoV–2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease (Coronavirus) with respect to the operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems in buildings.

“In light of the current global pandemic, it’s critically important that ASHRAE responds with guidance on mitigating the transmission of the virus, as well as ventilation and filtration recommendations,” said 2019-20 ASHRAE President Darryl K. Boyce, P.Eng. “ASHRAE has a significant role to play in ensuring safe and healthy building environments and these statements offer the expert strategies needed at this time.”

ASHRAE developed the following statements in response to widening false statements surrounding HVAC systems. ASHRAE officially opposes the advice not to run residential or commercial HVAC systems and asserts that keeping air conditioners on during this time can help control the spread of the virus. The official statements are below.

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.

ASHRAE’s statement on operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems to reduce SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 transmission

Ventilation and filtration provided by heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air. Unconditioned spaces can cause thermal stress to people that may be directly life threatening and that may also lower resistance to infection. In general, disabling of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems is not a recommended measure to reduce the transmission of the virus.

HVAC filters, along with other strategies, help to reduce virus transmission while removing other air contaminants that may have health effects.

ASHRAE’s Environmental Health Committee also developed an Emerging Issues Brief to support the two above statements:

There is great concern about the real possibility of transmission through the air of various pathogens, especially SARS-CoV-2, among staff and administration in healthcare facilities, office workers, retail workers and patrons, manufacturing workers, and residents in private and public facilities and the general public in outdoor settings and in public transportation.

ASHRAE has created the Epidemic Task Force, comprised of leading experts to address the relationship between the spread of disease and HVAC in buildings during of the current pandemic and future epidemics. The ASHRAE Environmental Health Committee’s Position Document Committee also updated a Position Document on Infectious Aerosols.

“ASHRAE, working with its industry partners, is uniquely qualified to provide guidance on the design, operation, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to prepare for future epidemics,” said ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force chair, ASHRAE Environmental Health Committee voting member and 2013-14 ASHRAE Presidential Member Bill Bahnfleth.

Via Ashrae

Globally, Daikin is renowned for its pioneering approach to product development and the unrivalled quality and versatility of its integrated solutions. With more than 90 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of heating and cooling technologies, Daikin is a market leader in heat pump technology. Daikin VRV and Daikin Altherma are the most sold heat pump systems in Europe, with over 500,000 systems delivered to date.

Daikin confirms the effectiveness of patented streamer technology, which successfully deactivated more than 99.9% of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) after irradiating the virus for 3 hours.

The study was conducted by Daikin Industries Ltd in collaboration with Professor Shigeru Kyuwa of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Tokyo and a research team led by Professor Shigeru Morikawa of the Department of Microbiology at Okayama University.

The research team conducted an experiment where the viruses were irradiated for 3 hours with Daikin Flash Streamer technology.

The results of this experiment showed that:

Flash Streamer discharge deactivated 93.65% of coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2) after 1 hour irradiation time

Flash Streamer Discharge Disabled 99.97% of Coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2) After 3 Hour Irradiation Time

Source: “Study report on the effect of plasma ion generator inactivation (Daikin Streamer) on SARS-CoV-2” recast by Shigeru Morikawa, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Microbiology, Okayama University.

The tests described here only apply to patented Streamer technology. The effects of products equipped with Streamer technology or the effects on the actual user interface may differ. For more information on Daikin products that incorporate Streamer technology, see the related product information.

Streamer technology, developed by Daikin in 2004, performs an oxidative decomposition of harmful substances. The Streamer discharge is a type of plasma discharge featuring an innovative air purification technology that stably generates high-speed electrons.

Its oxidative decomposition capability is much higher than the conventional plasma discharge (glow discharge). Moreover, when combined with air components, these high-speed electrons have a capability for powerful oxidative decomposition that continuously remove odours, bacteria and indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde.

Via Daikin

Globally, Daikin is renowned for its pioneering approach to product development and the unrivalled quality and versatility of its integrated solutions. With more than 90 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of heating and cooling technologies, Daikin is a market leader in heat pump technology. Daikin VRV and Daikin Altherma are the most sold heat pump systems in Europe, with over 500,000 systems delivered to date.

The launch of the lower GWP R-32 VRV 5 system last year marked an important step in the company’s roadmap to reduce CO₂ emissions in light commercial and residential air-conditioning applications. Now Daikin reveals how its advanced Shîrudo technology supports the full flexibility of VRV and ensures compliance with the product-specific standards.

There are two key standards governing the use of refrigerants in heat pumps; the generic EN378:2016 and the specific IEC60335-2-40:Ed.6. Given that IEC60335-2-40:Ed.6, is a specific product standard – and as clearly mentioned in the generic EN378:2016 – it prevails over EN378:2016. As such, all systems integrating R32 refrigerant, should comply to IEC60335-2-40:Ed.6.

Therefore, the true benefits of an R-32 VRV system are dependent on keeping additional considerations involved in the design, installation and maintenance related to flammability to a minimum, while enabling maximum  VRV flexibility.

At the heart of VRV 5’s success is a new technology unique to Daikin: Shîrudo technology.  It has all refrigerant response measures factory-integrated and accommodates rooms down to 10m² without the need for any design considerations at any stage of the selection or additional equipment to be installed in the field.

An average mini VRV system with R32 is estimated to contain approximately 6.5kg of refrigerant as a total charge. With the development of Shîrudo technology for VRV 5, the requirements of IEC60335-2-40:Ed.6 can easily be met for applications with a minimum room space as small as 10 m². In comparison with the same system without Shîrudo technology, the requirements of
IEC60335-2-40:Ed.6 would only be met for applications with a minimum room space surface of
26.8 m² or more.

Assured of its reputation as the most flexible mini-VRV system, the Daikin VRV 5 with Shîrudo technology offers consultants and installers a convenient, and quick approach to system design and installation at every stage of the project and covering all applications. Delivering top performance, VRV 5 with Shîrudo technology ensures compliance and top performance without the need for complex and time-consuming calculations and/or costly field measures. The combination of outstanding real-life seasonal efficiency, a lower refrigerant charge and the adoption of a lower GWP refrigerant makes VRV 5 a truly sustainable solution with the potential to boost customer environmental credentials while contributing to a better environment.

Shîrudo technology encompasses a complete package of advanced developments, all standard integrated and configured. In the unlikely event of a leak, an integrated sensor present in all indoor units detects the leak and triggers an audible and visual alarm, standard in the Madoka controller. At the same time, the refrigerant recovery to the outdoor unit is initiated and once finished, shut-off valves close to safely contain the refrigerant. Should an additional supervisor alarm be required, this too can be easily integrated via the Madoka controller or a third party alarm triggered via outputs embedded in the system.

The effectiveness of the Shîrudo technology has been third-party certified through a Notified Body (SGS CECEC).

A dedicated video explains in-depth the working of Shîrudo technology:

Daikin Europe N.V. is a major European producer of air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration equipment, with approximately 5,500 employees throughout Europe and 10 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the UK.

Daikin is committed to delivering energy-efficient solutions through innovation and the use of advanced technologies that meet key climate objectives while delivering superior comfort and performance. The VRV 5 system with Shîrudo technology is the latest addition to the ever-expanding VRV family of solutions.

Via Daikin