Have you looked into those cavities? Cavity wall insulation

Insulating wall cavities can help you cut energy use and save money by reducing heat lost through walls in colder months, and keeping it out during warmer months, which cuts back on cooling needs.

Cavity wall insulation can be used in any double-walled or double-skinned building. The cavity between the walls needs to be at least 50 mm for the insulation to be effective.

Tip

There are different types of cavity wall insulation:

Recovering heat produced during the refrigeration process is possible and can help save energy and cut costs. Heat-recovery equipment can be fitted to existing plant or integrated in new buildings, and heat from the heat rejection stage of the refrigeration process can be recovered from the condenser. The recovered heat can then be used for general space heating or hot water.

There are two types of heat recovery, depending on the installation and refrigerant used:

Refrigerated display cabinets are important for marketing/selling goods that need to be kept cold while displayed, but they are notoriously energy-intensive. Taking necessary maintenance measures can help save energy and reduce yearly bills. For instance, when cabinets are not regularly cleaned or maintained, efficiency and performance suffer. Equally, retrofitting the curtains or blinds of refrigerated cabinets can reduce electricity demand.

Free cooling can assist in cooling water which is subsequently used in industrial processes or air-conditioning systems. It is an economical system which can help reduce costs and energy uses.

Free cooling uses low outside temperatures to chill the water and can replace mechanical refrigeration systems. When the air temperature is lower than the temperature of the water needed, free cooling is a great option.

Consider using free cooling when:

Micro-hydro (or hydropower installation) is a good example of small-scale renewable energy that can help to save energy. It exploits water flows through a turbine to drive a generator and produce electricity. Installed on a small river or stream, it can produce enough electricity for an industrial or commercial site.

The solar thermal identity… or should that be supremacy?

Solar thermal (also called solar heating collector) is a mature renewable energy technology. Solar collectors have recently been used not only for the preparation of hot water and pool water, but also for heating objects and devices. It can provide hot water at temperatures of between 55 and 65º C.

An efficient solar thermal system has the potential to meet nearly two-thirds of the hot water needs of a building. It works by absorbing energy from the sun and transferring it to heat water.

Wind energy is a good example of how small-scale renewables can work. The electricity generated can cover part of the electricity needs of building(s). This potential varies depending on several factors, which specialists can help to identify. A good place to start is to check the long-term annual mean wind speed in the target region, to get a sense of the site's suitability for small-scale wind energy.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are a good example of small-scale renewables. PV modules are panels that convert sunlight into DC electricity, and then into AC electricity. PV modules are reliable and require low maintenance. This technology works well, ideally free from shade, covering electricity needs during the daytime.

Saving for a rainy day

• 14 % of APS’ water needs are met by recycled water
• 36 % is provided through rain-water harvesting 

APS Bank Malta offers typical financial solutions including deposits, home loans, personal loans and investments for both personal and business clients.

The importance of water saving has been communicated to the bank’s employees, leading to more water-conscious consumption. The bank has also focused its efforts on rain-water harvesting and installing water-efficient sanitary fittings.

Online and real-time leak detection

• Early leak detection saves up to 200 m3 of water 
• Leads to € 4 000 in annual cost savings

Atlantis Seafood is an Irish producer of a variety of seafood products. Demand for water during its production process is high. Management was keen to explore ways to reduce that consumption and, after some consultation and research, the company realised that water leaks and wastage was a priority area.