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As we continue into the twenty-first century, businesses in the HVAC industry have a continued responsibility to embrace sustainability and innovation. Air-rite Solutions is no different, and as a leading service provider of commercial air conditioning in Brisbane and South East Queensland, we are always on the lookout for new technologies that will reduce our environmental impact and improve the overall results for our clients. 

Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which Air-rite Solutions is taking proactive steps towards factoring sustainability and innovation into our HVAC services.

Embracing Newer Refrigerants 

Much like the rest of the HVAC industry, Air-rite Solutions has been adopting new refrigerants to use in our commercial and industrial air conditioning systems. For the majority of our systems, we use the refrigerant R32, which has a significantly lower GWP (global warming potential) than the previously-used R410A. Thankfully, R32 has been widely adopted around the globe with the majority of systems now using this refrigerant, despite it only being introduced a decade ago. 

For bigger plants, we are gradually using the refrigerant 1234YF, which is also being introduced in cars as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to 134a. For comparison’s sake, 134a had a GWP rating of 1430. The GWP rating of 1234YF is only 3. 

The adoption of these new, more sustainable refrigerants showcases our commitment to finding solutions that leave a far less harmful footprint on our environment. 

The Benefits of Fabric Ductwork 

Fabric ductwork is an alternative casing of exposed ductwork that more and more of our clients are discovering the advantages of. Not only does fabric ductwork have less of an environmental impact than traditional sheet metal – and isn’t at risk of corroding in humid buildings such as indoor swimming pools – but it also allows clients to customise the look of their exposed ductwork.

Fabric Ducts at Park Ridge State High School installed.

Fabric Ducts installed at Park Ridge State High School.

Restaurants can now easily black out their ductwork to stop it from distracting their customers. Businesses can print their own logo or specific patterns on the fabric to add an extra splash of colour or personality to their workspace. Fabric ductwork is just another way Air-rite Solutions has been seeking to expand our commercial air conditioning services in Brisbane and throughout South East Queensland.

The Rise of ERVs 

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are growing in popularity in the Australian HVAC industry, and may become a mandatory addition to any air conditioning unit in the future. For now, they offer a range of benefits for indoor commercial spaces – but particularly those with large restrooms such as schools, gyms, swimming pools, shopping centres, day care centres, and certain office spaces. 

ERVs take out the stale, contaminated air from inside and replace it with clean air from outside. ERVs have a range of benefits, including: 

  • Removes formaldehydes, allergens, and toxins, promoting cleaner indoor air and reducing contaminants from an attached garage.
  • Utilises EconoCool technology, decreasing dependency on HVAC systems and saving energy.
  • Reduces odours from pets, bathrooms, cooking, etc., creating a fresher atmosphere throughout the home.
  • Extends the lifespan of your HVAC system, potentially reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
  • Minimises the risk of mildew and mould, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.
  • Reduces dust build-up from pet dander, pollen, and other materials, resulting in cleaner surroundings and potentially alleviating allergies.

ERVs are an important addition to commercial HVAC systems that we will hopefully see more and more of in the near future. 

University of Queensland Plant Growth Facility 

Air-rite Solutions has had the honour of providing our HVAC services to the new plant growth facility that is currently under construction at the University of Queensland. During this project – which has been in collaboration with Canadian company Conviron – our team has shown our passion for innovation and continual adoption of new technologies. 

The plant growth facility is part of a a state-of-the-art precinct that will allow the university to take important strides forward in plant sciences and researching sustainable ecosystems. Our responsibility has been installing a complex HVAC system that can provide precisely controlled humidity and temperature setting for the facility’s multiple rooms. 

The project has required our team to work with layered HVAC technologies that need to cater to the individual needs of 24 small plant growth rooms, 4 medium-sized plant growth rooms, and 2 large plant growth rooms. This is a significantly important project that we have enjoyed working on so far, and we look forward to seeing it to completion over the coming months. 

Contact Air-rite Solutions 

Air-rite Solutions is always looking to embrace sustainability and innovation in our Brisbane and South East Queensland HVAC services. To find out more about how we can help your business with all its HVAC needs, contact us today. 

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