Panasonic Air Conditioning Group - Experts & Thought Leaders

ICM Ltd was appointed as Principal Contractor for the extension and refurbishment of OKA restaurant in Kingly Court, London. The restaurant is in the heart of Soho and is one of several in the OKA group specializing in Pan Asian and Sushi menus.  heating, cooling, and ventilation As part of the comprehensive refurbishment, ICM assigned SFE Services to install heating, cooling, and ventilation systems throughout the building. This included the restaurant, kitchen, bar, private dining room, and customer WC facilities. SFE Services were instructed to decommission the existing wall-mounted air conditioning system. The team designed and installed new air conditioning and supply and extract ventilation. They also installed as per design specifications kitchen extraction. indoor air quality Five ceiling-mounted cassette indoor units with unique nanoe™ X  technology were fitted To elevate indoor air quality and ensure a comfortable dining experience, SFE Services opted for cutting-edge solutions. The systems installed were provided by Panasonic Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning UK. Five ceiling-mounted cassette indoor units with unique nanoe™ X  technology were fitted at various locations throughout the restaurant and function room. nanoe™ X  technology Pioneered and exclusive to Panasonic, nanoe™ X  technology harnesses the benefits of hydroxyl radicals which can inhibit pollutants. The innovative technology enhances the air quality and contributes to a healthier environment for customers and staff alike. Panasonic Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning UK also supplied two heat recovery ventilation units to provide supply and extract ventilation to the restaurant, function room, and toilet facilities.  kitchen extraction system All the internal air conditioning units, ancillaries, and ductwork were left exposed and color-matched by ICM to maintain the contemporary design of the premises.  As the Principal Contractor, ICM was additionally requested to provide the kitchen extract. The kitchen extraction system was independently designed and SFE Services were required to supply and install the complex extract and filter system that complied with the landlord’s fit-out guide. All ductwork was made to measure to allow for the correct extraction rates and to fit in the area provided.  specialist lifting equipment Risk assessment and health and safety practices needed to be followed at all times Three outdoor units were carefully installed on the multitenant roof area using specialist lifting equipment. Due to the location of the building being a very public area, onsite contractors had to adhere to landlord requirements, so risk assessment and health and safety practices needed to be followed at all times.  seamless execution The project encountered a brief hiatus during the Christmas period to accommodate the client's revenue stream. However, the SFE Services team worked closely with ICM to ensure timely completion post-Christmas, despite the tight schedule. The successful collaboration between ICM Ltd and SFE Services resulted in the seamless execution of the project which was completed on time and within budget.

A new build bespoke property from Dovecote Homes integrates cutting-edge green technology featuring the Panasonic 12kW Aquarea Monobloc air-to-water heat pump, alongside solar panels and a battery storage unit. The stunning property has achieved the most efficient EPC rating possible (A-rated) thanks to its thoughtful specification. The heating and cooling system was supplied and designed by Oceanair and installed by Danny Wakeman of Wakeman Heating & Renewables. Innovative Heating Solution The centerpiece of this remarkable home is the Panasonic Aquarea 12kW T-Cap monobloc unit, expertly designed to provide optimal performance. Combining the eco-friendly heat pump with underfloor heating on the ground level and radiators on the upper floor results in unparalleled comfort throughout the property. The intelligent integration of solar panels and a battery storage unit further enhances the home’s energy efficiency, minimizing its environmental impact. air source heat pumps The combined efforts of Panasonic and Oceanair ensured timely supply, seamless installation Dovecote Homes was introduced to Panasonic Pro Partner, Danny at Wakeman Heating & Renewables, and Roland Gurner from Oceanair, an authorised Panasonic distributor. Their expertise in air source heat pumps and assurance of Panasonic’s reliability ensured the project’s success. Roland Gurner, in collaboration with Danny, designed the new heating system for the house, offering valuable technical support throughout the installation process. Despite tight deadlines, the combined efforts of Panasonic and Oceanair ensured timely supply, seamless installation, and adherence to high-quality standards. Aquarea T-Cap Mono-bloc The Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap Mono-bloc is a single system to heat the home and produce hot water, thus solving a variety of problems while allowing occupants to enjoy greater comfort. The Mono-bloc range can be simply connected to underfloor heating, radiators, or fan coil units. The range boasts high energy efficiency, is rated A+++ at 35ºC and A++ at 55ºC plus has a high SCOP capacity. Furthermore, the impressive system can work under higher pressure and reach a 65ºC water flow temperature for the ultimate high-performing unit. sustainable systems Danny Wakeman of Wakeman Heating & Renewables is very knowledgeable and passionate about renewables and providing sustainable systems to future-proof homes. He comments, “Aquarea’s high SCOP figures at the design temperature mean low running costs for the homeowner, plus the outdoor unit housing a lot of the components frees up space which would otherwise be occupied within the property.” Optimum comfort The Panasonic Aquarea units were installed in October 2022, and therefore have seen a winter The Panasonic Aquarea units were installed in October 2022, and therefore have seen a winter, and homeowner Dave Love said, “We have been more than impressed with how the units keep their level of warmth and constant temperature throughout the whole house." "Initially, we found the house too warm, but Danny was quick to help. He came round to explain the controls to us and helped us find the optimum level of comfort throughout the house – we even had a Facetime call with Danny when we first moved in." Heating services "We have been impressed with the level of aftercare service we have received regarding the heating system." "The sustainability of the home and energy efficiency was a key part of the appeal and a factor in our decision to purchase the house in the first place, especially with the energy crisis at the time.”

In just 10 days’ time, Glasgow’s SEC will be abuzz with renewable and low-carbon energy experts from home and overseas at the annual All-Energy and co-located Dcarbonise exhibition and conference. The Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP, First Minister of Scotland, will be speaking in the opening plenary session on Wednesday 10 May, and four of his Ministers will also be taking part in relevant sessions during the two-day event. Decarbonization “We are delighted by this level of support from the Scottish Government,” said Jonathan Heastie, Portfolio Director, Energy & Marine at RX Global who owns and organizes the duo of events. “This is the 22nd anniversary of All-Energy and the third edition of Decarbonize. All-Energy has spent two decades helping the UK to decarbonize its power supply, Dcarbonise has been introduced to ensure that private and public sector energy end-users gain the same access to advice and technology to assist them in their plans to decarbonize their buildings, businesses, and transportation.” session speakers Other plenary session speakers are Professor Jim Skea CBE, FRSE, David Bunch, Chris Stark, and Councillor Susan Aitken The First Minister will be speaking on 10 May in the opening plenary session at 09:00, featuring Keith Anderson, ScottishPower’s CEO who will both chair and speak in the session, and The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Jacqueline McLaren who will give the Civic Welcome and invite all attending the two-day event to be at the Glasgow Science Centre from 18:00 for the Civic Reception, which is incorporated in the Giant Networking Evening. Other plenary session speakers are Professor Jim Skea CBE, FRSE - UK candidate for IPCC Chair 2023, Professor at Imperial College London, and Chair of the Scottish Just Transition Commission; David Bunch, Country Chair, Shell UK; Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee (speaking on Reliable, Resilient, Zero Carbon Power); and Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council. keynote address, panel discussion Three other Scottish Government Ministers will also be speaking on 10 May, Patrick Harvie MSP will be delivering a keynote address in the opening Heat Transition to Net Zero session at 11:00, and at the same time Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Transport will give a scene-setting speech in the Transport Decarbonisation session. That then leads to a panel discussion on the decarbonization of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which he will chair. In the afternoon of 10 May at 14:00  Lorna Slater MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity will be one of the speakers in ‘Working for Net Zero ensuring good quality and sustainable jobs’, a joint Centre for Energy Policy (CEP) and Future Energy Skills (FES) program event; significantly, it is the second 90-minute session looking at Green Jobs that day; with the Future Talent Hub also key to future employment. Zero emission electricity Scotland’s Energy Minister Gillian Martin MSP will get the plenary session on Thursday 11 May off to a flying start at 09:00 in a ‘Meet the Minister’ spot with a keynote address and answering audience questions before a stellar panel takes on the subject of ‘Zero emission electricity 100% of the time: How do we deliver a net zero GB electricity system by 2035?’ chaired by Dr Simon Harrison, Head of Group at Strategy at Mott MacDonald. His panelists are Adam Berman, Deputy Director, Energy UK; Tom Smout, Senior Associate, Aurora Energy Research; Rebecca Barnett, Director of Networks, Ofgem; Laura Fleming, CEO, Hitachi UK; and Steve Scrimshaw, Vice President, Siemens Energy UK & Ireland. Well, over 500 speakers are taking part in 65 sessions during the two days. Jonathan Heastie describes them as, “A veritable “who’s who” of the industry in what is undoubtedly one of the industry’s biggest free-of-charge conferences seen anywhere in the world, and something we are hugely proud to deliver.” registration The exhibition has over 250 exhibiting organizations from 15 countries including Italy, Flanders, and Denmark All elements of All-Energy (the exhibition, the conference and the Giant Networking Evening kindly sponsored by Siemens Energy and incorporating the Civic Reception) are free to attend for all with relevant business, academic, government, or media interest in the topics that come under the conference spotlight or feature in the exhibition registration is at the website. The exhibition has over 250 exhibiting organizations from 15 countries including returning pavilions from Italy, Flanders, and Denmark. At least 80 new organizations are exhibiting at the for the first time. Event details Full details on all aspects of the show can be found on the event website Headline Sponsor is Shepherd and Wedderburn; other sponsors include ScottishPower, Shell UK, Siemens Energy, Ventient Energy, and DWF. The Society for Underwater Technology is its Learned Society Patron; Glasgow is its host City; and it is held in association with the REA, UKRI/Innovate UK, Highlands, and Islands Enterprise, and Scottish Enterprise.

In the automotive sector, it is no longer fashionable to call a business a car manufacturer; they are suppliers of transportation solutions. This is not twisting the meaning of the message. It is a very true example of how organizations that once manufactured the asset that carried out the task of transportation, have now become end-to-end service providers. General Motors investing in ride share service Lyft is just one example of a manufacturer becoming a servitization business. The HVACR sector is going through a similar period of heated change as automotive. Industry professionals demand more than just solutions and products; they expect a full-service offering. Forward-thinking decision-makers should therefore be looking at ways of transforming its business models to become more service-centric. Businesses must first recognize the need to adopt a service mindset and then work pragmatically to develop and mature their service organizations, which means working with partners with a like-minded care and approach to the customer. In the past, Panasonic had a technical approach to service. In the 2020s, however, service means so much more, whether the customer is commercial or residential. Service-centric HVAC The first step in the journey to servitization is a holistic analysis of the service operations right across the organization, including a business maturity assessment. With this understanding, businesses are able to formulate a step-by-step strategic approach to develop the level of maturity servitization requires. Depending on baseline maturity, step one will for most companies involve the adoption of common tools that promote uniformity of processes, reporting and ways of working. The HVACR sector is going through a similar period of heated change as automotive Let me take you back to the automotive sector for an example of why this is such a crucial step. If you were to go to a BMW or Mercedes showroom, you would expect to get the same experience regardless of what country you are in. Germany, France or the UK, you would expect a similar kind of service. And that's really what all service providers in the HVACR space should be aiming for; no matter where the customer is—whether it is Italy, Czech Republic, Spain or Norway—they receive a consistency in service. One of the main challenges to this process, and one that faces most of not all companies in the sector, is that different nations or regions have established their own ways of doing things, creating a silo mentality. To counter this, while still respecting independence, businesses need to develop a service offer that has a top-down governance in terms of the technology platforms in use and the operational tools and processes to sell service and report on growth and sales. While taking care not to stifle the creativity and uniqueness of regional subsidiaries, a firm hand will be needed to steer away from each country going off at right angles. Standardizing technology platforms Standardizing technology platforms is a crucial part of this transition. Panasonic has partnered with enterprise software provider IFS for a central remote assistance solution to be used by sales, support and technical staff across Europe. This is an important first phase of our strategy, as it offers a truly unified way of working. Everyone in the organization has to work in the same way, and to the same high standard. One crucial realization is that servitization is inextricably linked with digital transformation and the application of new technology to reinforce business imperatives. In the case of Panasonic, the choice to deploy a merged-reality software solution that has been a remote solution to provide our teams with a merged reality software platform that blends two real-time video streams into an interactive environment has been a decisive first step toward our servitization vision. Installers, field technicians, engineers and customers must be able to share real-life situational context with remote product experts to diagnose issues, share knowledge in real-time and accelerate the repair time rates. Servitization is inextricably linked with digital transformation and the application of new technology to reinforce business imperatives Considering the benefits that can be reaped even through an incremental technology investment strategy, businesses can’t afford to remain on the servitization fence. Just looking at the potential benefits of remote assistance technology in the HVACR sector, companies should with relatively little effort be able to realize significant reductions in repair rates while also reducing or even eliminating time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly site visits. By equipping service staff with the right technology, they will also be able to capture customer feedback in real time as well as easily share knowledge and technical insight with coworkers. Future opportunities Finding and deploying the right enabling technology is a key part of any servitization initiative. Another crucial step is examining the HVAC service sales structure itself to determine how services are sold. The holy grail is for customers to see you as a solution to their problems, rather than a company they buy products from. This means examining what offerings are appealing to the customer base, and how to develop those into subscription-based offerings. For most HVACR companies, this will translate into the delivery outcomes, and for the customer to trust their service provider to guarantee their air conditioning, for example, is always operating optimally. If you look at hotels, hospitals, retail, restaurants, warehouses, industries, offices, and many other applications, they want to get on with doing what they do best – they don't want to worry about HVACR equipment. That's our job, and we need to determine how to best meet that need. Finding and deploying the right enabling technology is a key part of any servitization initiative As a business moves to a servitized model, so too must its service engineering modernize. Opportunities include providing feedback from the engineers in the field, and from customers to the product development team, which will improve the creation of new products and solutions. In today's economy, the customer expects that if a premium product is purchased, then a premium service has to be part of the same offering. The ultimate goal is to maximize customer retention, and to do that we need to mature and innovate in how we provide service to our customers. This is a new beginning for the sector and I'm excited for the journey.

Panasonic has conducted research that verifies that hydroxyl radicals contained in water can inhibit the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles are generated by applying high voltage to moisture in the air. The patented technology - brand-named 'nanoe X' - is already used for air and surface purification in Panasonic’s air conditioning systems. The research suggests that the technology might be useful in fighting the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in addition to its use to inhibit odors, pollutants, allergens, and other viruses. The research was conducted in collaboration with Mayo Yasugi, Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University. Here is a clarification from Panasonic: "While Panasonic makes a wide range of products that generate these type of free radicals, none of these products has been tested for efficacy in the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on surfaces or in the air. We continue to monitor the latest research and study the matter, and in the event that scientifically sound research shows our product/s to be effective in helping to inhibit this virus, we will work with the appropriate regulatory bodies to ensure all information is validated." inhibit pathogenic microorganisms Hydroxyl radicals contained in water are characterized by being strongly oxidative and highly reactive. Panasonic has conducted research on the technology since 1997 and has verified its effectiveness to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) and allergens, breaking down PM2.5 components that have adverse effects on the human body. In 2012, Panasonic conducted a virus clearance test with a third-party organization and confirmed the effectiveness of each of four categories in terms of biological characteristic. Based on the result, Panasonic announced that “hydroxyl radicals contained in water” technology could be expected to have an inhibitory effect on new viruses. evaluate product performance The virus infectious titer was measured and used to calculate the inhibition rate SARS-CoV-2 is an example of a new type of virus, and now testing (in July 2020) has confirmed that the hydroxyl radicals contained in water do in fact have an inhibitory effect, according to Panasonic. The testing was carried out in a closed laboratory environment and was not designed to assess efficacy in uncontrolled living spaces. The comparative verification was conducted in a 45L test space that contained the novel coronavirus with and without exposure to hydroxyl radicals contained in water. Over 99% of novel coronavirus activity was inhibited within three hours. Panasonic emphasizes the verification was designed to generate basic research data and not designed to evaluate product performance. A piece of gauze inoculated with the virus solution was placed in a petri dish and exposed to hydroxyl radicals contained in water for a pre-determined time. The virus infectious titer was measured and used to calculate the inhibition rate. creating healthy environments The same test was performed three times to confirm reproducibility. The reactive components generated by “the electrostatic atomized water technology” are “wrapped and contained” in the water particle, so the substances have a longer life and are delivered to wider areas than usual ions. Panasonic says it will continue to pursue the potential of “hydroxyl radicals contained in water” technology to address possible risks associated with air pollution such as new pathogenic microorganisms, with the aim of creating healthy environments for people around the world.

Welcome to our Expert Panel Roundtable, a new feature of HVACInformed.com. We will be asking timely questions about the HVAC market and seeking out experts in the field to provide responses. Our goal is to promote a useful exchange of information on a variety of topics and to create a forum for discussion of important issues facing the industry. Launching this new feature in the middle of a global pandemic made choosing our first question quite easy. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What has been the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the HVAC market?