Human activities, particularly the way we construct the built environment, can have a considerable impact by contributing to climate change and pollution, which represent a significant threat to the sustainability of our planet.
The construction sector substantially contributes to these challenges by generating air pollution, impacting climate change, contaminating water sources, and generating waste in landfills. In this regard, the concept of Green Building emerges as a vital solution to mitigate the environmental challenges posed by the construction sector. Green Buildings are specifically designed to minimize or eliminate negative impacts on the environment, offering a proactive approach to combat climate change, conserve natural resources, and enhance the overall quality of life.
These buildings employ processes that prioritize resource efficiency and environmental responsibility across their entire life cycle—from initial design and construction to ongoing operation, maintenance, renovation, and eventual deconstruction. By embracing Green Building principles, the construction industry can significantly reduce its environmental footprint and contribute positively to global sustainability efforts.
In the context of building and environmental sustainability, energy efficiency plays a key role. It refers to how effectively a building uses energy to meet its operational needs, including heating, cooling, lighting and other energy requirements while minimising overall energy consumption.
Achieving energy efficiency involves the integration of technologies, materials and design strategies. A critical aspect of this is the implementation of efficient HVAC systems, that use advanced technologies to reduce energy consumption while maintaining optimal thermal comfort within the building. HVAC systems can determine buildings’ impact on the environment as they usually account for about 50% of the energy consumption.
By prioritising energy efficiency in the design and operation of buildings, is not only possible to reduce operating costs but also environmental impact, contributing to a more sustainable built environment for future generations.
Daikin’s main goal is to contribute to mitigating the impact that the Air Conditioning sector has on the environment by designing and producing technological solutions that can lead the way towards sustainability.
Fan coils are devices used in HVAC systems to heat or cool air within a building.
Fan coils are flexible in their installation and can be ceiling, floor or wall mounted, depending on the structural and design requirements of the building. This versatility allows for strategic placement to ensure efficient distribution of thermal comfort throughout the indoor space. These units are widely used in residential, commercial and industrial environments where precise temperature control and comfort are required.
Daikin contributes to Green Building by designing and manufacturing energy-efficient HVAC products that prioritize environmental sustainability. Daikin Fan coil units (FCUs) are designed to optimize energy usage while maintaining thermal comfort, thereby reducing the overall environmental footprint of buildings.
Of course, green buildings must meet rigorous quality assessments based on specific rating systems that certify the minimal environmental impact of their design.
Among the most well-known are BREEAM, which is widely used around the world, with over 200,000 buildings certified and more than a million registered for assessment, and LEED, which is particularly popular in the US and increasingly in the EU.
BREEAM (British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a certification system that recognises sustainable buildings that exceed national standards. As an internationally leading quality label, it provides investors and building owners the guidelines to focus on sustainability in building design as well as the environmental impact of products in buildings. The BREEAM label assesses the overall building concept in 10 distinct categories. Credits are awarded and weighted for each category to generate the final score for the building, in levels from ‘pass’ to ‘outstanding’.
In terms of BREEAM credits related to Fan Coils, Daikin can provide up to +2020 credits, which are distributed in the following categories:
Credits in Management
Regarding Management category, Daikin can bring up to + 2 credits in the Commissioning building services and Handover assessment criteria, because it can provide installation manuals and a schedule of commissioning for the HVAC work, including an overview for commissioning and recommissioning. Daikin local service support teams can assist in advanced commissioning and hand-over and can provide an extensive set of documentation to make a user guide and training schedule for HVAC. In addition, +2 more credits can be scored in Aftercare support and Seasonal commissioning, thanks to Daikin local service infrastructure and resources that provide outstanding aftercare support.
Credits in Health & Wellbeing
In Health & Wellbeing category, + 3 credits might be achieved in three assessment criteria: Thermal modelling, Adaptability for a projected climate change scenario, and Thermal zoning & controls. Daikin FCUs guarantee optimal thermal comfort in the conditioned spaces; internal winter and summer temperatures can be easily in line with the recommended comfort criteria established in ISO 7730:2005. The same thermal comfort level can be guaranteed in case of climate change scenarios if the FCU has been properly designed. Furthermore, Daikin can bring +1 more credit in Indoor ambient noise and sound insulation, because of low noise level fan coils. Among the complete FCU documentation, a sound level report is always provided (with NR, noise rating, and values available at the selection stage).
Credits in Energy
In terms of the Energy category, up to +9 credits might be achieved in Calculate energy performance Ratio for New Construction (EPR NC). Daikin features an efficient fan coil equipped with a BLDC fan motor, in combination with other energy-performant building materials and components, contributing to the overall efficiency of the building to gain up to 9 points, reaching a BREEAM Excellent or Outstanding score.
Credits in Waste
In Waste category, Daikin can bring +2 credits in Reduction construction waste and Diversion of resources from landfill thanks to the product's easy packaging to recycle and the possibility to optimize the waste streams on the construction site by following the waste reduction plan.
Credits in Pollution
Daikin can bring +1 credit in Pollution category regarding in Noise impact assessment compliant with the national standards. FCU with the BLDC motor is designed to reduce as much as possible the sound noise. Among the complete FCU documentation, a sound-level report is provided.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, evolving, consensus-based international standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings, using a comprehensive, point-based system. The LEED certification programme is initiated by USGBC (US Green Building Council) and is internationally recognized. The certification confirms that a building is designed and built to achieve a performance that surpasses national standards for energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and environmental impacts. These topics are specified in 9 categories, on which the building is evaluated. LEED points are awarded per credit on a 110-point scale, resulting in four levels of performance: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Credits in Energy & Atmoshpere (EA)
To provide specific information for achieving the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigerating systems in buildings, Daikin provides IOM (Installation, Operation and Maintenance) manuals, as well as documentation for the commissioning process. For this reason, Daikin can bring + 4 points for easily complying with Enhanced systems commissioning, having a wide-spread technical assistance network that can support each phase of the commissioning process, providing detailed documentation and user guide including the procedures and measurement points to assess the performance of energy-consuming systems as well as instructions for maintenance and repairs.
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
To provide occupants’ productivity, comfort, and well-being, Daikin can bring + 1 point for providing quality thermal comfort and an additional +1 point for providing effective acoustic performance. Especially thanks to the modulating fan and new valve technology, silent and precise operation is guaranteed, ensuring comfort in workspaces that promote occupants’ well-being.
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