Executive Summary
This summary report provides an overview of the testing and subsequent installation of COOLNOMIX® across various HSBC sites across Asia-Pacific, namely in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. It also aggregates and consolidates the annual energy savings being delivered to HSBC as a result of COOLNOMIX®.
COOLNOMIX® is a retrofit energy optimization solution for air conditioning and refrigeration systems designed for DX, ducted, split-type and VRV/VRF air conditioning systems. COOLNOMIX® reduces the electricity consumed by air conditioners by an average of 40% and is currently installed in over 30 countries.
This report has been produced at the request of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) on behalf of HSBC, its client. JLL is a global real estate organisation with more than 230 corporate offices operating in more than 80 countries. It focuses on three main geographical areas: the Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); and Asia- Pacific.
COOLNOMIX® was initially piloted for HSBC in August 2015 at 2 branches in Hong Kong, located at Waterloo Road and King’s Road. These locations were selected to determine the energy savings capabilities of COOLNOMIX®. During the pilots, the energy savings were measured directly using metering equipment. The results of the energy savings were in line with expectations and it was decided to continue to install COOLNOMIX® at all HSBC branches in Hong Kong that have DX, ducted, split-type and VRV/VRF air conditioning systems. At the same time, COOLNOMIX® was installed in other countries in the region where HSBC has a significant presence.
At the branches in Hong Kong, power monitoring devices with current clamps were fitted to measure the actual energy consumed before and after COOLNOMIX® was installed. One branch in the Philippines also measured the energy consumption of the air conditioning before and after installing COOLNOMIX®. The other sites did not measure the energy savings directly but instead derived the savings based on the energy savings being delivered at the branches with metering equipment.
The following table provides a summary of the energy savings at the various sites across the Asia-Pacific region as a result of the COOLNOMIX® installations. This is based on the latest data received by JLL up to 20 January 2017:
Introduction
COOLNOMIX® is a third-generation retrofit energy optimization thermostat for air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Launched in October 2012, COOLNOMIX® energy savings are derived from the additional capacity inherent in well-maintained and well-sized air conditioning systems. It is able to achieve these energy savings through its unique, patented system that uses two temperature sensors, one measuring the cold air, the other measuring the ambient air.
This report consolidates the results of the installation work carried out since COOLNOMIX® was first implemented with HSBC in August 2015. It includes results from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam.
Installation
Initially, two pilot sites in Hong Kong were used to demonstrate the energy savings capabilities of COOLNOMIX®. These HSBC branches, located at Waterloo Road and King’s Road, were installed with COOLNOMIX® in August 2015.
The installation work at these branches was conducted out-of-hours, i.e. at nights, public holidays and weekends so as not to affect the bank’s regular operations. JLL staff kindly coordinated access times with HSBC management.
The pilot commenced with a two-week baseline during which power consumption data was collected without COOLNOMIX® being in operation. Immediately after this two week period, Coolnomix was turned on and a two-week period with COOLNOMIX® in operation commenced. During this time, nower consumotion data was also collected.
As requested by JLL, the COOLNOMIX® units were installed with JLL’s designated technicians observing as part of a knowledge transfer and training exercise.
Energy Measurement
As part of the installation process, two Efergy e2 Classic power monitoring devices were connected to each of the power cables supplying the air conditioners with power. The Efergy e2 Classic power monitors made use of wireless connected current clamps to record cooling-specific energy consumption throughout the pilot programme.
Pre-and Post-Installation
Throughout the installation phase the following data was collected from each fan coil unit:
- room/space temperatures at working (desktop) height
- return air temperatures at height (where COOLNOMIX® is installed)
- minimum achievable supply air temperatures from subject fan coil
- selected COOLNOMIX® set points to deliver required cooling.
Following installations, the electricians returned to the branch during office hours to observe the sites when under normal heat loading, and fine-tuned the COOLNOMIX® temperature settings where necessary to meet HSBC and JLL operational requirements.
The baseline for AC-specific power consumption figures was recorded for 14 days, followed by 14 days with COOLNOMIX® turned on. The results demonstrated energy savings of 27% for the King’s Road branch and 33% for the Waterloo Road branch. Based on these results, JLL decided to proceed with a broader roll- out of COOLNOMIX®.
Results
After an extensive rollout across the region throughout 2016, the results show that COOLNOMIX® is now delivering an average of 27.2% energy savings across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. We believe this to be a very conservative figure as the energy savings were discounted to account for seasonality, even in the equatorial countries of Singapore and Malaysia, where the temperature is relatively constant year-round.
Nevertheless, the savings are still substantial and translate to an annual energy saving of 3 million kilowatt hours, or 3MWh, saving HSBC over HK$3.2 million per annum, HK$1.3 million of which is from Hong Kong, where its branch network is the most extensive.
The table below is a summary of the results*. A more detailed breakdown of the energy savings by site can be found in the Appendix of this report.
*Note: for practical reasons it was not possible to connect metres to measure the energy savings at all locations. All Hong Kong sites were metered and measured for energy savings and one site in the Philippines was metered and measured. The other locations in the Philippines applied the same savings rate that was measured at the first location. The energy savings rate used for Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam was based on the average measured savings rate at the Hong Kong sites.
Cost & Payback of Coolnomix
Agile 8 and JLL have an agreement in place to provide COOLNOMIX® at a unit price of HK$2,500 (approximately US$320), FOB Hong Kong.
JLL technicians were trained to perform COOLNOMIX® installations in all five countries across the region. This proved to be a very cost-effective method of installing COOLNOMIX®. However, in some cases in Hong Kong, Agile 8 was requested to perform the installation work to ensure that JLl’s target completion date was met.
Agile 8 also has an agreement in place with DHL to provide shipping and customs clearance for COOLNOMIX® from Hong Kong to any destination worldwide.
The target payback period for COOLNOMIX® was 2 years. Fortunately, the payback period across all regions averaged only 0.6 years or 7.2 months, which is substantially shorter.
The location with the fastest payback period was Singapore with only 0.25 years or 3 months. The location with the slowest payback period was Vietnam with 2.7 years. The reasons for the fastest and the slowest payback periods are the same, namely (1) the local cost of electricity, where it is much higher in Singapore than in Vietnam; and (2) the size of the air conditioning units, where the percentage savings translates to more kWh savings because Singapore has much larger capacity AC units.
Conclusions
Overall COOLNOMIX® proved to be a competitively priced and unrivalled air conditioning energy saving thermostat. Furthermore, COOLNOMIX® is able to deliver the same level of savings with air conditioning systems that are DX, ducted, split-type, VRV, VRF and CRAC (Computer Room Air Conditioning) units, with the latter delivering the greatest savings in dollar terms due to its high power capacity (around 60kW).
It was worthwhile training a core team of JLL technicians to install COOLNOMIX® as it allowed for relatively swift installations across the locations. It also allows these technicians to take ownership and responsibility for implementing COOLNOMIX®, being well-positioned to troubleshoot and address any issues related to COOLNOMIX® in the future.
It is our recommendation that JLL continue installing COOLNOMIX® across the rest of the region to deliver additional energy savings to HSBC wherever air conditioning is used to cool its branches and offices.
COOLNOMIX® is currently piloting a thermostat for a central chiller based on an upgraded version of the same technology. Once available, we would be pleased to conduct a pilot for HSBC to demonstrate its capability.
Report Sign-Off
We at Agile 8 Consulting Limited declare that to the best of our knowledge the test results provided in this report are accurate and true.
Kevin Moore, CEO
Agile 8 Consulting Limited
Report received and accepted for and on behalf of Jones Lang LaSalle
Graham Jegmings, Regional Director –
Energy and Sustainability Integrated Facilities Management
Appendix – Breakdown of Coolnomix Savings by Site Location
Hong Kong
Note: All 25 locations in Hong Kong used energy metres to measure the energy savings made from installing Coolnomix.
Singapore
Note: The savings rate used in Singapore was calculated based on the average measured energy savings at the Hong Kong locations. It is a conservative figure and the actual energy savings are likely to be higher.
Philippines
Note: Site 1 (HSBC Alabang M1.1) used energy metres to measure the energy savings. The savings for the remaining 4 sites was derived by applying the same savings rate as site 1.
Malaysia
Note: The savings rate used in Malaysia was calculated based on the average measured energy savings at the Hong Kong locations. It is a conservative figure and the actual energy savings are likely to be higher.
Vietnam
Note: The savings rate used in Vietnam was calculated based on the average measured energy savings at the Hong Kong locations. It is a conservative figure and the actual energy savings are likely to be higher.
