Heating inspiration for energy saving
By Binh Nguyen in HCMC
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| Sven von Moock of Norfolk Mansion stands by the solar absorption panels on the roof of the building in downtown HCMC - Photo: Mong Binh |
Norfolk Mansion, a property of serviced luxury apartments for lease, has implemented a number of plans and measures to go green and inspire its employees and guests to embrace its environmental conservation endeavor.
Sven von Moock, general manager of Norfolk Mansion, recounts various initiatives and plans have been put in place to make guests and staff of the property in downtown HCMC aware about the importance of energy saving and environmental preservation.
One of the many examples is Norfolk Mansion encourages its guests to reduce bed/bathroom linen washing but let them decide. The call has borne fruit as many guests have responded, hence less electricity use for washing machines.
However, Norfolk Mansion believes that it is its staff who should be the pioneer in reducing power consumption for the benefit of themselves and the building. Von Moock says the 126-apartment property has launched a campaign to raise awareness among staff about using energy in a green way.
“We use energy-saving light bulbs throughout the property and most public area lighting is on timers, meaning that we control on and off times,” he says. “When purchasing new appliances and electric equipment we ensure the devices meet highest energy-efficiency standards.”
Highly energy-efficient air-conditioning units have been installed throughout Norfolk Mansion on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1. Double-glazed windows are of great support in reducing noise, keeping out the heat and saving air-conditioning costs.
As a result, the newest technology and a higher energy efficiency ratio (EER) have lowered air-conditioning costs, and concurrently minimize greenhouse gas emissions from air-conditioners.
In the list of the energy saving achievements at Norfolk Mansion in the year to date is a solar water heating system that the property commissioned in May to boost power saving within the building. Equipped with high-tech German-made solar absorption panels, the solar system heats up water for all the apartments while reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants.
“The system is operated around the clock, using solar energy to generate hot water that is stored in roof-top tanks and then distributed throughout the building. The system so far has contributed greatly to energy saving at Norfolk Mansion of around 15%-20%,” Von Moock says.
Also, Norfolk Mansion de-commissioned energy-inefficient water heaters in the apartments, and this spares no more replacement cost for water heaters which have a limited lifespan.
Though Norfolk Mansion may have to use auxiliary heat pumps to maintain a certain water temperature depending on the season and weather, Von Moock says, the solar system can bring about an electricity cost reduction by 15% or higher.
Asked about why Norfolk Mansion has spent heavily on new and green technologies, Von Moock says the property views this as its responsibility to protect the environment and build a better environment for the community.
Energy saving at Norfolk Mansion also partly helps ease the national power grid. “Using renewable energy sources takes pressure off the overloaded electricity grid,” Von Moock comments.
Protecting and preserving the environment have been in the news in the past years and issues are being constantly debated in the public domain. “This shows that people are much more aware about the importance of environment protection,” Von Moock says, admitting there are many areas where a lot of work remains to be done.
He believes private companies such as Norfolk Mansion can contribute to environmental preservation by setting high standards, and simple but good examples like distributing guests’ newspapers in reusable cotton bags instead of plastic ones.
The Saigon Times Daily