Buy Sustainable - Quick Wins

Condensing Units

Purchase of energy efficient condensing units to reduce the amount of energy consumed throughout the life cycle, with a reduction in F gas emissions

MINIMUM Mandatory Specification(s)

1.  Units at a low temperature must have a coefficient of performance of better than 1.610, as in ECA Air Cooled Condensing Units criteria (see page 3)
2.  Units at a medium temperature must have a coefficient of performance of better than 2.835
3.  Units at a high temperature must have a coefficient of performance of better than 3.930
4.  Must not use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants
5.  Must not use virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants
6.  Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) must only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist, in accordance with government policy

Legislation will prohibit the use as refrigerants of virgin HCFCs from 31 December 2009 and all HCFCs from 31 December 2014 (see F gas support, pages 5 and 6). Information on alternatives can be found on the Defra website

BEST PRACTICE Specification(s)

1. Units at a low temperature have a coefficient of performance of 1.9 or better, in line with the ECA Air Cooled Condensing Units criteria (see page 3)
2.  Units at a medium temperature have a coefficient of performance of 3.6 or better
3.  Units at a high temperature have a coefficient of performance of 4.2 or better
4.  Does not use CFCs as refrigerants
5.  Does not use HCFCs as refrigerants
6.  Does not use HFCs as refrigerants where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives exist

Legislation will prohibit the use as refrigerants of virgin HCFCs from 31 December 2009 and all HCFCs from 31 December 2014 (see F gas support, pages 5 and 6). Information on alternatives can be found on the Defra website