As the Government announces its white paper plans for reducing carbon emissions, Jet Environmental has urged UK industry to adopt jet air induction systems more widely if they wish to reduce the predicted 17% increase in energy bills over the next decade.

The Low Carbon Transition Plan sets out the Government’s strategy for tackling climate change with a target to reduce carbon emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by 2020. Key to the Government’s plan is a £100 billion investment in renewable energy, whose share of the country’s electricity generation is expected to increase from 6% to 31% over the period. These measures are expected to add 17% to the energy bills of large industrial users.

The price increases could be significantly offset by the greater use of proven low energy, low carbon technologies, such as, jet air induction for the heating and cooling large industrial spaces, according to Robert Simpson, managing director of JET Environmental. Only by implementing such cost reduction measures now can British industry remain globally competitive, he argues.  

“We must applaud the Government’s objective in setting carbon reduction targets” says Robert Simpson. “However, we should focus on the investment and techniques that industry can make to conserve energy, rather than concentrate solely on measures for energy generation from renewable sources.

“For example, the vast majority of UK industry’s cooling requirements could be successfully met by using free fresh air ventilation. Likewise, more efficient use of heating in large manufacturing and storage spaces can substantially reduce demand on energy-guzzling mechanical systems. In both cases, air induction technology is a proven solution that could be more widely adopted to cut energy consumption and reduce the rising costs that will inevitably result from investment in renewable energy sources”.

The JET air induction system is proven to save hundreds of tonnes of carbon per annum. It is specifically designed as a low carbon solution for heating and cooling large areas, like warehouses, distribution centres and large factories. A typical system features a series of self-balanced jet nozzles which direct warm or cool air into the space from roof level. These nozzles are connected via ductwork to an air handling unit and a selected heating/cooling source. A JET system will also capture any waste heat generated in the space, from electric lighting or natural solar gains through roof lights, mechanical handling equipment and people. JET systems are designed to provide free cooling in summer by releasing large volumes of fresh air into the building and carrying out a night time purge when external temperatures are lower than the desired internal temperature.