Which properties are most at risk of overheating?

• Location: Summer temperatures are generally higher in South East England. Built up neighborhoods will be at higher risk of overheating as a result of the
  urban heat island effect.
• Type of properties: Many factors affect the risk of overheating, including built form and orientation. Flats, especially on the top floor, are identified as being at highest risk.
• Fabric characteristics: Internally insulated homes (especially when heavily occupied during daytime), lightweight constructions, homes with darkly coloured facades, homes with roof lights, and homes with large areas of unshaded glazing.
• Orientation and exposure: Homes with east or west orientation, homes on streets with less tree cover. East facing windows are especially problematic for daytime occupied dwellings. Although south facing rooms can experience overheating, they are easier to shade from the high angle summer sun.
• Occupancy/behaviour: An occupant that stays at home all day could experience more overheating than an occupant who is not.
• Ventilation: Where noise and security issues discourage the use of window opening for cooling.

Key principles for addressing the overheating risk

• If the property has been identified as being at high risk of overheating then avoid internal wall insulation, unless it is accompanied by mitigating measures.
• Reduce external temperatures by managing the immediately surrounding environments, e.g. by adding green spaces (e.g. planting appropriate trees) and water features (e.g. introduce ponds or fountains).
• Exclude or minimise the effect of solar radiation into the home e.g. by installing shading devices or tinted/heat reflective glazing.
• Limit or control heat within the building by reducing internal gains (switch off appliances and lights when not needed), by ventilation (open windows when outside temperatures are cooler than inside), or by the use of thermal mass (thermal mass can delay heat flow through the building envelope by as much as 10 to 12 hours producing a warmer house at night in winter and a cooler house during the day in summer).

Effective measuresNo Cost – behavioral

• Keep windows and curtains or blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day and open windows at other times, particularly to make use of night ventilation to cool the building overnight.
• Increase intake of cold (non-alcoholic) drinks.
• Minimise internal heat gains by switching off lights in unoccupied rooms and appliances not in use.

Low Cost

• Increase air circulation by the use of fans (this advice should be accompanied with a warning of possible dehydration issues).
• Fit internal blinds or curtain linings with a solar reflective coating to reflect the sun.
• Apply solar reflective paint to external walls and roofs to reflect the sun. This is very effective on older properties, with solid brick walls. These coatings could be applied at minimal extra cost as the final coat on external wall insulation render.
• Consider the use of external wall insulation, instead of internal, as it allows the existing thermal mass to remain exposed (so space heat can still be absorbed) and prevents solar gains from reaching the external brickwork.
• Consider reducing internal heat gains (e.g. hot water tank insulation, pipework insulation, temperature controls). Reducing internal gains in older homes is a good way to reduce both overheating and energy use.

Low to Medium cost

• External shading should accompany increased insulation and airtightness measures. Shading should be designed to be seasonally sensitive and/or user controlled (e.g. retractable awnings, shutters). External window shutters are often the most effective single measure for reducing overheating because they block the solar radiation before it enters the building.
• Fixed external shading above windows will block solar gains from the higher altitude summer sun, whilst allowing gains from the lower altitude sun in the other seasons for natural daylight.
• Solar reflective coatings for flat roofs are also effective for top floor flats.

Medium to High cost

• Respect existing thermal mass – where appropriate recommend external insulation as opposed to covering existing thermal mass with internal insulation.

AcknowledgementsThis briefing was prepared by Dr Anastasia Mylona, in consultation with researchers from EPSRC funded projects SNACC, CREW and LUCID.

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Free resource helps buyers evaluate the true cost of ownership to get the best value
MovinCool, a brand of DENSO Corp., the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial spot air conditioners, has published a guide to help buyers make the most of their money when investing in portable cooling solutions for the workplace. The white paper, “Portable Spot Air Conditioners: Determining Total Cost of Ownership,” explains what buyers need to know to comparison shop for the best value.

“This easy-to-read report gives prospective buyers the information they need before they commit valuable resources,” said MovinCool Sales Manager David Keller. “As the manufacturer that pioneered spot air conditioners to meet the cooling needs of our own automotive parts factories, we’re eager to share our expertise.”

Getting the best value starts with quality. A well-built spot air conditioner requires no maintenance other than a periodic cleaning, is easy to install, and offers years of trouble-free service. Some lower-priced brands have inaccurate capacity ratings leading to higher electricity bills, frequent repairs and a shorter life span of the unit. The cost of owning the lower-priced unit soon skyrockets due to the mounting expenses.

“Quality is crucial,” Keller said. “Our guide includes a comprehensive checklist of what details to look for to ensure buyers are getting a reliable unit and not one prone to failures, repairs and lost productivity that drives up costs.”

Quality equipment also comes with an extended warranty that covers parts and labor. Dependable service that includes on-site repairs is another sign buyers are getting the best deal. 

To download a PDF of “Portable Spot Air Conditioners: Determining Total Cost of Ownership,” visit: http://www.movincool.com/total-cost. For complete information on all MovinCool products, including climate control units with heating and cooling functions, visit http://www.movincool.com.
 
MovinCool, a pioneer of workspace spot cooling since the 1980s, offers portable and ceiling-mount air conditioning systems for many different office, information technology and industrial applications. MovinCool’s industry-leading warranty covers parts and labor on the entire unit for three years.

DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics, information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 150,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, totaled US$40.2 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. 

In North America, DENSO employs more than 22,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arkansas. DENSO’s North American consolidated sales totaled US$9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. 

MovinCool is a registered trademark of DENSO Corp.

Speed up drying, reduce formation of mold and mildew

When storms and floods cause interior water damage to houses and buildings, MovinCool® portable spot air conditioners have a vital role to play.

"Our portable spot air conditioners can do more than just provide cold air," said David Keller, MovinCool sales manager. "They can also dry out wet environments faster than conventional methods, to reduce the formation of mold and mildew, and keep them from spreading further."

MovinCool's dehumidification technology uses powerful, industrial-strength blowers to draw in moist air and push out dry air, which can be directed right where it's needed most. The result is substantially quicker recovery than with fans or dehumidifiers, reducing restoration costs.

For more information about MovinCool moisture-removal solutions, visit www.movincool.com/portable-dehumidifier.

To view an animation of MovinCool's fast-drying process, visit www.movincool.com/applications/fast-drying-setup.

MovinCool is a brand of DENSO Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of spot air conditioners. In the 1980s, DENSO pioneered workspace spot cooling to meet its own factory needs. Today, MovinCool offers a wide range of air conditioners and heat pumps. For more information, visit www.movincool.com.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics, information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 150,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, totaled US$40.2 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

In North America, DENSO employs more than 22,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
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MovinCool is a registered trademark of DENSO Corporation.

Available in English, Spanish and French versions
MovinCool® a brand of DENSO Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial spot air conditioners, announced release of its 2016 product catalog. The 20-page publication, which is available in English, Spanish and French versions, covers MovinCool’s complete lineup of portable spot air conditioners, heat pumps and accessories. Customer testimonials are also featured.

“We’re proud to offer not only the industry’s widest range of spot air conditioners, but those with a reputation for the highest quality of manufacturing,” said David Keller, MovinCool sales manager. “Our customers can be confident in choosing MovinCool, knowing our products will provide them with many years of trouble-free operation, and the lowest total cost of ownership.”

To view an interactive online version of the new MovinCool product catalog, or to download a PDF, visit www.movincool.com/catalog.

MovinCool has pioneered workspace spot cooling since the 1980s, and offers portable spot air conditioning systems, as well as heat pumps, for office, information technology and industrial applications. More information is available at www.movincool.com.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics, information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs nearly 140,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015, totaled US$35.9 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.2 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

In North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 33 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. DENSO’s North American consolidated sales totaled US$8.0 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.

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