Food & Drink International
Read about our work at Booths Media City in this months (February 2012) Food & Drink International Magazine, page 6.
Title; Hamilton-Clark provides advanced refrigeration solutions for Booths. Click Here for the online link.
HFC Phase-out pressure
It is becoming increasingly likely that there will be a ban on the use of HFCs. The UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is urging parties and industries to “seize the opportunity provided by the HCFC phase-out to leapfrog HFCs wherever possible”. In light of the pressure here and the increase in pressure from the European Parliament, it is becoming increasingly likely that a phase out programme will come for HFCs and an eventual outright ban. The US, Canada and Mexico have already jointly submitted a proposal to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, under the Montreal Protocol in May.
The refrigeration industry should be looking to design new projects and installations using natural refrigerants (CO2, ammonia and HCs) to reduce the impact once this inevitable phase out begins. The majority of existing refrigeration plant and machinery within the UK currently uses HFC and soon to be phased out HCFC refrigerants, a phase out will have a big and extremely costly impact. Questions should be raised to anybody encouraging investment in systems reliant on HFCs. A greater use of natural refrigerants should be encouraged.
Phase out fluorinated greenhouse gases by 2020.
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is calling on the European Union (EU) to phase out fluorinated greenhouse gases by 2020.
Revisions to the F-Gas Regulation currently under review could eliminate the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a family of potent greenhouse gases hundreds to thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
HFCs currently comprise approximately 2% of European greenhouse gas emissions but this is rising rapidly. By 2020, HFCs could make up to 19% of global emissions.
Phase-out of F-gases in the EU, based on prohibitions on use and placement in products, would save at least 60 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year (equivalent to 10 per cent of the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions) by 2030.
Barton Grange Garden Centre named Best Garden Centre in the North West
Barton Grange Garden Centre at Brock has been named as the best garden centre in the whole north west of England.
In the Garden Centre Association audit earlier this year, Barton Grange came out on top for best overall Garden Centre but also won Best Restaurant, Best Plant Area, Best Garden Centre Staff and not surprisingly Best Farm Shop.
Well done to all at Barton Grange on winning this award, we like to hear about Clients winning awards, especially for projects that we have been involved in.
RAC Awards 2011
The RAC Cooling Awards 2011 was attended by Hamilton-Clark Director Daniel Clark who enjoyed an excellent evening. By all accounts the entertainment was superb and the meal delicious. Sadly Booths, Hesketh Bank project did not come home with the Retail Project of the Year Award, but we are extremely proud to have been shortlisted.
Congratulations to Marks & Spencers with their Eccleshall Road Learning Store, who were the winners on the night.
We are very much looking forward to next years awards.
