Star Refrigeration has been named as a finalist in both the Innovation in Business and Net Zero Achievement categories at the Glasgow Business Awards.
The ceremony and dinner, which will take place on 7th October 2021 at DoubleTree By Hilton Glasgow Central, is organised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, an independent and not for profit organisation championing all businesses across all sectors in the city and the region.
The Glasgow Business Awards recognise the city’s top businesses and individuals in thirteen different categories as well as providing awards for Most Outstanding Business, Lifetime Achievement and Glasgow’s Favourite Business. Star Refrigeration, whose headquarters are located in the Thornliebank area of Glasgow are nominated in the Innovation in Business and Net Zero Achievement categories.
The Innovation in Business category looks for innovative initiatives that demonstrate the circular economy in action and which bring organisations closer to future proofing their business models. Star Refrigeration is championing the use of heat pumps for decarbonising industry with their innovative water source and air source heat pumps, known as Neatpumps. Rather than burn fossil fuel for heat, a heat pump draws warmth from a local renewable source.
Star designed and developed the world’s largest zero carbon 90°C water heat pump which currently heats the whole Scandinavian city of Drammen using water from the local fjord. The company have also designed the Queens Quay heat pump which takes heat from the waters of the river Clyde in Glasgow.
In Scotland, 80% of the country’s heat demand comes from buildings that are within 1000m of open water and Star’s heat pumps at Queens Quay in Clydebank, have created a beacon for every major city in Scotland to follow.
The company was also shortlisted for The Net Zero Achievement award as their carbon neutral heat pump manufacturing practices can also help achieve Glasgow’s ambitious net zero emissions target for 2030. Star’s heat pumps can deliver up to three times as much energy as they use and are designed to work in harmony with a very volatile grid, resulting in incredible savings.
Star’s nominations in both categories recognise the innovations which the company has been renowned for since it was founded back in 1970 and the sustainable practices which have led the company’s growth.
Speaking about the nominations, Dave Pearson, Director of Sustainability, said, ‘’We are delighted to have been short-listed in two areas; Innovation and Net Zero. The two go hand in hand as we won’t achieve Net Zero by continuing to employ fossil fuel combustion technology and therefore we must change.
“Innovation though is often about market innovation. What these award short listings help show is that environmentally friendly technology such as heat pumps now exist and are perfectly viable. We just need to make sure that the policies also exist to make clean heat the first choice and not the whacky green choice. “
“This change will create healthier communities, improve air quality, create green jobs and protect us from the impact of climate change.’’
Star’s latest innovations also include the Azane and Envi ranges of chillers and freezers which run on natural refrigerants including ammonia and CO2. Another game changing innovation is Star’s bespoke energy optimisation service, Ethos which fills a gap in the market for strategic insight data services. A team of award-winning senior refrigeration consultants, field engineers and software engineers are using data to find ways for refrigeration and heating end users to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions.
Other nominees in the Innovation in Business category include ACS, Consenna, Macdeck Landscaping Ltd, Total Homes Cooperative and WEEE Scotland Ltd. Nominees in the Net Zero Achievement category include DARe-me Consulting Engineers Ltd, Dear Green Coffee Roasters, MacArthur Green and Total Homes Cooperative. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 7 October 2021 at DoubleTree By Hilton Glasgow Central.