Heading towards net zero carbon and beyond
I spend much of my time looking forward, forecasting business opportunities, and developing strategies and tactics to benefit simultaneously the business and the society in which we live.
Hargreaves is committed to decarbonising the built environment and has quietly done so for several generations.
Our association with green mobility such as cycling is well known. Probably less known are our engineered systems to assist with recycling, from household to various grades of nuclear generation waste products. The design, development, and application of heat pumps in the late 1980’s is not well known today. We are also expert in designing and building mechanical ventilation systems which protect society and the environment from hazardous industrial processes, helping to build the new self confinement arch in Chernobyl is a current example.
When I joined the group, for the first time it was to complete my apprenticeship, colleagues I worked with were pioneering reverse cycle heat pump design & manufacture for retail clients whose interests were to reduce store running costs, through reusing waste heat from a growing need for instore refrigeration and bakeries. As a young engineer, I am lucky to have been involved in this exciting work with clients who valued innovation. This work sparked my curiosity for innovation and sustainability.
In the mid 2000’s, that curiosity led to further research, prototyping and the application of heat pump design and application which resulted in patent applications for ‘Energy Efficient zonal climate systems for commercial buildings’.
15 years later it is exciting to see the significant growth and application of heat pump technology which is positively impacting a reduction in fossil fuel consumption of buildings. This is an area of opportunity for Hargreaves to continue its association with Heat Pump Technology on an industrial scale and further innovate in the sectors we work.
Our purpose remains to achieve net zero and improve the built environment for society. Our channels of focus include a reduction in fossil fuel consumption of the HVAC systems we engineer, procure and construct together with a reduction of embedded carbon of the products we manufacture and install. Improving air quality within buildings for occupants and cleaner air exhausted to atmosphere to help improve local environments is a growing area of interest for our smoke and fire safety business.
Hargreaves have long been the authority for many HVAC standard in the nuclear new build and decommissioning markets as well as large transport tunnels. Our business mission is to continue to lead the market with novel materials and composites that are mature in other sectors and easily applied to the construction of a range of high performing buildings across the sectors we work.
We do this through our valuable network of knowledgeable colleagues and external stakeholders who collaborate from across multiple continents.
What we do need are more curious stakeholders and partners who want to innovate with us as we achieve net zero for the society we serve.
Andy Sneyd CEng FCIBSE
Managing Director, Exyte Hargreaves
