ATL opens Panasonic Proshop in MoBay
As the summer heat sizzles and the cost of electricity mounts, head of engineering at Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) Mark Blair says a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioner from Panasonic could assist commercial customers in reducing their electricity bill by up to 45 per cent.
“For commercial buildings where you have older rooftop systems that use a lot of energy, you should convert to a central VRF system, which is an inverter-based system… You can control individual units locally and remotely, and you can control in terms of energy usage,” Blair said.
“You could be saving up to 40 to 45 per cent on your energy bill for the month. So, that is a big advantage,” Blair said, adding, “when you have individual control it is an additional saving.”
The former National Water Commission vice- president noted that the system is also capable of being controlled remotely through the Internet via a computer or a cell phone.
ATL, with over 40 years of air conditioning experience and service to Jamaica, is walking the talk.
during a launch of its Panasonic Proshop in Montego Bay, St James last Friday, the company announced its intention to change out its chill water central air conditioning system to a VRF system at its Bogue office in St James by the end of the year.
One of the main differences between a VRF and a central system is that each location or room can be controlled individually with the VRF, unlike a central system.
Once a central system is on, everywhere is cooled, including rooms not in use, resulting in wasted energy, Blair explained.
Panasonic Latin America Air Conditioner Business Unit General Manager, Alex Villarreta, said the Montego Bay Panasonic Proshop is the second such facility to be opened in the Caribbean. The first launch took place at the ATL branch in Kingston.
The Proshop, which is the first of its kind in Jamaica, will serve as a specialised hub for air conditioning systems – allowing visitors quick access to technical and marketing information.
Panasonic, which is carried in Jamaica primarily by ATL, is one of approximately 25 companies in the world manufacturing the VRF system.
