The Australian energy efficiency retrofit market is booming primarily due to the 2025 version of the National Construction Code (NCC). Replacing most of the HVAC equipment’s heating or cooling capacity triggers full compliance with the NCC Section J requirements for commercial building energy efficiency.
Most facility managers focus on integrating the latest HVAC components into the system to reduce energy losses from fans and ducts, and rightfully so. However, only some are treating aluminium equipment screens as energy efficiency retrofits. These architectural screening panels are more than just aesthetic add-ons and can move the needle in sustainability. Here are the reasons why equipment screens should be part of the HVAC retrofit ROI calculation.
Minimising weather damage
Aluminium is corrosion-resistant and naturally forms an oxide layer on its surface when exposed to air. That is why aluminium panels are often used to safeguard outdoor HVAC components from the harsh elements. The material is incredibly strong relative to its low weight, making it robust enough to maintain its integrity without adding heavy mass to the structural load.
These HVAC retrofits are customisable to suit the unique weather-related hazards. For example, an aluminium fabricator can create an aluminium barrier with a cover, serving as a hail guard to protect condenser cooling fins and other sensitive components from impact.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales expect the average daily maximum hail size and hail frequency to increase in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane due to global warming. Investing in aluminium HVAC equipment screens promotes climate resilience and minimises insured losses from potentially more intense hailstorms in the future.
Providing shade without compromising airflow
Architectural aluminium screens are shade structures with excellent reflective properties. They protect outdoor equipment and the roof from excessive heat gain, boosting the building’s overall energy efficiency and making people feel healthier. Green Star-certified offices received 10 per cent higher comfort scores than conventional commercial properties.
Direct exposure to sunlight accelerates the wear and tear of HVAC components. In particular, condenser coils are highly vulnerable to heat. They can underperform and fail due to excessive strain caused by overheating.
Aluminium mechanical equipment screens send most of the infrared light back to the sky rather than absorbing it. The material retains its reflective properties after its thin, transparent oxide layer forms.
Louvred designs consist of slightly angled panels that ensure natural ventilation and block the sun simultaneously. Screens with well-thought-out details do not restrict airflow, maximising the cooling effect of breezes on outdoor HVAC machinery.
Mitigating the urban heat island effect
Green roofs can neutralise the urban heat island effect. Plants absorb solar heat to reduce rooftop surface temperature and release water vapour to cool the surrounding air. Reduced exposure to the sun’s infrared radiation lowers cooling loads and optimises HVAC performance, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Aside from notable gains in building energy efficiency, green roofs have a positive social impact. A 2022 study on the Alumni Green at the University of Technology Sydney, a 1,200-square-metre publicly accessible green roof space above the university’s classrooms and library, found that its users experienced greater social wellbeing and place attachment.
Architectural aluminium panels provide abundant surface area for growing vegetation vertically. These panels can compensate for the space rendered unusable for urban gardening by HVAC equipment.
Vegetated mechanical equipment screens are an asset only when designed carefully. Retrofitting a rooftop with protective HVAC structures can be complex enough, especially when the building lacks structural support to mount them properly. Incorporating greenery into the panels, which may interfere with ventilation and maintenance access, introduces another layer of complexity. The facility manager and other decision-makers within the organisation should agree on the screen’s final design to avoid integrating plants at the expense of equipment health.
Extending equipment lifespan
Everything aluminium screens do for the HVAC equipment they house contributes to the unit’s longevity. Minimising weather damage, curtailing heat gain and helping keep surroundings cooler aim to extend the system’s lifespan for as long as possible, a circular approach.
Preventive maintenance and timely repairs key to maximising the value of a heating and cooling system over its life cycle, underpinning the circular economy. The white paper Tackling the Invisible Climate Risk considers circularity instrumental to reducing Australia’s national carbon dioxide emissions by 165 million tonnes by 2040.
Decreasing the likelihood of premature component failure reduces the demand for replacement parts, thereby preventing the extraction of finite, virgin resources that often involves ecologically damaging methods.
Even refurbished HVAC components are rarely completely green due to their embodied carbon. While remanufacturing mechanical products is more eco-friendly than recycling and throwing them away, it most likely involves emitting greenhouse gases.
Durable architectural screens designed with safe, convenient maintenance access are instrumental in keeping HVAC equipment in peak condition year-round. A technician-friendly screen that reduces the hazards building staff have to contend with during inspections and tuneups, regardless of weather conditions, improves maintenance schedule adherence and promotes safety.
Architectural aluminium screens are underappreciated energy efficiency retrofits. Using them to obscure outdoor HVAC only scratches the surface of their true value. Maximise their potential for sustainability and discover an easier path to NCC Section J compliance.
