At Extechnology we welcome the recent launch of ‘The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan' by the Government which cements the UK's position at the forefront of a low carbon economic revolution. Within the plan is a target to cut 10% of annual carbon emissions between now and 2020 through greater efficiencies in the workplace.

Luckily the food processing sector has been forward thinking and is already embracing the green agenda in a number of ways including opting for low carbon technologies, like our patented Extechnology EXE12 UV-C odour and grease control unit.

For example, we recently installed our low carbon UV-C EXE12 unit to control odour and grease within a food processing facility for caterers Ragasaan in Northolt which supplies hotels and events with Indian cuisine. In order to gain planning permission and open the food processing facility the company needed to demonstrate to the local council that it would control odour. Our patented EXE 12 UV-C unit was therefore selected to provide the kitchen extraction system with energy efficient odour and grease control.

Here at Extechnology we are finding that food processing businesses are becoming increasingly environmentally considerate and looking for technologies that can support their green agenda. Energy efficiency is key to reducing a facilities' carbon foot print and with extract systems generally one of the largest energy consumers in commercial kitchens, companies are focusing heavily on cutting their energy use. As a result there is a migration away from using traditional carbon filters, since apart from the environmental issues that arise from the manufacture of carbon filters, there is also the question of how they affect the efficiency of the kitchen extract system. Since carbon filters are installed inside the extraction system to trap odour contaminants as the air passes through them large fans are needed by the system to overcome the resistance posed by the filters - not a very energy efficient option.

With UV-C technology, such as our EXE 12, smaller fans can be used in the extraction system, since the unit is not located within the air flow of the system, so there is no resistance and no pressure drops. Thus food processing companies can save valuable energy and money.

As consumables carbon filters also need to be replaced on a monthly basis - not a very environmentally friendly option. This can also prove expensive, possibly upwards of £500 a month. In contrast the only maintenance required by our EXE 12 system is tube replacement every 8000 hours or once a year, reducing both cost and carbon footprint.

Used in a variety of air cleaning applications for more than 20 years, UV-C technology works by oxidsing the odour and grease particulate, permanently destroying and altering the compounds. In kitchen ventilation UV-C technology has traditionally been used in an inline application within the ductwork or canopy but Extechnology's EXE12 unit is not located within the air flow of the extraction system. With the unit located outside the air flow of the extraction system grease does not adhere to the tubes' surface, performance is therefore maintained and there is no air flow resistance, offering an energy efficient solution.