UK-based Sale Sharks Rugby Union club has installed a high-efficiency Toshiba air conditioning system operating on lower-GWP refrigerant R-32 in its Mind Gym, located at the club's training facility at Carrington, Manchester. Refrigerant R-32 has a GWP of 675, two-thirds less than R-410A, the refrigerant it replaces, resulting in a substantial reduction in equivalent carbon emissions over the system's lifetime. The Mind Gym installation is part of a larger programme at Sale Sharks' training ground, replacing older air conditioning systems.

With a contemporary design and built from steel shipping containers, Sharks' Mind Gym is used for yoga and mindfulness relaxation training. It provides a light and airy exercise therapy space, but has high heat gains in summer and heat losses in winter due to its flat roof and steel construction.

Toshiba's solution consists of a duplex DX split-system based on a high- performance R-32 RAV outdoor condensing unit, linked to two ceiling-suspended indoor units, delivering a total of 12.1KW of cooling and 12.8KW of heating. The self-cleaning indoor units provide an excellent solution in situations where there is no ceiling void in the treated space.

'We identified a need for some form of temperature control to allow the Mind Gym to be used by the players all year round,' said David Hulme, facilities manager, Sale Sharks. 'Due to the excellent relationship we have with Toshiba, they were the obvious people to speak to.'

'Within a matter of days, not only was the equipment on site but it was fully installed and commissioned,” added Mr Hulme. “Our sincere thanks to the Toshiba team and installer Woburn Mechanical Limited for their support and professionalism throughout the project.'

David Dunn, sales director for UK and Northern Europe, Carrier Residential and Light Commercial, said: 'We are delighted to have been able to support Sale Sharks with this Toshiba solution that helps reduce the club's environmental footprint and supports its high-intensity training programme. It's a great example of a solution that is both good for the environment and good for bodily and mental wellbeing, both core values of Carrier’s ESG Goals.'