Bank of Valletta is replacing several air-conditioning units in its branches with newer, more energy-efficient ones, as part of its plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 1,300 tonnes by September 2013.

This is one of the many initiatives it is taking to safeguard the environment and instil a green culture across the BOV Group. To put it into some context, saving 1,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide is the equivalent of planting184,000 trees.

BOV branches were fitted with chiller fan coil systems, which are water-cooled using a conventional refrigeration cycle. The new units are fitted with Variable Refrigerant Flow systems which have lower installation costs, increased energy efficiency, silent units and quieter outdoor units, thereby eliminating the need for costly sound-insulation  measures

BOV has adopted a comprehensive and pragmatic approach towards its “green” culture, and ensures that, where possible, initiatives are cost-effective as well as environmentally-friendly. Its plans to curtail energy-consumption will save 1,400,000 units a year resulting in total savings of circa €270,000 per annum. The Bank has already invested in 16 branches with photovoltaic panels, a virtualisation project to save on the cooling of its IT servers, and better solutions for lighting the head office facade, among numerous other projects.