BHA Corporate Partner LG has recently launched its Art Cool series of air conditioners, a product which manages to put a new slant on the traditional indoor air conditioning unit, transforming it from a functional necessity into an object of design.

The fascia of the ultra slim Art Cool Gallery unit is actually a frame, which unclips to allow a picture to be displayed - this way guests notice the unit for its innovative design and not for being solely an ACU. The panel can also be used as a marketing tool for restaurant services and advertising, a facility unique to LG's Art Cool Gallery units.

All LG Art Cool units are also highly energy efficient and therefore cost effective, using the latest digitally enhanced inverter drives, inverter driven fan motors and sophisticated controls. To avoid the need for messy wires the units are designed with infra red control and pipe access through the back of the unit so no ancillaries can ruin the look of the installation. The Artcool Mirror unit is a wall mount with a mirror front, transforming it from the mundane to an object of interest and a conversation point.

Day to day running costs vary according to factors such as cost of electricity by energy company, the size of the system, power consumed and the amount of time the system is in operation but for a 10-bedroom hotel, for example, with bedrooms used six days a week using energy at 9p per kW/hour this tops out at as little as 50p per room per day. However, when calculating do bear in mind that energy providers' charges do vary.

A big bonus is that such installations qualify for Government grants and tax allowances available through the Carbon Trust's ECA scheme which rewards businesses buying 'green' energy efficient equipment to replace outdated kit.

Under the ECA scheme small or medium-sized enterprises in England and Scotland, or all businesses in Wales that have been trading for at least 12 months, could borrow from £5,000 to £200,000: it is unsecured, interest free and repayable over a period of up to four years. There are no arrangement fees and applying is straightforward. Businesses based in Northern Ireland that have been trading for at least 12 months may be eligible to apply for an even bigger unsecured interest free loan of up to £400,000.

To find out more about the Art Cool system visit: www.lge.co.uk/aircon