Letters
to do within the Simplified Building Efficiency
Let’s act now to make existing
Model. However, serious thought needs to go into
the methods for modelling and labelling such a
buildings efficient
system, including the rating of individual system
component efficiencies and the fact that these
With the introduction of Energy Performance could be generated for a range of building components can be used in various systems with
Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy types. This would highlight poor-performing modulating outputs.
Certificates (DECs) it is becoming apparent buildings to the owners which could then be Therefore, a system component should be
that buildings in operation are failing in terms remedied. labelled with an operating range wide enough
of energy efficiency. If we are to meet the set We should also provide designers with a not to necessitate multiple label requirements for
targets for zero-carbon buildings within the better understanding of where additional single system components. The overall system
next decade, urgent action is required to effort should be focused on future buildings; component efficiencies can then be averaged
remedy this. and draw attention to the many examples to give a system rating. The current proposal
Most buildings are designed to meet the where significant energy savings can be made states that the heat generator manufacturer is
minimum energy efficiency requirements of through small additional capital cost or by responsible for labelling the system but, unless
the Building Regulations. This compliance we move to a market of fully packaged heating
approach does not take into account actual systems, how is the manufacturer to know what
energy use and, indeed, how buildings are The performance goes into the system as built?
used in real life – which can account for 50
of all buildings
I believe that, if the averaging method is
per cent of carbon emissions. In addition, not used, then the designer and installation
commissioning periods are frequently put should be recorded on a companies will need to sign off on overall system
under pressure to allow buildings to be
national database
efficiencies. This would be even more complex
completed on time. If the building is not set on refurbishment projects.
up to operate within the correct parameters and made So let’s hope for some more lively debate
then it will be at a disadvantage from day one.
available to all
before the proposed regulatory implementation
Moreover, overly complex control strategies of the first quarter 2009.
and systems may not be fully understood by the David Hughes
facilities company and as such the systems are occupants changing their behaviour. These Technical director,
not operated in accordance with the design. changes could also highlight any weaknesses ICOM Energy Association
Occupants can also be unaware of energy in designing to minimum Building Regulation
wastage, with out-of-hours energy usage standards. Heat pumps are the key to boosting
being too high. And yet building performance There should be greater input from the renewables
in terms of comfort and efficiency is not fed services engineer after Practical Completion Over the last few months there has been much
back to the design team, so the ability to gather to ensure that the facilities company and the activity in the Heat Pump Association (HPA)
feedback for future designs is greatly reduced. occupants understand how the building has regarding the Directive for the Promotion of
But there are some remedies to all of this. been designed to work. Finally, there should Energy from Renewable Sources (RES), the EU
The performance of all buildings should be be an ongoing role for the commissioning policy directive which has been in development
recorded on a national database and made engineer in the first year to fine-tune the during 2008.
available to all. By providing some basic building to account for different seasons. An EU definition of RES was required to
information about the building as well as Alan Fogarty permit individual member states to select and
the energy breakdown, realistic benchmarks Partner, Cundall prioritise their plans for achievement of EU
targets for up to 20 per cent of energy from
renewables by 2020.
We need much more debate on the Buildings Directive, leaving NOx as a secondary The European heat pump industry position,
EuP directive factor when it comes to the energy efficiency which the HPA helped to develop, dealt with
The logic behind the European Energy Using of manufacturers’ research and development several key issues in the RES regarding heat
Products Directive (EuP), which is to look at programmes. The working document of the pumps.
products over their life cycle rather than just EuP states that a NOx limit of 35mg/kWhr must Prior to Christmas, the EU parliament voted in
emissions emitted during serviceable life, is to be met by 2013. favour of including air source and water source –
be applauded. But all of the restrictions coupled The hardest hit industry will be the UK as well as ground source, which had been already
to the lifecycle have to be realistically obtainable domestic compact oil boiler manufacturers, included – and also agreed that the renewable
using the best available technology. whose current NOx levels are around 200mg/ formula would be based upon delivered energy.
Let us take, for instance, the issue of nitrogen kWhr. Importantly, the Ecolabel requirement was also
oxide (NOx). The focus in the UK has been Another proposal is that the heating system removed; however, there will be a minimum
on energy efficiency driven through Building should be considered as a whole by inputting data Seasonal Performance Factor applicable for heat
Regulations and the Energy Performance of into a model in much the same way we attempt pumps to qualify.
22 CIBSE Journal February 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEfeb09pp22-23 letters•.indd 22 5/2/09 14:18:55
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