20 Energy Efficiency


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Albion encourages customers to be energy wise


ENERGY EFFICIENCY is high on the green agenda, and with the UK’s leading energy companies’ recent price rises, there is now more of an incentive than ever to be energy efficient and identify where savings can be made.


In the building services industry, Albion Valves UK is encouraging contractors and heating engineers to go back to basics to help avoid spiralling energy costs, and something as simple as a well-balanced commercial heating system can help address energy wastage.


Public buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices, as well as apartment blocks and hotels have complex heating and cooling systems, and therefore can be prone to big energy inefficiencies and ultimately money down the drain. In a poorly balanced system, problems such as irregular temperature control and inconsistent water circulation can occur, consequently driving up operating costs, creating maintenance issues and wasting energy.


Benefits of a balanced system include; efficient operation of the system, constant desired room temperature and responsible use of resource, as well as lower maintenance costs and less carbon emissions.


A well-balanced system ensures energy is distributed to where it is needed, as opposed to some areas becoming overly hot and others too cool. Commissioning valves are a trusted first step to a well-


balanced system, and with the growing use of dynamic balancing valves, this can be achieved without the need for complex commissioning processes.


The cost of commissioning is generally a small fraction of the total system design cost, but delivers significant savings. Les Littlewood, Albion sales director commented: “A well-balanced system starts with good system design.


The designer calculates the mass of water required at each terminal unit, whether heating or cooling.


Balancing valves create additional resistance in each branch to direct water in the required proportion to each terminal unit.


“Initial design considerations will take into account: the size of space to be conditioned, space usage, occupancy, construction materials and their thermal properties, heat losses and gains and general climatic conditions associated with the building.”


Achieving optimum flow rate is essential, too high a flow rate may cause noise, energy wastage through overflow, pumping costs and potentially poor comfort as a result of over heating, whilst too low a flow rate may not dislodge entrapped air. Flow velocities will generally be in the range 0.75 to 1.15m/s for pipe sizes 1/2” to 2” and 0.75 to 3m/s for size DN65 to DN300 with pipe pressure drop per meter length generally calculated at 140kPa to 280 kPa.


Modern, energy efficient heating systems often operate using


thermostatically controlled radiator valves TRVs, which are self-regulating and control the water that enters a radiator and ultimately maintains a desired room temperature.


TRVs include manual, thermostatic and lockshield valves, with a variety of orientation options.


Manual radiator valves are common in traditional heating systems and are operated like a tap, whereas lockshield valves are designed to control water flowing out of the radiator and offer a facility to balance radiators across an entire property or heating system.


Where older radiator systems have been replaced or refurbished with TRVs, 10-30% energy savings are achievable, with the higher savings in commercial applications realized with the appropriate design and inclusion of differential pressure control valves (DPCV).


DPCV and TRV operating together also offer many practical benefits, such as reduced noise, temperature stability with control and improved comfort so reducing issues for both tenants and end users. Albion Valves currently stock around 5000 lines of industrial products, suitable for applications predominantly within the process, water and HVAC industries, all available from its distributor network.


Zero to landfill fulfils Greenlogic objective


KING’S LYNN-based Williams Refrigeration believes it has set new standards in greener manufacturing for the catering industry with the realisation of seven environmental objectives. They include a 44% reduction in packaging, a 37% reduction in energy consumption and a 30% reduction in waste produced – the latter of which has resulted in the company achieving ‘zero to landfill’ status. All of this has been accomplished in just three years. “When we first attained the


environmental certification ISO14001 in 2009 we set ourselves the seven objectives to achieve by 2015, as part of our Greenlogic initiative,” says Martin Laws, marketing manager at Williams. “To have met them in only three years has taken a huge team effort and we are very proud of the success.”


Alongside the objectives on waste, A supplement to ACR News May 2014


energy and packaging, Williams has phased out the use of solvent VOC, abated its emissions from foam gas, pioneered the use of green refrigerants, and reduced and promoted the recycling of consumables.


“The ethos of our Greenlogic initiative is to ensure we apply environmental considerations to every part of our


operations – from the development of greener refrigeration for our customers through to our manufacturing and sales operations,” says Mr Laws. “We are continuing the process, whether it be by replacing hand towels with energy- efficient air dryers, investigating the most environmentally efficient methods of waste management, or launching low- energy products.”


Williams R&D team is continuing its development programme to further improve the energy efficiency of the company’s products. “Our two-door Jade counter with hydrocarbon refrigerant is the most energy efficient of its kind on the market, according to the Carbon Trust’s Energy Technology List,” says Mr Laws. “Upcoming launches will enhance our position as a leader in environment friendly technology for catering refrigeration.”


Visit ACR News online at www.acr-news.com


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