Energy efficiency
Why wireless makes business sense
Simon May explains the advantages of controls installation, and how business owners can benefit from opting for a wireless system for their premises
owners in the UK struggle to keep heating bills down, yet a lot of premises do not have the necessary measures in place that allow greater control to be taken of energy usage. However, research by BEAMA, the association of British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers, found that installa- tion of effective room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in buildings can reduce energy consumption significantly.
Consumption control
Eight million residential properties in the UK don’t feature a thermo- stat and nine million properties don’t have TRVs in place. This number is vast, when you take into account that 84 per cent of energy consumption is used heat- ing a building and producing hot water. Energy consumption in commercial properties is even greater, so keeping it to a mini- mum is crucial.
It is often wrongly assumed that heating controls are optional extras which provide little benefit and are complicated to use. However this research has shown that not only do controls provide greater comfort, they can also save large amounts of energy and money too.
In addition to business premis- es, there are also other locations that can benefit from the energy
Drayton’s new Mi Series range of wireless controls
savings and maximised comfort, such as schools, hospitals, hotels and public sector offices. So what are the options when it comes to providing a controls solution for buildings such as these?
TRVs TRVs work by sensing the air tem- perature around them and regulat- ing the flow of water through the radiator to which they are affixed. The installation of TRVs through- out a building can improve com- fort for its occupants by providing satisfactory heat distribution. When a room reaches the desired temperature, a TRV stops the flow of hot water to the radia- tor ensuring rooms are not over- heated. Therefore helping business owners reduce heating bills in their premises by making certain that rooms never get too hot. In order to maximise the bene- fit, installers should recommend that TRVs are installed on every radiator in a building apart from rooms that boast a thermostat. However for rooms that already feature a TRV and a thermostat, the TRV should be set to MAX. TRVs are especially effective in
larger commercial properties that have a lot of rooms with minimal usage, for example store rooms. The TRVs in these areas can be set to a lower temperature or turned off completely to minimise energy wastage. Advised comfort settings
for different rooms include 18ºC – 21ºC for areas occupied by people, 23ºC for bathrooms and 16ºC for rooms used infrequently. In addition to TRVs, business premises can also benefit from installation of other temperature controls such as thermostats, which turn the heating on and off until the desired temperature is reached, and time controls such as programmers, which allow for different periods to be set when the heating is on or off.
Why wireless?
So, it’s evident that there a number of benefits to be gained from hav- ing controls such as these installed, but what are the added advantages when it comes to wireless solutions?
Often the current heating system will determine what type of controls can be installed. Wireless controls allow installers to elimi- nate some of those restrictions that may limit system upgrades. A great advantage of using wireless controls over wired solu- tions is that they can be installed in locations where there have pre- viously been no wires laid, so they are perfect as a retrofit option. Wired controls installations often require unsightly holes to be made in walls, which can cause damage to the fabric of the property and the building decor. In addition,
Thermostatic radiator valves
this means that wireless devices take less time to install. Wireless systems are more reli- able than ever due to recent developments in technology. Products such as those in the Mi Series from Drayton feature a signal strength indicator, which allows the installer to place the products in an optimal position where they have the strongest connection possible.
This signal strength indication
also offers installers confidence, so they can leave the job knowing that the system is working to its full capability and the chances of call backs will be minimal. Modern devices also boast a two-way wireless connection, meaning that paired devices can talk to one another to share infor- mation. This allows them to com- municate in order to ensure the system is performing as efficiently as possible.
Mi Series
Drayton’s new Mi Series is suitable for installers looking for wireless controls that are simple to install, and there are a whole range of solutions for every home including MiTime programmers, MiStat RF thermostats, and pre- bound MiTime RF Wireless Packs that have all the components needed for a controls installation or upgrade.
Drayton also offers a wide range of TRVs to suit any budget and lifestyle, and spearheading the range is the TRV4, which is ‘A’, rated for efficiency by the European valve manufacturers association.
So those specifying heating systems in commercial buildings should carefully consider the controls options available, and installers should be on hand to advise them on which solution will be most effective in order to maximise the comfort of the occu- pants and reduce energy usage resulting in lower bills. // The author is the product manager of Drayton Controls //
24 | September 2014 | HVR Daily news update at
www.heatingandventilating.net
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