HVAC


IN HOT PURSUIT OF HEATING EFFICIENCY


Replacing ageing boiler plants with an affordable, high-efficiency condensing upgrade is a cost-effective quick win for energy and carbon savings says Chris Meir of Remeha.


There’s no getting away from the fact that buildings are big users of energy. The Carbon Trust estimates that of the buildings that will be standing in 2050, 60% are already built and 40% will predate 1985 when Building Regulations relating to the conservation of fuel and power (Part L) were first introduced. Hence the importance of tackling energy consumption in existing buildings.


The good news for facilities managers is that there remains significant opportunity to economically improve the energy performance the UK’s existing building stock. Certainly, in the many non-domestic buildings that rely on old or inefficient non-condensing boiler plants for their heating, the scope for energy and carbon savings is huge.


After all, even if well maintained, a 25-year-old, non-condensing boiler will achieve 70% efficiency at best – in other words, it will waste 30% of the gas input. In contrast, the latest models of condensing boilers, which are the most efficient of all boiler technologies, are capable of achieving near maximum efficiencies.


84 | TOMORROW’S FM


Planning ahead for better buildings So how can FMs support the drive for better, more efficient buildings? Carrying out regular condition surveys of existing boilers is a good starting point to assess efficiency and operation. And summer is the perfect time to identify which boilers are reaching the end of their lifecycle and need replacing before the colder months set in.


A compelling business case The financial savings alone from a boiler replacement make a strong business case. While the exact figure will depend on the nature of the boilers in place, our experience reveals reductions in gas consumption as high as 48% following boiler replacement, with a corresponding fall in heating bills.


And, as FMs are aware, energy efficiency affects maintenance and replacement costs as well as heating bills. This is due to the greater likelihood of failure with older equipment, which also requires more frequent


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