Energy systems


Heating systems to maximise efficiency


Jeff House, marketing and applications manager, Baxi Commercial, identifies some of the heating options available to the operators of healthcare facilities, and highlights practical examples of successful applications.


emissions by the middle of this century, is increasingly leading to fundamental changes in the way that utility power is generated. Energy users, historically accustomed to the availability of energy on demand, while not expecting to be directly involved in this transformation, are feeling its painful consequences through increasing energy bills. These unwelcome results are


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concentrating minds on another fundamental change resulting from climate change policies – namely the opportunity provided for energy users to generate power locally for personal use. Microgeneration saves energy and reduces costs by limiting the call on utility energy, while centrally funded incentive schemes add to potential cost savings over a number of years. Based on the increased use of renewable fuel technologies, the changes brought about are designed to involve both energy producers and users in this ambitious and demanding environmentally-focused project.


Almost half of all energy demand It is generally accepted that, across the spectrum of commercial and domestic applications, heating buildings accounts for almost 50% of our energy demand. Facilities managers responsible for the energy performance of healthcare buildings will be only too aware of this, and will be anxious to evaluate the options available to limit energy use without degrading performance. The heating industry has not been slow to support the Government’s aims, and leading manufacturers do make available an impressive variety of product and system solutions to enable action to be taken at individual building level. These provide a


82 Health Estate Journal September 2013


he mandatory commitment for the UK to use energy more efficiently, and to make significant reductions in carbon


One leading supplier can offer a tailored service contract that provides regular maintenance of all heating / hot water plant, irrespective of the original manufacturer or supplier. The Hadrian Healthcare Group (pictured is The Manor House, Whickham facility near Newcastle upon Tyne) has extended its contract with this provider to cover a further three luxury elderly care homes, bringing the total coverage to eight of its premises across northern England.


range of choices that enable facilities managers to maximise the energy-saving potential, and minimise the cost implications, of compliance with climate change targets. The range and effectiveness of these options is reflected in the practical experiences of healthcare facility managers.


Acorns planted When the existing boiler and calorifier system installed at the Acorns Children’s Hospice, a 30-bed facility in Selly Oak, near Birmingham, became inefficient and problematic, a centralised system employing condensing boilers for heating, and gas-fired storage water heaters for domestic hot water, was selected to reduce both energy costs and carbon footprint. The compact dimensions of the two 60 kWwall-hung boilers selected, and the small footprint of the two 295 L


capacity storage water heaters chosen, enabled the new system to be installed in a small room adjacent to the existing plant room, allowing that system to remain operational, and thus providing a seamless changeover. The condensing boilers deliver energy efficiency of up to 109 per cent net, with low NOx performance exceeding Class 5, and provide seasonal boiler efficiency of 98%. The storage water heaters have a


recovery rate of 786 L/h through a temperature rise of 44˚C, and eliminate the conditions that allow Legionella to be present, which is of particular significance for healthcare facilities.


Beacon beams There were different requirements when a new complex, the Beacon Centre for the Blind, was built inWolverhampton. This replaced eight separate buildings on one


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