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The building services industry has long recognised the importance of energy eciency in achieving beer performing buildings. With heang a natural target for improvement measures, the focus for 2019 should be on achieving the most appropriate soluon for the greatest longterm eciencies, says Paul Arnold, Remeha’s product manager


e’ve all done it – kick- started the New Year with a long list of ambitious resolutions that will, likely as not, be broken before the month’s out. The key, it


seems, to making achievable resolutions is to keep them simple. So, our industry would do well to encourage businesses and organisations to make energy efficiency their top resolution for 2019.


Energy efficiency is, quite simply, one of the most cost-effective means of improving building performance. Its ability to rapidly reduce energy consumption and associated emissions can help companies meet their environmental commitments while keeping overheads low and profitability high.


Yet while government figures show a fall of 49 per cent in overall UK emissions between 1990 and 2016, the UK’s predominantly old and inefficient building stock continues to present a major challenge for the building services sector. The fact is there’s still much more that can and must be done to reduce energy demand in buildings if the nation is to achieve its 80 per cent emission reduction target by 2050.


Efficiency starts with boilers


So where to start? As a large user of energy in a building, heating is frequently the starting point for efficiency measures. When freezing January temperatures place extra demand on the system and ever-rising energy prices inflate heating costs still further, it’s essential to ensure that the system is operating as efficiently as possible. The good news is that there is still huge scope for energy and emission savings. Take boiler replacements. Replacing dated boiler plant with high-efficiency, low-NOx condensing boilers and improving the control strategy can slash energy use by as much as half, in our experience. Associated emissions are also cut, while the more reliable, better-controlled heating contributes to a more comfortable working environment. This in turn helps increase employee wellbeing and productivity, which ultimately leads to improved profitability.


And in 2019, there is added financial incentive for businesses to plan efficiency improvements if they are to take full advantage of tax relief opportunities from the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA).


First year allowance schemes currently allow 100 per cent of the capital costs of energy-efficient equipment listed on the Energy Technology List (ETL) – such as Remeha’s own high-efficiency boiler range – to be written off against the taxable income of the period in which the investment is made. With the ECA scheme closing from April 2020, it’s yet another reason for savvy businesses looking to invest in energy efficiency upgrades to start planning now.


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eciency is, quite simply, one of the most costeecve means of improving building performance


’ More choice, less waste


ETL-accredited boiler models are engineered to meet high-efficiency, low-NOx criteria. But as no two buildings are alike, a more bespoke approach to system design is increasingly required. So how has the industry responded to this need?


To help reduce unnecessary energy waste, good manufacturers provide a wider choice of heat outputs from both floor-standing and wall- hung boilers. This enables designers to match the heat load more accurately, helping avoid oversizing and so reducing energy consumption. At the same time, by offering a greater range of boiler models to achieve the same heat output, manufacturers are enabling more versatility in plant room design to overcome the hurdle of space restrictions or constraints. What does this mean in reality? Dependent on the building’s requirements, a 1MW heat load could be met with a single floor-standing boiler, a small bank of floor-standing boilers, or any combination of wall-hung boilers in cascade. In


12 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2019


uReliability and high operaonal performance from Remeha Quinta Ace 160 boilers on a cascade system at Wolves FC's Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground


other words, the building blocks are there to create the most efficient and appropriate heating solution for each individual project.


Easier installation


Along with capital expenditure, one of the greatest deterrents to carrying out plant upgrades is the perceived hassle factor. But here, too, there have been important advances, with manufacturers offering off-site fabricated solutions that reduce on-site labour and costs, increasing on-site safety while minimising disruption. A case in point is the availability of pre- assembled cascade units or bespoke-designed rig systems that provide space and time-saving solutions to multiple-boiler installations. Multiple-boiler designs are increasingly popular as this configuration maximises heating reliability, efficiency and ease of servicing, while extending the boiler’s lifecycle for greater long- term savings.


Improved lifetime efficiencies


In fact, 80 per cent of the total lifetime costs of a commercial building are spent on its operation and maintenance. For a more accurate assessment of a product’s cost throughout its lifecycle, building operators should therefore be encouraged to factor in maintenance and servicing costs when selecting boiler models. Some boilers will offer more straightforward interrogation than others. They may have been designed with internal lights for easier servicing in dark plant rooms, for example, or parts that are more easily accessible. Ready availability of manufacturer spare parts will also make it simpler to keep the heating operating as intended. Good manufacturers will provide value-added customer service like an out-of-hours technical assistance helpline for additional peace-of-mind, helping ensure continuous heat provision. This is particularly important in buildings like schools, hospitals and care homes.


Digital record


An added feature contributing to easier maintenance and long-term energy and carbon savings is the inclusion of a PC connection for servicing and a data file for storing fault/run information.


And as digital engineering becomes the norm, it’s worth identifying the manufacturers who provide free BIM models of their heating


uEnsuring high lifeme heang eciency at Cardi Metropolitan University


uHuge potenal savings from boiler replacements  as demonstrated by the 50 per cent reducon in gas usage at Aberyswyth University's Penglais student accommodaon buildings since installing Remeha Quinta Pro boilers


BOILERS & HOT WATER Make energy efficiency a New Year resolution


products, helping support efficient facilities management and future product replacement.


New year, new start


Given that 80 per cent of UK buildings still rely on gas for their heating, condensing boilers will continue to have a key role to play in 2019 in improving building efficiency.


Whether the sole provider of heat or operating alongside low-carbon technologies like CHP and heat pumps, flexible, versatile, high-quality condensing boilers offer a proven route to long- term heating efficiency.


Certainly, for many businesses and organisations, a simple boiler replacement could be the practical, low-cost measure they need to maximise the comfort, efficiency and productivity of their workspaces. And as such, it’s arguably one of the most valuable, achievable New Year’s resolutions and investments that they can make.


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