BSEE-JUN21-P10 Remeha Cover Edit_Layout 1 19/05/2021 11:04 Page 10


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Taking immediate action to refurbish ageing school heating systems is vital to put ‘hard­ to­tackle’ educational buildings on the road to the future of heating, says Andy Green, Technical Director at Baxi Heating. With early engagement and greater collaboration across the heating industry, we can ensure optimum outcomes for schools


aking immediate action to refurbish ageing school heating systems is vital to put ‘hard-to-tackle’ educational buildings on the road to the future of heating, says Andy Green, Technical Director at Baxi Heating. With early engagement and greater collaboration across the heating industry, we can ensure optimum outcomes for schools The concept of net zero has become a familiar one in the building services industry since the UK government enshrined it in law, with a target for 2050. More recently, a more ambitious target to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels, was announced as part of a new Sixth Carbon Budget.


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Familiar the term may be – but this is an enormous challenge, requiring the near total decarbonisation of heat in buildings. To put it in perspective, achieving net zero will require an emissions reduction equivalent to a COVID-19 lockdown, every two years, according to a Nature Climate Change report.


If we as a nation are to achieve our climate goals, we need to act now to cut emissions associated with heat in UK buildings.


Ageing schools


The situation is especially pressing in the education sector. Many of our schools are ageing and their heating and hot water systems have seen better days. With a low rate of new school construction and high proportion (65%) of school buildings built before 1976, the existing stock will continue to overshadow the sector for many years to come. The UK government has recognised the issues with a ten-year school rebuilding programme. It has also included schools in the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to help them install energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures.


Andy Green, Technical Director, Baxi Heating


Manufacturers too are rising to the occasion, innovating with a mix of new technologies and techniques, including heat pumps, hydrogen and equipment to support the delivery of heat networks. As every building will have its own unique requirements, we are preparing for the future of heat with a combined solution to meet the heat decarbonisation challenge. But schools embarking on a heating refurbishment programme often face a range of challenges – from poor insulation to overheating – that currently make use of some alternative technologies very difficult.


Guide to school heating refurbishment


It’s a situation we understand only too well, having supported specifiers, designers, contractors and project teams for many years in achieving the best possible results on schools’ projects. For this reason, we’ve used our experience to create a guide that offers an overview of the reasons for and benefits of refurbishing school heating systems as soon as possible.


Our ‘Refurbishment of School Heating Systems’ white paper aims to deliver optimal efficiencies for improved outcomes for students and teachers, with reduced operational costs, through a focus on systems thinking from design to installation – and to make important strides towards the UK’s emissions reduction target.


The report is packed with practical advice and guidance to help local authorities, trusts and school operators bring their 'hard-to-tackle' school buildings up to code and set them on the path to net zero.


Preparing for the future of heat


Poorly fitted windows and cast-iron radiators in some buildings, large glazed areas and overheating in others – these are just some of the design issues on school heating projects. The common hurdles of time, access and budget constraints bring added complexity to refurbishment.


The reality, then, is that for many schools, switching from ageing non-condensing boilers to low carbon technologies in one leap simply won’t be a technically or economically viable option at present. However, it’s evident that if we are to achieve our steep emissions reduction target, we must take every possible action now. One solution is to adopt a phased approach to refurbishment that will enable schools to plan and budget ahead to achieve their immediate and long-term requirements.


In poorly insulated buildings, for example, ‘fabric first’ energy efficiency measures would be the first step to reduce heat losses and lower heat demand.


Addressing the system’s distribution pipework and heat emitters to operate at lower temperatures than the traditional 82°C/71°C system designs is likely to be the next stage. This will future proof the building and the heating system for the integration of lower temperature, low carbon technologies. And alongside these steps, we must seize any affordable and achievable opportunities to reduce energy costs and emissions within the project parameters. Upgrading old heating


systems with the installation of modern energy- efficient condensing boilers, for example, can drive down energy consumption significantly. As the boiler is typically the heart of the system, generating the heat, it can have the most impact on energy and emission savings.


[SUB HEAD] Additional drivers for improvement Retrofitting more energy-efficient technology will also provide an immediate solution for schools that face inadequate heating and hot water provision. As our report reveals, 57% of England’s schools have faulty boilers or heaters that add an unnecessary financial burden for this sector. At a time of increasingly tight school budgets, the Carbon Trust Whole School Approach to Energy Savings report estimates that UK schools could save £60 million annually through improved energy management. This includes upgraded heating and hot water systems, which are often the most significant energy users in school buildings. Adopting a holistic approach to system design and exploring modern technologies and techniques is key to resolving a school’s unique heating and hot water requirements. With early engagement between consultants, specifiers, contractors and manufacturers, we can identify the required outcomes, work to overcome the typical refurbishment challenges – including listed buildings, budget and space limitations, and tight deadlines – and map out the stages of the programme.


Refurbishing school heating systems as soon as possible will put these buildings on the road to the future of heating. That might ultimately mean a shift to heat pumps, smart electric water heating equipment, or hydrogen boilers. Whatever is deemed the appropriate technology of the future, progress will be much easier to achieve if we, as an industry, work together to lay firm foundations now. The ‘Refurbishment of School Heating Systems’ white paper is available for free download now from the website.


www.baxiheating.co.uk/schools 10 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2021 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


FEATURE School heating: the time for action is now


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