SUSTAINABILITY Collaborating for improved sustainability I
Tighter energy and carbon reduction requirements have encouraged a renewed focus on more sustainable building operation to accelerate progress towards Net Zero. But with no one- size-fits-all solution, a project-by-project approach and greater knowledge sharing will be key to success, says Anne Wraith, Baxi’s Head of Building Services
n the drive to Net Zero, building services professionals have an essential role to play in reducing energy demand and carbon emissions from buildings through well designed, energy-efficient building services. But with no silver bullet model available, this is no mean challenge. Decarbonising heat in schools is one example. According to the latest government figures1 , schools and universities account for around 36% of total UK public sector building emissions. The Department for Education is working to set science-based targets2
from 2025 to reduce
public-sector building emissions against a 2017 baseline by 50% by 2032 (end of Carbon Budget 5) and 75% by 2037 (end of Carbon Budget 6). Ambitious the targets may be, but the desired outcome makes perfect sense. Implementing more sustainable heating and hot water systems will help schools avoid unnecessarily high energy bills, allow them to lead by example in sustainable practice, and create optimal learning environments for students and teachers alike. However, while new buildings will be optimised for net zero, refurbishing the ageing heating and hot water systems that older school estates typically rely on can be a more complex task. A whole range of factors – from the variety of building type and heating systems in place to available funding and time constraints – will all influence how quickly and easily this can be achieved. And as result, this can make it difficult for schools to decide on the most appropriate options.
The role of heat pumps
Take heat pumps. One of the government’s favoured technologies for heat decarbonisation, heat pumps have an exceptionally high seasonal co-efficient of performance (SCOP) of up to 4:1. As such, they have an important role to play in helping schools on their net zero journey with recent developments in technology and funding making this route more accessible.
A case in point
The recent decarbonisation programme carried out for the Priory Federation of Academies Trust at three of its academies in Lincoln is a case in point. Renewable energy installer Oakes Energy Services and Baxi collaborated to assist the Trust with its sustainability initiative that targeted the swimming pool buildings where gas boilers were previously heating the water in the pool and Air Handling Units.
Following a detailed survey at all three sites, Oakes’ initial designs were then used to securing funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme operated by Salix. In total, the design of the entire scheme is expected to save 227.5 tonnes of CO2 a year, equivalent to planting 7,000 trees.
With the funding secured, Oakes produced detailed building heat loss calculations – essential for accurate sizing of the heat pump units – and completed an assessment of the electrical infrastructure to ensure sufficient capacity to site.
The location of the ASHPs also needed to be determined, with their footprint, maintenance clearances, noise levels, hydraulics and electrics connections, general aesthetics and any necessary planning permissions all factors for consideration.
A full assessment of the heat emitters and pipework was then carried out to check suitability and determine any upgrade requirements. Once this information was in place, a full programme of works could be drawn up to minimise disruption to the building. At Witham and LSST Academies, a full decarbonisation approach could be taken. Today, two Remeha 88kW ASHPs supply all the heat demand in the swimming pool buildings, feeding underfloor heating and radiators, and providing hot water for the changing rooms and the swimming pool plant.
Meanwhile, at Lincoln Academy, which has
a larger 25-metre swimming pool, five Remeha 88kW ASHPs supply heat to Megaflo calorifiers for the hot water system as well as to the swimming pool heat exchanger in what is the first phase of the decarbonisation programme.
Early engagement
As this example shows, a heat pump on its own will not necessarily guarantee success. Instead, it is far more likely that a mix of technologies including new heat emitters and pipework, high efficiency calorifiers and solar panels, and window glazing and insulation will be required. A project-by-project approach to design, such as that taken at these three schools, can be crucial to deliver optimal results. And this is where early engagement and collaboration can help. Initiating early conversations with the school helps identify their immediate, medium and long-term goals, the available time to complete the work, the budget and any funding opportunities. The refurbishment programme can then be planned to ensure maximum energy, carbon and cost reductions at each stage.
Early engagement with your chosen manufacturer can also pay dividends. Accompanying them on a free site survey, for example, will allow them to fully understand the requirements, and identify any potential problems before proposing a series of appropriate solutions.
Once a heat pump philosophy has been locked in, it might also be helpful to ask you manufacturer for exemplar designs. While each project is unique and should be designed on
32 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2024
an individual basis, these early discussions can prove useful on more complex heating system designs. It can also save hours trawling through technical manuals – and the associated fees!
Accelerating progress to greater sustainability
From product availability to technical support and final commissioning, working closely with the manufacturer helped ensure that the projects at the three Lincoln schools ran smoothly and to schedule, as Nik Smith, director at Oakes Energy Services, explained. “As with all school projects, we were working to a tight, fixed deadline. However, having Baxi’s Remeha heat pumps in stock was a big selling point as this gave us more time to complete the project ahead of the start of the new term. “In addition to on-site technical support during the installation stage, Baxi also provided pre- commissioning support and commissioning to meet the handover date,” Nik continued. “All in all, a great service.”
Heat pumps cannot be considered a silver bullet to heat decarbonisation on their own, but in a well-designed system they have a huge role to play in the net zero journey. And by encouraging improved collaboration and a project-by- project approach, we can all do our bit to help accelerate progress to greater sustainability.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/ sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy-for- the-education-and-childrens-services-systems
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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/ sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy- for-the-education-and-childrens-services- systems#the-challenge-and-the-opportunity
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