Light commercial


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With energy and emissions savings achievable from boiler upgrades, and financial incentives on offer, small businesses would do well to invest and reap long-term benefits. Paul Arnold, product manager for Remeha takes a look at the boiler features that will deliver maximum results


cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lessening the building’s environmental impact. Yet the reality is that most businesses and


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organisations could use a lot less energy than they do at present. So how can our industry help these companies improve their energy efficiency in 2019? Heating is a frequent target for efficiency


improvements as it can account for up to 40% of energy costs in a typical office environment. With many non-domestic buildings still relying on inefficient or dated commercial boilers, there is still huge scope for savings from a relatively simple, non-disruptive boiler upgrade. The EU predicts that replacing any old and inefficient boilers with ErP-compliant, high- efficiency, low NOx condensing boilers will deliver a 20% reduction in energy and emission savings. According to the Carbon Trust, a 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales in many businesses. And as the savings will continue throughout the lifetime of the boiler, contributing to lower overhead costs in future years, there’s a strong business case for investing in energy efficiency. However, as no two boilers are alike, it’s important to bear certain factors in mind when selecting a boiler model in order to achieve maximum long-term efficiency benefits.


Robust, high performance


Boilers used in light commercial applications must be robust. Whether in small offices, hotels or schools, the boiler will likely need to operate for 12 or more hours a day. So it’s important that the boiler is designed and engineered specifically to achieve the required reliability and high performance. For this reason, it’s advisable to use products with


a reputation for quality, durability and safety – supported by a proven high standard of manufacturer support.


Manufacturer support


A sales team that is always at hand, willing to visit site and able to offer expert technical and product support where needed will provide welcome peace of mind for the contractor and building manager. Timely delivery will help keep the project on schedule, and readily available manufacturer spare parts will make it simpler to keep the heating system operating as intended in the future. Added-


18 January 2019


educing energy consumption makes perfect sense for small businesses, helping reduce energy costs and lower overheads, while


value services like an out-of-hours technical assistance helpline will help ensure continuous heat provision and avoid the risk of building closure. All of which benefits the customer.


Ease of installation


Ease of installation is an important consideration as this can impact on time and labour costs. More compact, lightweight boilers are easier to handle and position while multiple flue options will provide greater design flexibility.


Is the boiler model available in a wide range of outputs? This will make it easier to match the load more accurately and avoid energy waste.


Lifetime efficiencies


Maintenance and servicing costs should also be evaluated when selecting a boiler model to provide the building operator with a more accurate calculation of its cost throughout its lifecycle. After all, according to the 10:80:10 rule, 80% of the total lifetime costs of a commercial building are spent on its operation and maintenance. Some boilers will be more straightforward to


interrogate than others. They may have been designed with internal lights for easier servicing in dark plantrooms, for example, or parts that are more easily accessible. All of this makes it easier to maintain high


operational efficiencies throughout the lifetime of the boiler – and even extend its longevity – for reduced costs.


2019 - financial incentives


Emissions and energy costs aside, a more efficient and effective heating system also creates a more comfortable building environment that helps improve the wellbeing and productivity of its occupants. So for many small businesses and organisations, a boiler replacement could provide a further boost to improved profitability. What’s more, with a number of financial


incentives available to support improved heating efficiency in 2019, there’s no better time for small businesses to upgrade the heating system. The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme is one example. This scheme allows businesses to benefit from accelerated tax relief when investing in eligible energy-saving equipment, like Remeha’s high efficiency condensing boiler range. As it will close from April 2020, savvy companies looking to invest in energy efficiency upgrades should start


High efficiency Quinta Pro 65 boilers have halved energy consumption and costs at Aberystwyth University's student accommodation buildings


planning now to reap maximum benefit. Small to medium-sized businesses based in London should also be aware of the Cleaner Heat Cashback £10 million scheme. If replacing 10-year- old boilers with a gas or LPG boiler or system (minimum system size of 70kW), they could be eligible for 30% cashback towards the costs, rising to 35% if based in an Air Quality Focus Area. But it’s first come, first serve, so again businesses should apply sooner rather than later, while the funding lasts. But even without funding, the considerable benefits of a boiler upgrade make it one of the best investments that businesses can make in 2019. And with manufacturers supporting contractors and installers with high-quality, easy-to-install, reliable and robust boiler models that deliver long-term benefits, it’s an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.


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