Smart buildings & controls


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Save money with an advanced thermostat


Martin Wilson, sales director at Resideo, discusses how advanced thermostats present installers with the opportunity to put customers back in full command of their heating system and unlock potential savings


G


as prices in the UK are at a record high. The energy price cap, which protects domestic consumers, rose to a record £1,277 in October


last year – with an estimated 15 million households seeing a 12% increase in their energy bills. Advanced thermostats are a here and now technology to improve efficient use of energy and reduce energy costs today. Yet, there are still homeowners across the UK who aren’t using any kind of thermostat currently. A 2021 study conducted by BEAMA, the leading


trade association for energy infrastructure, revealed that the use of advanced room thermostats can have a positive impact on fuel reductions. Initially carried out due to a lack of evidence in the wider market, quantifying the benefits of heating controls on energy consumption, the study found that something as simple as replacing a standard room thermostat with a directly modulating one in a central heating system, could reduce the gas used by up to 12 per cent over the heating season. Conducted in partnership with Salford University,


HVAC authority, OpenTherm Association, and several manufacturers, including Resideo, the study also found that installing a room thermostat with proportional on/off load compensation, as a direct replacement for a standard option, can reduce the gas used for heating by 10 per cent over the peak period.


With millions of UK properties having none, or inadequate thermostats for their heating system, installers have plenty to play for.


Responding to temperature changes


A thermostat is ideal for improving efficiencies as it helps the end user to control the amount of energy they use. An advanced thermostat that can navigate temperature fluctuations; monitoring outside weather temperatures and communicating with the


18 March 2022


heating system to adjust the temperature within the property, ensures that energy is being used most efficiently by turning on up the system only when heat is required. For example, the smart weather feature on the


Honeywell Home evohome system offers improved zone comfort control and energy consumption, based on outside temperature, room temperature and a unique feature that learns the heat losses in each room. In addition, the evohome’s patented Advanced


Load Scaling technology limits inefficient high boiler temperatures and runs the boiler in its most efficient mode. This includes warm weather shutdown capability through the winter and summer transition.


When working with customers that have already


upgraded to a low-carbon heating solution, such as a heat pump, advanced thermostats will be vital in ensuring that optimum comfort is delivered in the most energy efficient way. Heat pumps rely on the outside air to generate heat and regulate temperature, so to reap the full financial benefits of switching, it is essential that they are correctly set up by the installer and used in the right way by occupants.


Controlling every room


Heating an entire house is inefficient and costly for customers who are now working from home more regularly and only occupying a couple of rooms during the day. As an installer, you can provide customers with an opportunity to control the temperature in rooms they aren’t using, helping to reduce their energy usage and save them money. Whilst the heating system they currently have


in place may lack the functionality to do this, a thermostat with a smart zoning feature could make a real difference. For example, the evohome with


Above: Martin Wilson, sales director at Resideo


smart zoning technology uses radiator controllers to wirelessly measure and control temperatures for up to 12 zones individually, without needing to disturb décor during installation. The evohome works with both boilers and heat


pumps, and with homeowners willing to purchase smart thermostats to save money, this offers installers a valuable opportunity to upsell.


Looking to the future


The decarbonisation of heat in the UK is moving at pace, with financial support being made available to eligible homeowners that make the switch to heat pumps and other low carbon technologies. And whilst upgrading may be an option for some, many others will want to wait – particularly if their existing boiler still has a lot of life left in it. Whether a customer chooses to upgrade or continue with their existing system, getting the controls right is key to unlocking improved efficiencies in the immediate term. Installers have an opportunity to put homeowners


in full command of their heating system, with the ability to monitor and control their heating remotely from a smartphone or other connected devices, select different temperatures for separate rooms and keep costs down. The evohome is compatible with both traditional


boilers and modern high-efficiency combi boilers and heat pumps. What’s more, it can be used to control underfloor heating, which is often installed as the heat emitter alongside heat pumps. Settings for stored hot water and radiators can also be managed via evohome, making it a highly versatile solution now and into the future.


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