FEATURE BOILERS, PUMPS & VALVES Seizing energy-saving opportunities


Energy efficiency is a key part of the transition to a cleaner low carbon future. As we assess our longer-term plans to decarbonise heat, we mustn’t neglect the immediate, achievable opportunities for significant energy savings, says Tom Murray, specification director for Baxi Heating


T


he critical role of the heating and hot water service in keeping essential


buildings running has arguably never been so evident as in recent months. But with 37 per cent of UK emissions


currently attributed to heat in buildings, this is clearly an area requiring improvement. As we re-emerge from lockdown, ensuring that the heating system operates as efficiently as possible will be high on the agenda for businesses and organisations to minimise energy demand and mitigate associated costs. Added to this is the UK’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Heating manufacturers are doing their


part, innovating to deliver a combination of technologies and techniques – including heat pumps and heat networks – that will meet the different building requirements. We are also exploring the feasibility of developing a national hydrogen economy to offer a low disruption option towards decarbonising our challenging older buildings. But while we evaluate longer-term


means of transitioning to a low carbon future, we mustn’t neglect the current opportunities to reduce energy from heat in buildings. Which brings us to energy efficiency and retrofit.


WASTE NOT, WANT NOT In buildings that still rely on ageing, inefficient boilers for their heating, a low- cost plant upgrade provides huge scope for significant energy and emission savings. Retrofitting high efficiency condensing


boilers and adding the appropriate controls offers businesses and organisations a real and achievable opportunity to improve building comfort levels and energy performance while avoiding needlessly high running costs. So where to begin? Ensuring that


routine condition surveys are carried out to assess the existing boiler plant is a good starting place. Next, when researching replacement boilers, a number of factors should be considered to optimise lifetime boiler performance. As lifetime boiler reliability is


increasingly important for building and energy managers, choosing a robust brand with a reputation for quality and durability is essential. This is particularly


8 SUMMER 2020 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT


relevant when looking to standardise equipment for easier maintenance. The accompanying warranty should also


be evaluated. Boiler warranties are designed to provide peace of mind with the length and terms of the warranty serving as a manufacturer guarantee of the product’s high performance. The warranties that accompany Remeha’s condensing boiler range, for example, reinforce confidence of quality products that will continue to deliver year after year.


MANUFACTURER SUPPORT The level of support offered by the manufacturer should also influence product selection. Good manufacturers will be able to use


their specialist product knowledge to advise on the most appropriate, energy- efficient commercial boiler configuration for each individual building. Equally, with hybrid heating systems,


manufacturers can apply their technical knowledge of all the components to help optimise overall system efficiency and eliminate any potential performance gap. Provided with a budget for the project


at the outset, a manufacturer’s specification team will be able to produce a design that meets both project and budget requirements for a quality result. Further down the line, it’s also worth


identifying any other value-added services, like an out-of-hours technical helpline that will help optimise boiler performance throughout its lifetime and keep energy use low.


Good manufacturers will be able to use their specialist product knowledge to advise on the most appropriate, energy-efficient commercial boiler configuration for each individual building


WHOLE LIFE COSTS Budget is typically a major influencer when selecting a boiler. When selecting products, it’s advisable to adopt a whole life cost approach as including ease of maintenance, servicing and part replacement in the evaluation will provide a more accurate assessment of lifetime costs. For example, boilers designed with


easily accessible parts will be easier to interrogate, while the inclusion of internal LED lights is a helpful detail in dark spaces. Ensuring that manufacturer spare parts are readily available will also keep the boiler and heating system operating as intended in the future. As each building will have different


requirements, a wide availability of boiler outputs and wall hung and floor standing models will enable increased versatility in design. On projects with space or time


restrictions, having an extended choice will also support greater design flexibility. Additional options, such as the opportunity to install compact high output boilers in site-assembled compact cascade arrangements will help overcome these and other refurbishment challenges and minimise disruption. At the same time, the configuration improves heating efficiency and reliability. The holy grail is, of course, to be able


to address all of the project and site requirements at the start. And with manufacturers like Remeha providing bespoke-designed, offsite fabricated solutions to smoother multiple boiler installation, this is now eminently achievable in many applications. Where there is waste, there is scope


for efficiency savings. Retrofit offers a real and achievable opportunity to reduce emissions now while delivering rapid cost savings. With flexible options available for cost-effective boiler replacement and the ready support of experienced manufacturers, energy managers have the opportunity to make immediate strides along the path to net zero.


Baxi Heating remeha.co.uk 


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