ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
AY TOP OF THE CLASS ON HEATING
suited to schools making practical and budget- conscious progress towards net zero.
OPTIMISE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY The reality is that boiler replacements are still a popular choice for system refurbishments in schools. Where heat pumps are not currently viable, upgrading to modern condensing models can still deliver essential efficiency gains of up to 20%. If this is the chosen route, schools are encouraged to use this opportunity to prepare the system for future heat pump integration. A practical measure would be to address the system’s distribution pipework and heat emitters to allow the system to operate at a maximum flow temperature of 55˚C (or lower) in line with building regulations. This will make it heat-pump-ready while enabling the condensing boiler and water heaters to work in condensing mode for optimal system efficiency.
HYBRID HELP If an all-electric system is not viable, a hybrid approach could be a next step as an early stage of decarbonisation. Incorporating even a small air source heat pump (ASHP) with existing gas-fired boilers and/or water heaters will enable a large portion of the heat in the school building to be decarbonised while adhering to safe operation requirements.
As such, it may provide a more technically
and financially achievable option in schools with more complex refurbishment challenges. While this would leave some reliance on gas, these technologies can be swapped out at a later stage, such as when new heat decarbonisation finance solutions enter the picture.
CRUCIAL COLLABORATION In Baxi’s research report into decarbonising heat in schools, school leaders highlighted a need for further technical advice to achieve heat decarbonisation ambitions and boost heating efficiency. With decades of experience in providing
heating and hot water solutions from its wide product portfolio, manufacturers like Baxi are on hand to work with consultant engineers and contractors to help school managers achieve their sustainability targets. From advising on quick wins to supplying pre-contract design support to decide decarbonisation roadmaps, to providing service packages for ongoing maintenance, there is a solution to every school building across the nation.
Baxi
www.baxi.co.uk/commercial/education
A full school plant room replacement by RLB and Ignis Group involving an upgrade to Quinta Ace condensing boilers
HYBRID SOLUTION DELIVERS LOW CARBON HEATING TO PRIMARY SCHOOL
A hybrid heating system from Ideal Commercial Heating, featuring ECOMOD heat pumps and Evomax 2 boilers, has been installed at Hawthorn Primary School in Cantley, Doncaster. Hawthorn Primary School is a co-educational
primary academy with a campus comprising several buildings of varying ages and construction types, creating challenges for consistent temperature control and system performance. The existing heating infrastructure, which consisted of two ageing open-flued boilers alongside undersized pipework, had struggled to meet demand efficiently, resulting in high gas consumption and unreliable comfort levels. To address these issues, long-standing Ideal
Commercial Heating customer Service 2 (HVAC) was appointed to design and install a new system capable of delivering dependable year-round performance while reducing carbon emissions. The completed installation is a hybrid system combining two 50kW ECOMOD 290HT air source heat pumps with three wall-mounted Evomax 2 150kW commercial condensing boilers operating in cascade providing 450kW of output. The heat pumps are located externally adjacent to the plant room and feed buffer vessels, while the Evomax 2 boilers are installed internally on an Ideal Heating frame and header kit with pre- formed insulation kits and a plate heat exchanger to ensure separation between the primary and secondary circuits. This configuration allows the heat pumps to satisfy the majority of the school’s heating and hot water demand throughout milder seasons, with the boilers automatically providing support during periods of lower external temperatures. A building management system
(BMS) plays a central role in maximising efficiency by intelligently selecting the most appropriate heat source depending on weather conditions and load requirements. This approach enables the school to maintain comfortable internal environments for pupils and staff
www.essmag.co.uk
while optimising energy use and running costs. As the project involved an existing education
facility rather than a new-build, the system was designed to integrate with much of the original distribution infrastructure. Chris Snowden, technical operations manager at Service 2 (HVAC), commented: “The benefit of using the ECOMOD 290HT heat pumps within the system is we can create up to 75˚C hot water, which means you don’t have to change radiators. We can still run on the original system.” Fan coil units optimised for lower temperature operation were installed in selected areas to further enhance system performance. To provide separation between the primary and secondary circuits, preventing potential dirty system water from circulating through the new equipment, an Ideal Heating plate heat exchanger (PHEX) was installed. Installation works included the construction
of a dedicated concrete base and secure fencing for the external heat pump units to meet health and safety requirements. Service 2 (HVAC) also benefited from Ideal
Commercial Heating’s free commissioning service on both the heat pumps and boilers, which ensures correct configuration and automatically applies a five-year warranty.
Ideal Heating Commercial
www.idealcommercialheating.co.uk
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2026 29
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