How to use heating equipment efficiently
In this guide:
- How to use heating and hot water systems efficiently
- Benefits of improving heating system efficiency
- Installing efficient heating and hot water equipment
- Energy assessments for heating and hot water systems
- How to use heating equipment efficiently
- How to maintain heating systems effectively
- Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
- Checking boiler efficiency
- Installing an efficient heating system - Marine Hotel (video)
Benefits of improving heating system efficiency
Efficient heating systems can save you money, improve your business' image and prepare you for future regulation.
Heating and hot water costs can account for half of a business' energy costs and half its carbon emissions. You can maintain or improve the efficiency of your heating system by using it economically. For example, by turning down your heating just 1°C, you can cut your annual heating costs by up to eight per cent - see using heating equipment efficiently.
By developing your knowledge of energy efficiency, you can make more cost-effective choices when it comes to replacing or upgrading your system - see installing efficient heating and hot water equipment.
Using less energy will reduce your business' carbon footprint and help limit climate change - see cutting your carbon emissions.
Being an energy-efficient business can also help attract customers, employees and investors - see how to market your environmental credentials.
Energy efficient businesses should be better prepared to comply with existing and new legislation. For example, if you propose to carry out building work on a building greater than 1,000 square metres, you may need to comply with building regulation conditions relating to the efficiency of your heating and hot water system.
You can find guidelines for the energy performance of buildings on the Department of Finance (DoF) website.
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Installing efficient heating and hot water equipment
Types of energy-efficient heating and hot water equipment and how to choose the best system for your building.
Whether you are investing in a new heating and hot water system for your building, or upgrading an old one, you should make sure your equipment is energy efficient.
When constructing or altering a building, you must ensure that any new heating equipment meets or exceeds the energy efficiency targets in Part F of the Building Regulations.
It may be more efficient to install additional small boilers for use in the summer months. For example, installing a separate water heater will help you save money by letting you switch off the main boiler system during the summer.
Various types of energy-efficient equipment are available, including:
- advanced metering systems
- optimiser thermostats
- zone controls for space heating
- sequencing controls
- heat recirculating units to recycle warm air in roof spaces
Renewable energy systems, such as solar water heating and wood-fuelled boilers, are another way of increasing building energy efficiency. They can also help you reduce your business' carbon emissions - see how to generate your own renewable energy.
You can get advice on the best type of equipment for your premises from the Carbon Trust. Alternatively, you can contact specialist associations, such as the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) or the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI).
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Energy assessments for heating and hot water systems
Energy assessments allow you to make informed decisions on heating system upgrades and efficiency improvements.
You could save energy and money by arranging a regular energy assessment of your building's heating system efficiency. This should focus on:
- Boiler selection and system design - do you have the right type of boiler, and are your heating and hot water systems optimised for your property?
- System controls - are they working properly?
It is recommended that you have your system assessed if it has a capacity of more than 20 kilowatts, or is more than 15 years old.
After the assessment, your engineer will give you:
- an energy efficiency checklist
- an efficiency comparison of your existing system compared with a new one
- an assessment as to whether your system is the right size for your building
You can find an accredited energy assessor by contacting specialist organisations such as the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) or the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
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How to use heating equipment efficiently
Tips on getting the most out of your heating system to cut energy costs and improve overall heating system efficiency.
To get the most out of your heating and hot water systems, it is recommended that you arrange for an energy assessment of your equipment - see energy assessments for heating and hot water systems.
Ways to use heating equipment more efficiently
You can increase heating system efficiency yourself by taking simple steps, such as:
- setting timer controls to operate heating only when people are present in the building and activate 'frost protection' at weekends and during holidays
- ensuring the hot water is not heated too much - water only needs to be heated to between 60 and 65°C to protect against legionella bacteria
- checking your heating bills regularly - this will help you spot any sudden increases in energy use, which may be caused by changes in the way a building is used
You should also make sure you:
- don't turn up heating unless you really need to
- leave plenty of space around radiators
- don't heat unused space
- keep doors and windows closed, and draught-proof, in cold weather
- ensure thermostats are not near draughts or hot and cold spots
- don't put hot equipment, such as photocopiers, near cooling vents
- maintain equipment properly
- have enough insulation around your hot water and HVAC systems, including; boilers, pipes, tanks and ductwork
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How to maintain heating systems effectively
What a professional should check when maintaining heating and hot water systems and regular checks you can carry out.
Regular maintenance of your heating and hot water system helps you maximise its efficiency, improve workplace safety and extend the lifespan of your system.
Heating system maintenance
Professional servicing and maintenance checks on your heating system should cover:
- combustion efficiency
- running repairs
- limescale checks
- advice to owners
- replacing worn or defective parts, such as boilers, water heaters, pumps and air heaters
You can carry out regular simple maintenance checks, such as:
- setting outlet louvres correctly for warm-air systems
- cleaning reflectors for radiant heaters
- keeping air vents clean
- checking for leaks
You should also monitor gas flues for efficiency, temperature and chimney conditions.
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Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
Information about HVAC systems, running and maintenance costs, and how using zone controls can improve efficiency.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems control the temperature, humidity and air quality in buildings, according to a set of chosen conditions. They do this by transferring heat and moisture in and out of the air and by controlling the level of air pollutants by directly removing them or by diluting them to acceptable levels.
HVAC systems vary widely in size and function. If they were designed and installed during the building's construction, they will be larger and a key component of the centralised building services. They will use ventilation to deliver both heating and cooling to the building.
Other systems provide heating through boilers and radiators, with some limited ventilation to provide fresh air or cooling to certain parts of the building.
In many buildings, individual comfort cooling units have been added to address a specific overheating problem that didn't exist originally or wasn't apparent at the time of the original design. For example, the huge increase in the use of computers, which generate a lot of heat, has meant that many older buildings now need additional cooling or ventilation. Comfort cooling units are the most common method of providing cooling to a building when the need arises.
Energy consumption of HVAC systems
There are five important factors that determine the energy use of an HVAC system. These are the:
- design, layout and operation of the building - this affects how the external environment impacts on internal temperatures and humidity
- required indoor temperature and air quality - more extreme temperatures, greater precision and more refined air quality are all factors which lead to the HVAC plant consuming more energy
- heat generated internally by lighting, equipment and people
- design and efficiency of the HVAC plant - which provides heat, cooling and moisture control exactly where it is needed in the building
- operating times of the HVAC equipment and functionality of the controls - these limit operation to exactly when the system is needed
One of the best ways to control the cost of using HVAC equipment is to reduce the need to use it initially. It's important to first take energy-saving measures such as insulation and draught-proofing around your building. Simple measures such as window blinds can reduce the amount of heat entering a building and reduce the need for cooling. Room or zone controls and thermostats allow people control over their immediate environment, although it may be necessary to reset controls to a default setting each day.
Other opportunities for saving energy include:
- the use of passive heating, ventilation and cooling
- night cooling - when cool air passes through a building overnight to remove heat that has built up through the day
Refurbishment and hardware opportunities
If you are refurbishing or putting in a new HVAC system it is worth using the most efficient system available.
The more efficient the HVAC system is, the less expensive it is to run, which is an important consideration as the day-to-day running costs are far greater than the initial costs of installation.
When choosing an HVAC system you should:
- choose the system that is best suited to your needs
- prioritise energy efficiency in the design and installation stages
- implement and maintain good system controls
- set up and maintain the system effectively and consider a maintenance contract
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Checking boiler efficiency
Calculating boiler size, checking the boiler efficiency database and information on Energy Performance Certificates.
Heating engineers checking commercial and domestic boiler efficiency can get useful information from several sources, including the:
- Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) boiler efficiency database
- Council of Registered Gas Installers
- Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE)
- Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association
Efficiency ratings (domestic installations)
The energy efficiency of boilers intended for domestic use is rated in bands:
- A - 90 per cent and above
- B - 86-90 per cent
- C - 82-86 per cent
- D - 78-82 per cent
- E - 74-78 per cent
- F - 70-74 per cent
- G - below 70 per cent
Boiler efficiency database (domestic installations)
To check the efficiency of a particular model of domestic boiler, you can consult the boiler efficiency database. This contains efficiency data for current boiler models, and is updated monthly.
Boiler checklists
Step-by-step checklists for monitoring boiler energy efficiency are available online for:
- homeowner gas-fired heating installations - you can download a checklist for domestic gas-fired heating installations (PDF, 501K)
- homeowner oil-fired home heating installations - you can download a checklist for domestic oil-fired heating installations (PDF, 501K)
Gas boilers and space heaters below 100 kilowatts should be assessed every four years. Oil-fired or solid-fuel boilers, and space heaters larger than 100 kilowatts, should be assessed every two years.
Energy Performance Certificates
Boiler efficiency forms part of a building's overall energy performance, which must be displayed in the form of an Energy Performance Certificate.
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How to use heating and hot water systems efficiently
Installing an efficient heating system - Marine Hotel (video)
Claire Hunter of Marine Hotel in Ballycastle explains how they installed an efficient LPG gas zoned heating system.
The Marine Hotel is situated in the Causeway coast resort town of Ballycastle with 31 bedrooms, dining and hospitality areas and large function rooms to heat.
Claire Hunter, the hotel's Director, explains how they moved from an oil fired heating system with hot water tanks to a more efficient LPG gas-zoned heating system.
Claire explains how they assessed their energy and heating needs, the support and advice they received, the practical benefits of the zoned system they chose and their annual cost savings.
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