Heating

Heating for your business

Providing heating and hot water for commercial and some industrial buildings can account for up to 60% of total energy costs. Improving the efficiency of your heating systems can help you reduce these costs.

How you can save

In general the energy efficiency of your heating systems can be improved by improving the efficiency of the heat source, insulating all distribution systems, using better temperature and time controls and regular maintenance of plant and equipment. Simple cost-effective energy saving measures should always be implemented before installing new heating plant to ensure that plant is not oversized.

The following are some no cost, low cost and investment opportunities for reducing heating energy costs:

No Cost

• Automatically switch off heating equipment when it is not required, including boilers, water heaters, pumps and distribution system components, and ensure staff are trained in the correct operation and control of heating equipment.
• Check that timers, programmers, thermostats, optimum start controls and weather compensation controls are set up and operating correctly.
• Ensure that thermostats are properly located and free from obstructions.
• Ensure that radiators and other heat emitting surfaces are free from obstructions.
• Review hot water thermostat accuracy and temperature settings periodically.

Low cost

• Ensure that plant is regularly and correctly maintained.
• Ensure that extraction fans are not extracting heat unnecessarily.
• Check boiler efficiency periodically and make improvements as required.
• Improve heating and hot water system controls. These may include fitting better thermostats, optimiser thermostats and zone controls (for space heating), more intelligent programmers and sequencing controls for multi-boiler or multi-water heater systems.
• Install thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) where appropriate.
• Where there are long pipe runs and overall demand for domestic hot water is low, consider installing point of use water heaters.
• Ensure that pipes, valves, storage tanks and other components are properly insulated.
• Fit draught stripping around windows and doors and fit automatic door closers on external doors.

Investment projects

• Install weather compensated controls for radiator heating systems. This adjusts the heating system flow temperature in line with outside temperatures.
• Install optimum start controls, which turns the heating on later during milder weather.
• Consider solar hot water systems for domestic hot water.
• Condensing boilers should be the first choice when installing a new boiler.
• If different parts of the building are heated at different times, then zoning of the heat distribution system should be considered.
• If you have significant all-year-round demand for heating and hot water, consider installing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) which generates both electricity and heat.
• Improve insulation around loading bays through the use of plastic strip curtains, draught lobbies and fast acting doors.
• If an entire space does not have to be heated, consider installing localised radiant or other heaters.
• Improve fabric insulation, double glazing etc.

For more information

Focus on energy: a practical introduction to reducing energy bills. Carbon Trust UK http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/Publications/publicationdetail.htm?productid=FOCUS&metaNoCache=1

Heating. Carbon Trust UK.
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/startsaving/tech_heating_about_the_technology.htm