Traditional boilers keep up with the times
When it comes to replacing a heating system there are a number of factors that must be considered, not least sustainability targets and the energy performance of a building. It may come as no surprise, therefore, that building-services managers are very keen to take advantage of renewable energy and the incentives that they bring — but Robert Lockhart argues the case for traditional heating solutions and the important role that boilers still play in a modern building.
It is well documented that buildings account for about 40% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, with at least half of that attributed to non-domestic properties. With this in mind, energy efficiency in both new build and existing properties is a top priority, particularly when Building Regulations and the Government’s carbon tax are taken into consideration.
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, previously known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment, requires any organisation with a total half-hourly electricity consumption of more than 6 GWh a year to assess how much energy they are likely to consume throughout the year.
Once this calculation has been made, the organisation must then purchase a carbon allowance based on this figure. If they use more energy than they have estimated they will incur a financial penalty. If they have used under what they estimated they have the opportunity to sell this on to other businesses. For many organisations this is a major incentive to purchase energy-efficient products, lowering their energy consumption and, therefore, the costs associated with carbon purchasing.
When looking to install an energy-efficient heating system, renewables are unsurprisingly often front of mind, with solar thermal technology and air-source heat pumps proving particularly popular in commercial premises. The RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) tariffs for the non-domestic sector, unlike residential, have already been announced, so customers can take advantage of this scheme.
However, quite significant energy savings can also be delivered with modern light-commercial condensing boilers. It has become all too easy to put traditional heating solutions on the back burner for some time now, but technology advancements means they remain a viable option for many installations. Equally, it must be remembered that although renewables are seen as the future of the heating industry, they are not suitable for all applications, and the financial outlay and payback may not be as favourable as the comparatively low cost of a high-efficiency commercial boiler installation.
The commercial-boiler market has in fact seen a huge amount of research and development over the past few years. Boilers have been designed to not only offer effective hot-water and heating delivery but also reduced energy consumption. Technology has been refined, for example, to improve condensing capacity and pre-mix combustion to help create commercial boilers with efficiencies of more than 108%. Advances of this kind result not only in lower carbon emissions compared to a standard boiler, but end users can also cut their overall running costs.
A commercial boiler that utilises this type of technology will deliver the best efficiencies, just like in domestic buildings. This advanced technology also brings a further advantage for the commercial installation, as with improved condensing, comes a better modulation ratio. For example, Vokèra’s CondexaPRO can modulate down to 16 kW from its maximum output, increasing efficiency. These boilers have also delivered net efficiencies of over 108% and have three circuits that can deliver water at different temperatures.
In real terms this means that newer commercial boilers are ideal for cascade installations where multiple boilers are used in sequence rather than using just one large-capacity boiler. By using a number of smaller boilers that equate to, for example, 400 kW, rather than one piece of equipment with a single burner, efficiencies will be improved.
For the end user with a changing heat demand, this approach provides optimum comfort levels as individual units can be switched off and on to match the changing heat demand. Further, should a failure occur with one of the units, the other boilers within the cascade will take up the load and cope with the system demand. For the end-user this means there will be very little (if any) disruption to their comfort levels.
For those looking to make further savings, some commercial boilers are eligible for the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) under the Energy Technology List (ETL). The CondexaPro is one of those products on this list.
Renewables have an important role to play in the future of the UK’s heating solutions but it is important not to dismiss the more traditional solutions too when specifying a new heating system. Commercial-boiler systems in comparison are a more affordable option and offer excellent efficiencies. Ultimately, however, the decision must be made on what is the most suitable solution for each individual building and the needs of its users.
Robert Lockhart is commercial sales manager with Vokera.
