While upgrades to controls in existing heating systems, other than at times of boiler replacement, are not specifically required under the building regulations it is good practice for all homes to have a set of controls that at least complies with the minimum standards in the Building Regulations – a boiler interlock, room thermostat, programmer, thermostatic radiator valves and a hot water cylinder thermostat. These will ensure that the existing heating system is not operating inefficiently and allow the occupants to make further reductions in their energy costs through behaviour change.
Heating installers should recommend controls upgrades as required to meet these standards when visiting homes for maintenance and repairs. UK Government is committed to reducing energy use in homes and householders should be reminded that 84% of energy use in homes is from heating and hot water.
Wireless controls are a convenient choice for controls upgrades; allowing ease of installation and minimal disruption by taking away the requirement for wiring runs.
Control may be provided by any boiler management system that meets the specified zoning, timing and temperature and boiler interlock control requirements.
One zone must cover the ‘living area’ and heating zones will often be divided to cover ‘living’ and ‘sleeping’ areas, or upstairs and downstairs. There are usually significant opportunities for energy saving by matching zones to the lifestyle of occupants (for example with home offices) and installers should look for opportunities to set up zones beyond the minimum requirements.
A 2006 report by Nationwide showed that most four-bedroom detached houses fall into this category with the average floor area of such properties being 157m2 (the average for five-bedroom detached was over 200m2.) Older houses can be larger than modern ones, with the average of all pre-war detached homes being over 150m2.
Energy efficiency and energy saving boilers see our website www.energy-smart.org.uk
Hi friends,
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing these useful tips over here. Plumbing is the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures for drinking water systems and the drainage of waste, a plumber is a installs or repairs piping systems...
San Antonio Plumbing