Boilers Heating & Hot Water

//Boilers Heating & Hot Water

Which Type Of Boiler Should We Replace Our Old Boiler with?

Atmospheric or Condensing?

As an FM company we feel we have a duty to keep our knowledge and training up to date. To do this we attended a Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) continual professional development (CPD) training in Bournemouth. The event was entitled ‘Energy Saving In Commercial Heating & Hot Water & Plant Room Tour’. This was hosted and run by a leading British engineering company that is also a manufacturer and supplier of commercial boilers.

Various topics were discussed such as:-

  • Climate change act (CCA).
  • Energy Efficiency Financing.
  • Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Scheme & Energy Technology List (ETL).
  • Green Deal.
  • Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
  • Regional Incentives.
  • Feed In Tarrifs (FITs).
  • Building Regulations Part L.
  • Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).
  • Climate Change Levy (CCL).
  • Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).
  • The Energy Realated Products (ErP) Directive.
  • Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).

Along with these discussion were heating controls, primary heat ex-changer’s, varying flues, thermostats and last but not least the improved and load matching boilers. Now you might be forgiven to think that replacing a like for like boiler would be satisfactory. However without finding out from the client if the old boiler was satisfactory for all their needs i.e have they ever run out of hot water, and what does the heater feed you are likely to upset that client after they have spent an amount out of their CAPEX budget, when the new boiler fails to produce the required quantity of hot water. Not only should you check what they need, but, by installing more boilers of a smaller output you will find that the efficiency of the new system will out way the overall costs of the comparable boilers.

Other opportunities of saving money is to find out:

  • If they have a requirement for this much hot water thus reducing the load?
  • If building is undergoing a thermally efficiency programme?
    • IE cavity wall insulation.
    • Insulation of pipework & heat stores.
    • New windows/doors – double or triple glazing.
  • Do not over size requirement.

We take into account the overall life span and service cost a system and relay that to our clients. As shown below.

Purewell Classic atmospheric vs Purewell VariHeat condensing boilers

Comparing the whole life costs of an atmospheric boiler system with a condensing boiler system

Comparing the whole life costs of an atmospheric boiler system with a condensing boiler system.

 

  • Energy costs (in particular gas) account for the highest proportion over the life of both products – typically 90-95%.
  • Over the life of the boiler plant you could see a 35% saving in gas consumption – £220,000.
  • Taking into account the initial outlay for condensing boilers, a saving of more than £200,000 can still be gained over the life of the boiler – an annual saving of approximately £8,000.
  • As a result of reducing the gas consumption there will be an associated reduction in carbon emissions – 35%. 
  • Newer condensing boilers can provide up to 80% reduction in NOx emissions over atmospheric boilers, and are more likely to comply with the NOx level stipulated in ErP Sept 2015 (levels to be at less than 56 mg/kWhr).

FFM look to work with clients looking forward with their CAPEX & OPEX budgets, so that whilst refurbishments are underway these old & expensive to run boilers can be replaced in good time. Working this way means that a new system doesn’t become a distressed purchase causing issues within the building. This applies across all sort of sites whether this is a small school, theatre, hospital or office block.

So don’t delay call FFM today for a review on your boiler requirements.

 

FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmailby feather
By | 2017-10-05T17:08:22+01:00 February 5th, 2016|Uncategorized|0 Comments

About the Author:

Darren is the founder of First Facility Management who's core business activity includes:- Building Management, Fire, Security, Pest Control, Electrical, Health & Safety related services.

Leave A Comment