Why Hoval’s biomass boiler might be the thing to keep your business sustainable

The latest stats by the Office for National statistics suggest that the UK is on track to meet its renewable energy goals. According to expert analyses, wind power substituting for gas and coal use has driven down greenhouse gas emissions, putting the UK halfway to fulfilling its commitment to produce 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, under targets commissioned by the European Union.

But it’s also down to home and businesses owners opting for more sustainable heating options, Hoval’s biomass boiler being but one example. A case in point is a recent installation by Stroud School in Hampshire, which, as part of its drive to improve sustainability and reduce carbon emissions, has installed Hoval biomass boilers to provide space heating and domestic hot water for the main school building and two new buildings. Now, the resolution of a single establishment might seem paltry in the grand scheme of things but is nonetheless a significant contribution in the county’s efforts to ‘go green’. (Many such contributions make a difference.)

The two 160 kW BioLyt biomass boilers supplied by Hoval use wood pellets as an alternative to fossil fuels and are thus particularly suited to the school’s rural location. The BioLyt is however suited to any plant room; even in cramped conditions, the boiler can be easily introduced into building systems, and is suitable for both new build and existing system upgrades with easy access.

Hoval describes its BioLyt biomass boiler as:

  • Very low environmental impact
  • Rapid return on investment
  • An ideal choice when updating your system
  • Easy to use and reliable.

Two 4000 litre buffer vessels were also supplied to Stroud School by Hoval, which boast a maximum working pressure of 3 bar g (with larger vessels available on request).

If you and your business are considering a commercial boiler commission that might involve a sustainable boiler upgrade, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Sources: Hoval.co.uk/press/ – “Hoval biomass boilers support Stroud School’s sustainability and Theguardian.co.uk – “UK on track to meet its renewable energy targets”

Boiler insurance – what you need to know.

Is boiler insurance worth it? It’s a question that doesn’t always dish up an honest answer; energy providers often use the fear of losing heating or hot water to hike the prices of boiler breakdown cover, leaving businesses with the tough task of sifting through the scare tactics in an effort to uncover insurance that is reasonable in both price and service.

For insurance that will ensure that your boiler is fixed as quickly and cheaply as possible, there are some things that every business owner needs to know:

  • Annual boiler service is essential: most policies will not pay if a boiler breaks and it has not been properly maintained.
  • Older boilers are not always insurable: most boiler plans require a boiler to be below a certain age, usually no older than seven years from date cover is bought. Otherwise, perhaps it’s time for an upgrade?
  • There is a difference between ‘Insurance’ and ‘Service Cover’: the key difference is that with insurance, if the insurer liquidates you’re protected by the FSCS but with service cover, you’ve less recourse it the firm liquidates. Other differences are that insurance (which is subject to insurance premium tax at 6 per cent) covers only faults and repairs whereas a service contract (which is subject to 20 per cent vat) includes annual inspection and service.
  • There are different types of cover that you will need to choose from:
    • Boiler-only cover: the policy will cover only the boiler and its controls but it may include an annual boiler maintenance check and service – depending on the type of boiler.
    • Boiler cover with central heating: the policy will cover the boiler, its controls and the central heating system. The cover provided should include call-out, parts and labour costs and may also include an annual safety check and service.
    • Broad cover: the policy will cover the boiler, its controls as well as plumbing and wiring etc. It’s worth knowing that payout limits can be low when compared to the payout on a standard policy, so if the boiler is the main concern this mightn’t be the best policy.
  • Boiler breakdown policies are extremely varied: so it is important to compare the benefits and ensure that the cover offered is suitable for the needs of the business before picking a provider. Things to check include whether you get access to a 24-hour helpline, how long it will take for an engineer to come round and whether there are any extra charges.

Boiler cover offers peace of mind; knowing that someone with expertise will be at hand to fix any heating issues that might arise, timeously and efficiently. Price comparison sites are great for boiler cover price comparisons but they will not offer detailed information on an entire heating system and its related products.

For further information on boiler repair and maintenance, and advice on heating insurance, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Sources: Moneysupermarket.com – “Guide to buying boiler breakdown cover” and Moneysavingexpert.com – “Boiler cover need-to-knows”.

How ‘point of use’ water heating can save your business money

The amount of time, water and energy that is wasted waiting for water to heat up can be a seriously exponential affair, especially if it’s happening en masse; imagine a whole business of people running tap water until it warms – to wash hands or to add hot water to a kettle –it could easily be called a misuse of resources. Translate the waste to cost and suddenly a solution becomes a business priority. Luckily, there is one.

‘Point of use’ water heating systems aim to cut waste by heating water instantly at the point of use. Research by Redring Xpelair Group (the shower, water heating and ventilation solution manufacturer) has revealed that seven in 10 office workers spend more than 10 minutes a day boiling the kettle, with 7 per cent admitting to spending over an hour each day making hot drinks for themselves and their colleagues. Who knew a cup of tea could be so expensive, all things considered? To combat the unnecessary squander of time and money, Redring’s new Sensaboil range is offers an efficient answer to waste. The system is suitable for commercial applications where regular access to instant hot water for hot drinks is required. The boiler tanks are manufactured in catering grade stainless steel to avoid corrosion and taste or taint issues. There are a range of sizes and finishes, and the best thing of all: hot tea on demand.

When it comes to water for washing hands (and no one likes it cold), the product best suited to commercial use is a hand-wash unit, which is a small, electrically powered unit that heats water instantly as it flows through the product. Hand wash units are wall mountable and their compact dimensions offer a small footprint, making them suitable for rooms with limited space.

An estimation by Redring suggests that the world wastes 18 billion litres of water every day waiting for it to get hot. Not only could point of use water heating cut overheads but it is one small step in the immense global warming war the world is fighting to fix, making it great for your conscience as well as your bank account.

For more information on these products and for advice on installation service, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc

Source: hvpmag.co.uk – “Point of use water heating”

Businesses prioritise energy security when choosing providers, according to new research

With the cold well underway and heaters assuredly on, there is one thing that is occupying the minds of business owners as tariffs tick over, and that’s energy security. According to new research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 73 per cent of 550 business leaders and 2,300 households rate security of supply as a crucial energy objective for the UK.

The majority of businesses (96 per cent) are concerned about keeping energy bills affordable and, interestingly, more than half of businesses (57 per cent) believe that the UK’s energy security is worse than it was five years ago. The resounding scepticism of UK business owners is emphasised by the fact that 53 per cent of respondents cite ‘energy company profits’ as the primary reason for price hikes. It’s thus no big surprise that a mere 38 per cent of businesses agree that energy efficiency is the best solution to ensuring that energy costs remain affordable (smaller bonuses, maybe?). Another solution hazarded by business leaders who participated in CBI’s research is; more competition in the market – if energy providers are vying for customers, they’ll have to offer the best deal in an effort to sustain their client base.

Perhaps a lesser known fact is that provider profits accounted for only 4.3 per cent of an average bill in 2012, which suggests that other than the solutions already highlighted by business owners themselves, it seems that industry players might benefit from an action prioritising greater transparency and honest conversation. Being real about energy objectives and how they relate to business is a good way to encourage a mutual support network between companies and energy providers.

And how do business owners feel about the UK’s aim to tackle climate change? In spite of the fact that change in policy and the practical implementation thereof might affect energy security, most businesses (70 per cent) support renewable energy initiatives and other such schemes that hope to minimise the country’s carbon footprint. While 60 per cent of business leaders believe that taking action now to cut carbon emissions will deliver long-term economic opportunity, one in three businesses disagree (32 per cent), suggesting more must be done to communicate the importance of, and opportunity presented by, the low-carbon transition.

The research does a great job of drawing attention to some very real concerns relating to energy efficiency – or lack thereof, according to various respondents. The good news is that there’s a lot to be done and everyone has a part to play.

For more information on how to make your business’s energy more efficient and more affordable, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Source: cbi.org.uk – “Short-term thinking on energy risks damaging investment – CBI”

What is the ‘energy trilemma’? – And how does it impact businesses?

Everyone’s talking energy these days. It wasn’t that long ago that business energy consumption was seemingly irrelevant; the UK had it all figured out. But times have changed; sustainability has become a big deal bringing energy to the fore both socially and politically. News headlines are rife with reference to the so-called ‘energy trilemma’ and how this affects business profitability, and companies are spending many hours hashing out solutions in the boardroom in an effort to reduce energy costs.

The term ‘energy trilemma’ was coined by the World Energy Council to explain the problem of finding secure energy supplies and catering to rising demand without prices becoming unaffordable, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And the problem is turning out to be quite the conundrum. The three goals of: energy security, energy cost and environment sustainability are largely dependent on the relationships between public and private sectors, governments and regulators, economic and social factors, national resources, environmental concerns, and individual behaviours. The challenge that business owners face, amidst all of this, is to make energy work for the company (rather than against it) whilst maintaining a profit (and the certainty of future profits) by ensuring that the energy trilemma does not manipulate net earnings into the red.

The most obvious solution to the energy trilemma is energy efficiency. According to a survey conducted by UrbanWind, the majority of UK businesses are concerned with saving energy, with 94 per cent actively pursuing an energy reduction programme. And this is great news, considering the fact that European leaders have struck a broad climate change pact obliging the EU as a whole to cut greenhouse gases by at least 40 per cent by 2030. David Cameron won a battle to keep policies aimed at boosting renewables and saving electricity voluntary for member states. Although Cameron had hoped to cut the energy efficiency figure to 25 per cent, he accepted 27 per cent on behalf of the UK as long as it was not binding on Britain.

More and more, government policy will make businesses accountable for their energy consumption as experts and leaders work to solve the energy trilemma. If your business is not yet on board with implementing sustainable energy measures, it’s probably time to get with the programme.

If you’d like further information on ways to lower your energy overheads and make your business’s energy use more sustainable, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Sources: H&VNews – “Commercial opportunities increase for MCS installers”; Greenwisebusiness.co.uk – “EU leaders agree 40 per cent emissions cuts by 2030”; Urban-wind.co.uk – “Business Energy Independence” and Theguardian.com – “The energy ‘trilemma’: how did we get here?”

How much do business owners really know about energy saving?

A new survey commissioned by the National Energy Foundation has revealed what British adults really know about energy. And it’s not all that much.

Of the people surveyed, most say that they would like to reduce their energy consumption, either because of the financial cost of using energy (81 per cent) or because of the environmental impact (70 per cent).

When it comes to business, the first step to improving energy efficiency (and cutting company overheads) is appreciating the dynamic of how light and heat is used in context. Interestingly, although three in five (58 per cent) of British adults say that they feel well informed about energy issues – sourcing information from news and documentary programmes on the TV and radio (42 per cent), searching on the internet (32 per cent) and via energy companies directly (22 per cent) – only 41 per cent of energy users know that the UK’s electricity supply comes mainly from fossil-fuel combustion. This means that the majority (59 per cent) do not know the principal source of the UK’s electricity supply.

Not only that but:

  • Only half (50 per cent) of those surveyed correctly identified which type of light bulb uses the least energy (LED) and 35 per cent incorrectly thought that low voltage halogen lights use the least.
  • Only one in ten (11 per cent) adults say that they know how much energy their workplace uses; while eight out of ten believe that private employers (79 per cent) and the government (76 per cent) should provide training and education to teach the public to use energy more efficiently. This compares to the six in ten (57 per cent) who believe that technology will solve our energy problems.

What the survey results suggest is that individuals and organisations need to up their energy literacy…

…making company owners, with a keen sense of how things work, effective in assisting their businesses in energy efficient improvements; reducing carbon footprints and saving money too.

Kerry Mashford, Chief Executive of the National Energy Foundation, has expressed interest in implementing a number of high-impact projects to improve the energy performance of new and existing buildings, inspiring others to do the same – NEF is currently looking for partners to back initiatives.

In the meantime, whether you’re a small business owner or someone managing a large-scale operation (hotels, hospitals, restaurants, police stations etc.), be proactive! Take energy seriously.

For more information on the National Energy Foundation Energy Poll, CLICK HERE for headline survey findings.

Source: nef.org.uk – “Energy survey raises concerns: people think they know more about energy issues than they really do”

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Reznor’s new efficiency condensing heater promises to help businesses cut costs

In a time when energy culture is all about carbon reduction and money saving, there is extreme pressure on companies to be as eco-efficient as possible. Matter-of-factly, this can only happen if suppliers and providers rise to the challenge with equal intent – by meeting demand with product. With this in mind, Reznor’s vastly improved RHeco range couldn’t have come at a better time. Designed with business in mind, the systems supplier’s new fully condensing gas fired unit promises to cut overheads by delivering warmth at low cost.

Launched earlier this year, the range features a new primary heat exchanger and an advanced burner with ‘pull through’ combustion and premix technology, which allows for high efficiency condensing heaters that have been developed to deliver thermal efficiencies of up to 109 per cent at minimum load and 100 per cent at full load.

With the system’s advanced technology, the reduction in CO, CO2 and NOx emissions is immense; so much so that RHeco exceeds the requirements of current Building Regulations L2 as well as European norms. The extremely low NOx emissions also enable BREEAM points to be claimed (when applicable). BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance. Credit from BREEAM ranks a building high on the sustainability-o-metre, which, along with energy savings made, offers an extremely favourable payback period.

But RHeca’s money-saving possibilities are not all about its ethical content. RHeca’s heating units are made from high quality, corrosion resistant steel, which informs its durability. The system’s tubular primary heat exchanger reduces thermal stress to ensure improved life expectancy, and due to its advanced burner technology delivers optimum reliability and ease of maintenance. In translation: it’s less likely to break and more likely to last a long time.

Other important features include:

  • Versatile flue options (top or rear connections) for ease of installation.
  • High flow axial fan for a powerful air throw, decreases stratification and improves heat distribution.
  • 5:1 turn down ratio for close temperature control. Reduced temperature gradients help prevent stratification.

Reznor has suggested that its RHeca range is ideal for low carbon buildings, with up to 35 per cent energy saving on replacement heaters. For more detail on the RHeco heating range, visit Reznor.co.uk.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Businesses’ top complaints when it comes to energy supply service

New research articulated in HVP Magazine suggests that the service offered by energy suppliers to UK businesses is not up to scratch. The strict guidelines that inform the competence of companies offering a commercial boiler installation service seem to have evaded the energy companies that fuel these boilers. An overall lack of professionalism is alienating potential customers, and this in turn is having a negative impact on post-recession economic recovery – according to Craig Brown, managing director of Signs Express.

Business decision makers in the construction and property sector were asked to tally the most frustrating practices when dealing with suppliers; here’s the list:

  • Supplier’s ‘hard sell’ approach – 56%.
  • Not providing a quote as promised – 50%.
  • Inexperience and inability to answer questions – 38%.
  • Supplier not turning up for an appointment – 30%.
  • Quote exceeding estimate – 26%.
  • Acting in an overly-friendly or inappropriately familiar manner – 15%.
  • Supplier looking scruffy or unprofessional – 14%.
  • Turning up late for an appointment – 12%.

When supplier competition is rife, the fact that energy companies are not bending over backwards to win business is somewhat remarkable. Although the survey focuses on construction and property commerce in particular, there exists an ensuing assumption that many business owners are facing similar grievances.

According to recent forecasts by UK energy operator National Grid, the price of electricity could double over the next couple of years unless the country invests more in local gas production. Hopefully this won’t be the case but if the worst scenario comes to fruition, the only way business owners will comply is through impeccable supplier service – punctuality, fairness, reliability, a sense of expertise and care.

Not delivering on quotes and inflexible tariffs have the potential to impact net earnings, and on a large scale the economy as a whole. It’s up to businesses to voice their dissatisfaction and in turn for suppliers to listen not only listen but make the necessary changes.

Sources: hvpmag.co.uk – “New survey reveals top supplier turn-offs” and Theguardian.com – “Price of electricity could double over next 20 years, says National Grid”

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

How your business can reduce energy consumption in the face of rising tariffs

Rising prices and tough carbon reduction targets have made energy a critical issue for government, civil society and business – and both industry and policy makers have a lot to say about the matter.

Hot in the press at the moment is whether energy-intensive industries should be asked to reduce energy consumption in spite of the fact that said energy use (that might be deemed excessive in light of reduction targets) drives business profits? A debate is raging in the face of government incentives to solve ‘the energy crisis’ by implementing time shifts (tapering energy use across the day by charging customers more for energy at the most popular times of day) on businesses in an effort to change behaviour.

Energy policies have not yet been honed by government but what is clear is that some sort of reduction will be forced, and even if your business is not energy-heavy it’s nonetheless a good idea to cut energy consumption before flexibility is no longer an option.

According to a survey by greenwisebusiness.co.uk, the most common reasons that UK company owners have not cut their energy consumption are:

  • insufficient time or resources
  • not being able to quantify the expected returns
  • energy efficiency being a lower priority than other business considerations

Logic says that the best way to cut consumption would be to address the aforementioned hindrances. Here’s how:

Assign ‘ownership’ to a member of staff: if time is short and resources are minimal, appoint someone with the specific task of overseeing an ‘energy project’; this could be someone already on staff or someone new who is brought in on a contract basis. The idea would be for the project manager to identify the primary areas of energy consumption (including lighting, heating, cooling and powering equipment) and to then work out how best to cut consumption; investing in new equipment can make a dramatic difference to energy bills, for example.

Plan and evaluate: often energy saving measures cost up front but save money in the long term. A good way to quantify returns is to clearly outline project requirements to prospective suppliers, which enables a detailed picture of which company offers the best deal. All proposals should provide whole life costings for the proposed solution, showing both the upfront capital cost of the equipment as well as the running costs (including estimated energy consumption and maintenance). Also make sure you receive quotes from at least three established suppliers to have a good framework for comparison. It is worth evaluating the success of different energy efficiency projects at regular stages after their completion. This helps demonstrate the return on investment for future projects; to identify which measures are delivering the biggest benefits and can highlight future enhancements to business operations. – As suggested by greenwisebusiness.co.uk.

Change behaviour: the best way to make energy consumption a business priority is to start with the basics; something as simple as turning off heating outside normal opening hours can result in significant energy savings without the need for major investment. Also encourage staff to take simple steps to reducing energy use on a daily basis (turn switches off at the socket, make sure lights are turned off when rooms aren’t in use etc.) – before you know it; saving energy will be habit.

It’s important to remember that when it comes to energy consumption, the effort it takes to cut energy use will ultimately save your business money! The more effort you put in, the more return you will see.

Sources: Theguardian.com – “Is it fair to ask energy-intensive industries to reduce consumption?” and Greenwisebusiness.co.uk – “Beating the barriers to energy efficiency in association with the CARBON TRUST

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.

Use of heat pumps grows as government looks to subsidise low-carbon heat sources

Global warming is a reality that has incentivised a world-wide search for alterative heating sources (and methods) in an effort to reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases that are responsible for warming of the earth’s temperature, resulting in the likes of: extreme weather conditions, an adverse change in ecosystems and a rise in sea level as glaciers and ice sheets melt.

In order to reduce its carbon footprint, the UK recently made history with the launch of a pioneer scheme that uses sea water as a source of heat. New technology has enabled the implementation of a system that will see historical home Plas Newydd in Wales warmed by a heat pump.

The 300kW marine source heat pump cost £600,000 – a bill footed by the National Trust. Water pipes had to be laid to extract the water from the sea and also transport it to a heat exchanger, which sucks warmth from the water and uses it to heat the Plas Newydd building. But the initial pay-out should pay off, as the scheme is expected to save around £40,000 a year in operating costs.

Electricity is used to work the system’s pump and exchanger, which only manages to be efficient if the final heat is usable at a relatively low temperature – Plas Newydd sits happy at 55C.

Roger Harrabin, environmental analyst writing for the BBC, says that heat pumps are a good alternative to the use of fossil fuels and may be the way forward when it comes to decarbonising UK heating systems – but only in certain instances. Properties close to a water sources with low-grade heating requirements are perfect project candidates, especially if the current heating system is expensive to run; much like at Plas Newydd – not being connected to the gas grid, the house relied on expensive oil heating for warmth.

In an effort to promote low-carbon energy projects, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has rolled out a National Heat Map, which shows the rivers in England that have the highest potential for water source heat pumps. The Heat Map is a tool that will help identify locations where heat distribution is most likely to be beneficial and economic thus prioritising locations for more detailed investigation.

As a business looking to cut energy costs, heat pumps might not be the ideal method, not yet anyway, but here’s something to bear in mind: Tobi Kellner, co-author of the “Zero Carbon Britain Report” for the Centre for Alternative Technology at Machynlleth in mid Wales told the BBC news that in a future where most electricity is produced from renewables, heat pumps would become the method of choice – whether heat is extracted by ground, water or air.

For more detailed information on the marine source heat pump project at Plas Newydd, and for mention of other projects of similar ilk, read “Plas Newydd: Heat from the sea to warm historic house” on Bbc.co.uk. And CLICK HERE to find out about the CSE’s National Heat Map.

If you’d like further information on the Renewable heating Initiative, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.