Heating
There is a wide range of heating and hot water systems using different fuels (wood, gas, LPG, oil, electricity, coal). Fuel selection must be made at an early stage of design and construction as it affects the provision of building services and storage containers.
It is important to be aware of the range of alternatives and to understand the principal characteristics of the main fuels - especially the economic and environmental consequences of the final choice. A range of Energy Saving Trust publications is available for all the main heating fuels [1] [2] [3]
Figures for heating efficiency are often quoted, but any meaningful comparison between fuels must take account of the whole energy supply chain, progressing through primary energy, delivered energy and useful energy. Simply stated:
- Primary energy is that required at source before conversion, distribution and delivery.
- Delivered energy is that supplied to the home, on which payment is based.
- Useful energy is that required to warm the home or heat the water.
Conversion from primary to delivered, and delivered to useful energy, involves losses and waste, which reduce the overall efficiency of the supply chain.
For the national electricity supply, conversion efficiency of primary to delivered energy is between 30 and 40 per cent, varying with the mix of generating equipment used. But conversion efficiency of delivered to useful energy is very high for electric heating, and can normally be taken as 100 per cent irrespective of the type or make of appliance used.
In contrast, for gas and oil there is a far smaller difference between primary and delivered energy, but the conversion efficiency of delivered to useful energy is lower - typically around 86 per cent for new gas and oil boilers.
Heat pump systems use electricity more effectively to extract heat from natural resources (ground, water or air), and so have a conversion factor for delivered to useful energy in excess of 100 per cent.
Source: EST Domestic heating by electricity (2006 edition)
Central Heating System SpecificationsEnergy Efficiency Best Practice in Housing
EST (February 2005) Central Heating Systems Specification (Chess) (CE51/GIL59)
An easy to use basic and best practice guidance for purchasers and installers of wet central heating systems. "Before and after" tables show the results of Basic and Best Practice including SAP ratings, carbon indices and energy and cost savings.
- Purchasers should use the CHeSS specifications to ensure their heating installations will conform to current basic or Best Practice.
- nstallers should use them to quote for systems of defined quality, comparable with their competitors.
- Following the specifications will improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon missions, and quantified savings are included for reference.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/download.cfm?p=1&pid=544
Communities and Local Government (March 2007) A guide for business - reducing the energy usage and carbon emissions from your heating and hot water systems
The last 2 pages cover interest free Energy Efficiency Loans
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/businessguide
www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans
EST (November 2005) Benefits of Best Practice Heating and Insulation (CE11)
Find out why you should go beyond the basic minimum requirements of the Building Regulations for heating and insulation with this revised factsheet.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/download.cfm?p=1&pid=212
EST (May 2006) Domestic Condensing Boilers - The Benefits and the Myths (CE52/GIL74)
The objective of this revised guide is to provide concise information on the benefits associated with condensing boilers, and to help dispel the popular myths surrounding them. This should help those (particularly within local authorities and housing associations) who have to respond to critics and others as yet unconvinced by condensing technology.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/download.cfm?p=1&pid=227
EST (December 2006) Domestic heating by electricity (CE185/GPG345)
This guide describes the options for heating homes by electricity, compares them with alternatives, and advises on specifying electric heating and hot water systems to best practice standards.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/download.cfm?p=1&pid=281
EST (February 2005) Domestic heating by gas: boiler systems (CE30)
This guide is designed to help installers, specifiers and purchasers of domestic central heating systems using gas to select the most appropriate system for their needs.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/download.cfm?p=1&pid=223
Domestic heating by solid fuel: boiler systems http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce47.pdf
[1] Domestic heating by gas: boiler systems (CE30)
[2] Domestic heating by oil: boiler systems (CE29)
[3] Domestic heating by solid fuel: boiler systems (CE47)
