Energy Efficient Commercial Heating Systems

Commercial heating systems are needed in a wide range of industries and an even wider range of building sizes, structures, ages and uses. In the colder months the primary challenge is to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, without increasing the energy consumption.

Seasonal increased energy consumption leads to higher energy bills and in turn, higher carbon emissions. Government legislation on the reduction of carbon emissions puts further pressure on businesses and building owners to find robust solutions to support energy reduction.

At Inergy Group, this month’s blog offers a guide to energy efficient commercial heating systems. For more information, call us on 01204 929999.

Considerations for Energy Efficient Commercial Heating Systems

A thorough approach to analysing your commercial heating system needs is recommended. At Inergy Group, here are our top 3 considerations for energy efficient commercial heating systems:

1. Building size or space to be heated? This is important as specific calculations are completed to establish the area and volume of the space and therefore the technical specification of any new system.
2. What is the routine everyday use? Do people or vehicles enter the space? How long are they remaining in the space, do the move around or are they focussed on one area? This workflow is important because spot heating may be used to heat dedicated work areas without the need to heat the entire facility.
3. What space is available for the heating system? Some commercial heating system products have flexible installation options with choices for wall-mounted or floor-mounted heaters – this can maximise the available space for the heating system and prevent useful space from being taken up with additional equipment.

What systems are available and how do they work?

Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV)

One excellent solution to consider for your energy efficient commercial heating system is that of a Heat Recovery Ventilation System or HRV.

Conventional ventilation systems remove warm, stale air and replace it with fresh air from outside. This can become a problem in the UK and especially in the winter months, as the air temperature is often significantly cooler than the desired indoor target temperature. The system then has to work harder to increase the indoor temperature to compensate. This results in greater energy use and therefore higher costs.

HRV systems, on the other hand, work differently to these conventional systems and actually improve indoor air quality while minimising heat loss from the building.

A HRV extracts warm air from inside a building and then transfers it’s heat to the incoming fresh air which is then distributed through the space. This process still allows the fresh air to enter the building, without losing the established warmth. This maintains the indoor target temperature and ensures that the building remains heated efficiently. In addition, a HRV system filters the air, removing particles, pollutants, moisture, and other allergens. This additional filtration is especially beneficial in the winter months, when windows are closed and natural ventilation is reduced.

Air-Source Heat Pump Powered Air Conditioning and Boiler Replacement

Conventional air conditioning systems extract the hot, humid air from within a room and then return cooled air back into the space to achieve the desired temperature set via smart controls.

Air conditioning units have often been considered the gold standard for cooling commercial buildings, but it is often forgotten that they can also deliver an effective heating solution. Furthermore, their performance has now been accelerated when combined with the installation of a heat pump to power the units.

For air conditioning systems, in addition to the initial capital outlay (cost) of the product and installation, as a buyer, it is desirable to understand the energy efficiency of the new system. With this in mind the Industry Standard reference is the Coefficient of Performance (COP).

The Coefficient of Performance or COP is a measurement of the energy efficiency of your air conditioning unit heating performance. The COP indicates the ratio of heating provided by your air conditioning unit, relative to the amount of electrical input required to generate it.

E.g. If your air conditioning unit generates 5kW of heat from 1kW of electricity, it’s COP would be 5. If your air conditioning unit generates 2.6kW of heat from 1kW of electricity, it’s COP would be 2.6 and so on.

Hotels, hospitals and leisure centres can benefit from the new generation of heat pumps which in addition to low temperatures, can now deliver water temperatures of up to 90 degrees Celsius. With these rounded benefits and greater carbon reductions, new-generation heat pumps are now regularly considered as a potential solution for projects of all sizes.

Top 5 Benefits of Energy Efficient Commercial Heating Systems

1. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality: Investing in solutions such as a Heat Recovery Ventilation system, delivers fresh air to the workplace minimizing pollutants, allergens, and moisture. Air quality benefits can be felt throughout the year.
2. Reduced Energy Bills: Efficiently operating commercial heating systems have a balanced energy use resulting in predictable energy expenditure.
3. Improved Building Health: Reducing moisture in the air has a significant effect on the generation of mould and damp which otherwise can lead to reduced structural integrity and damage to building.
4. Dual-Renewables: The possibility of integrating new energy efficient commercial heating systems with other sustainable solutions further enhances the overall benefits and the return on investment. Examples may include: Solar panels for electricity generation and heat pumps to replace older conventional boilers.
5. Increased Property Value: Energy-efficient commercial properties are attractive to future buyers, future-proofing return on investment and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

Contact Inergy Group

At Inergy Group, we provide energy efficient commercial heating systems for a wide range of businesses. For further information, you can call us on 01204 929999.