T Mechanical Heating/Cooling/Refrigeration Systems

T1 HEAT SOURCE
T10 Gas/Oil Fired Boilers
T11 Coal Fired Boilers
T13 Packaged Steam Generators
T14 Heat Pumps
T15 Solar Collectors
T16 Alternative Fuel Boilers
T2 PRIMARY HEAT DISTRIBUTION
T20 Primary Heat Distribution
T3 HEAT DISTRIBUTION/UTILISATION - WATER
T31 Low Temperature Hot Water Heating
T32 Low Temperature Hot Water Heating (Small Scale)
T35 In Wall Piped Heating System
T5 HEAT RECOVERY
T50 Heat Recovery
T6 CENTRAL REFRIGERATION/DISTRIBUTION
T60 Central Refrigeration Plant
T7 LOCAL COOLING/REFRIGERATION
T70 Local Cooling Units
T71 Cold Rooms
T72 Ice Pads
T73 Snow Making

T1 Heat Source

CONSIDER:
• Use Energy Efficiency Rating A appliances
• Use Condensing Boilers
• Gas and LPG boilers SEBDUK rating A
• Other Energy Efficiency Equipment: Heating Controls
- Thermostatic radiator valves
- Room thermostats
- Time Switches
- Programmers
• Install in accordance with Government Good Practice Guide 302 - Controls for domestic central heating and hot water

T10 Gas/Oil Fired Boilers

CONSIDER:
• There are many very high efficiency boilers available which continue to operate at high efficiency at low demand which are developed specifically for use with underfloor heating.
• Most of the boilers suited to underfloor heating come from European manufacturers, very few British boilers are calibrated for underfloor heating and few run efficiently.
• Using numerous small boilers instead of one large one, means each can operate at maximum efficiency for more of the time and one or more be switched off when demand is lower.
• Modulating boilers act in a similar way.
• Plant does not need to be duplicated for emergency purposes.
• If plant offers 5/4 ths of peak requirements, any one out of 5 boilers can be out of use at any one time offering opportunities for maintenance.

AVOID:
• Conventional Boiler with underfloor heating, they will run inefficiently for a significant part of their time.
• Underfloor hot water heating with an appropriate Modulating, Gas Condensing or CHP boilers.

T11 Coal Fired Boilers

AVOID:
• Non-renewable fossil fuel.
• Coal fired boilers as they have been a source of smoke pollution which combined with fog creates Smog which is a greater risk.
• Transport miles and inefficient multiple handing from coal mines to bunkers in homes.

T13 Packaged Steam Generators

AVOID:
• AVOID:
Cooling towers which can through away 75% of the heat generateds.

T14 Heat Pumps

CONSIDER:
• These can be very efficient converting electricity into heat or cool from insitu resources, e.g. river, pond, underground water.
• Can convert and improve efficiency well in excess of 100%.
• Always insulate well first or the efficiency is squandered.

T15 Solar Collectors

CONSIDER:
• Solar thermal water heating
• Solar thermal heating
• Photovoltaic panels

SOLAR THERMAL HEATING/HOT WATER:
• The existence of mature trees around a site may make this impractical.
• Underfloor heating uses low temperature hot water and can be successfully linked to solar thermal panels on roofs to heat spaces, with the introduction of stored hot water this can be successful all year round, all the more likely with the building's low heating demand.

SOLAR GAIN HEATING:
• Depends on the building usage e.g. houses want heat in the evening and morning and some do not need it during the day, offices do not want it in the day and have difficulty getting rid of it.
• The design of a building floating above the site fails to make use of any potential to use the thermal mass of the soil below in winter to store heat from the sun and release it during the day.
- There is however an opportunity to use the mass of the structure via the floors to absorb heat during the hours before and after midday in winter and release it later.
• The use of appropriate glazing in all parts of the east and west elevations and all glazing at high level can ensure that heat gains either side of mid day in winter can be trapped in the building
• A predominance of trees on the east side of the building will make this less successful during the morning and more successful in the afternoon.
• Extensive use of hard/dense materials in walls and floors will capture and later release heat to the space thereby reducing the need for heating.

T16 Alternative Fuel Boilers

CONSIDER:
• Methane from landfill.
• Methane from animal droppings.

BIOMASS CHP:
• Does the Employer have an excess of timber from tree surgery, tree and plant maintenance to generate own heat and electricity from Biomass fermentation and CHP plant?
• Any excess heat or power can be supplied to other buildings in the estate.

COMPOST:
• Composting of some green waste generates low grade heat.
• Segregation of green waste at domestic premises and new rules for LA requires minimum 2 kerbside bins per household.

T20 Primary Heat Distribution

CONSIDER:
• Water resistant insulation in the ground.
• Insulation well in excess of Building Regulation standards.

AVOID:
• Inadequately insulated pipe runs in the ground, heating the soils and ground water.
• Inadequately insulated pipe runs in the building, in ducts and voids, heating the air, structure and building fabric where it is put to little use.
• Insulation affected by moisture.
• Excessive long runs of pipes if poorly insulated.

T31 Low Temperature Hot Water Heating

CONSIDER:
• In wall piped radiant heating system
• In ceiling wall piped radiant heating system
• In floor piped radiant heating system

AVOID:
• Insulated screed over heating pipes.
• Carpets over heated floor.

T32 Low Temperature Hot Water Heating (Small Scale)

CONSIDER:
UNDERFLOOR HEATING:
• The choice of underfloor heating relies predominantly on radiant heat to warm objects and people in the space rather than warming the air.
• Radiant heating does not generate heating gradients, so use of ceiling fans to blow warm air down is not appropriate with this approach to heating.
• Local heating of staff on the open floor area can be by both under floor heating and in-wall piped hot water radiant heating buried in the plaster finishes of counters or ticket boxes.
• Under floor heating under a timber floor has been used successfully at the new visitors building at the Centre for Alternative Technology.
• Some underfloor in-wall heating systems can also be used to cool in the summer.
• Underfloor (radiant) heating in tall spaces to avoid high temperatures at high level.
• Underfloor hot water heating with an appropriate Modulating, Gas Condensing or CHP boilers .

Thermal insulation:
- ZODP Zero Ozone Depletion Potential.
- Low-Zero Global Warming Potential.
- Manufactured without the use of, nor containing, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and HFAs as blowing agents.

• Solar thermal panels to provide heat or pre-heated water for underfloor heating.

AVOID:
• Thermally insulating screed with embedded floor heating pipes.
• Cover heated screeds with carpet and underlay, they will act as insulation and minimise the radiant heating effect.
• Conventional boiler with underfloor heating, they will run inefficiently for a significant part of their time.

T35 In Wall Piped Heating System

CONSIDER:
• In wall piped radiant heating system. It can be linked to solar thermal heat collectors.

T50 Heat Recovery

CONSIDER:
• All ventilation systems should have heat recovery from stale warm exhaust air to pre-warm incoming cool fresh air using recovered heat.

AVOID:
• Throwing away heat with stale smelly or moist air in ventilation/extraction systems.

T60 Central Refrigeration/Distribution

CONSIDER:
• Insulate to well in excess of Building Regulations levels to reduce energy demand and running costs.
• Optimum: 300-600 mm. insulation