GOVERNMENT SET TO BAN FOSSIL FUEL HEATING IN NEW HOMES FROM 2025

Last year it was announced that the Government had introduced a new consultation which sets out its plans for the Future Homes Standard. This includes proposed options to increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes from this year.

The aim of this standard is to bring all of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, a target that is one of the most ambitious in the world. Homes, both new and existing account for 20% of emissions, and despite progress reducing those emissions much more needs to be done.

With climate change a growing issue and the release of the CCC (Climate Change Committee) report last year, heating experts Tansun are raising awareness about the requirements of the standard and discussing how the company’s infrared heating products can help homes comply. 

As part of the journey to 2050, the UK Government has committed to introducing the Future Homes Standard in 2025, and expects that an average home built using the guidelines will have 75-80% less carbon emissions than one built to current energy efficiency requirements.

It is anticipated this will be achieved through very high fabric standards and a low carbon heating system. Proposals indicate the need to ban fossil fuel heating systems, such as gas boilers, from new homes by 2025 and the necessity to replace them with low carbon heating systems. This means a new home built to the Future Homes Standard might also have triple glazing and standards for walls, floors and roofs that significantly limit any heat loss.

Chapter 2 of the Future Homes Standard refers to the roll out of low carbon heating systems to provide world leading levels of energy efficiency. An excellent example of a sustainable heating system is infrared heating panels.

Using the infrared panels, Tansun is able to help building and construction firms to meet the guidelines highlighted in the standard. The highly energy efficient infrared technology in the panels will help companies to comply with the legislation and ensure that the UK meets its climate change targets.

An expert in the field, Tansun is the UK’s leading infrared heater manufacturer. With over 35 years of experience in the heating industry, the company’s vast ranges of infrared heaters are manufactured to the highest quality and provide optimum heat performance all year round.

Tansun’s infrared panel heaters are highly efficient because they only heat targeted areas instead of a whole room. Infrared heaters also produce immediate heat, therefore consuming less energy than standard heaters that require warm up time, and are manufactured to offer optimum heat performance all year round.

Tansun invests a lot of time in research and development and believes that technology can only be developed if there is a true understanding of the concept and the purpose. In order to adapt with ever changing regulations that affect heating products, Tansun has made compliancy its priority.

The country needs to help the industry reach a position where it can deliver in 2025. The proposal of introducing a meaningful but achievable uplift to energy efficiency standards by 2020 is to work as a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard will help to make new homes more energy efficient and future-proof them in readiness for low carbon heating systems.

Tansun’s panel heaters can be installed and programmed to provide heat exactly where it’s needed with minimum waste and can be controlled with more precision than almost any other heating system on the market. Infrared heat warms everything in its path without losing heat to other spaces, and combined with the Tansun range of energy saving controllers which include time lag switches/motion detectors and dimmer devices provides the perfect heating solution. With Tansun zoning and control, energy efficiency is optimised, heating bills are reduced and owners can boast a truly eco-friendly heating system.

The timer is also perfect for programmability, a function that automatically de-activates the product at intervals throughout the day. This is known as a run-back timer.

Tansun has also designed an app for controlling its heaters. This allows for remote interaction outside the building where the product is installed so that users can control the heating coming on.

Free to use, the launch of the app brings Tansun into the era of IoT enabled infrared heating systems. Its features include being able to turn heaters on and off, control the power level at 50%, 75% or 100% and power control of individual heating elements. Users can switch between up to six connected heating systems using a single remote, making it hassle-free to operate multiple heaters from more than one device.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and are designed using premium components. The company has been established for 35 years and pioneered the concept of infrared electric heaters alongside Philips technology. Tansun has the largest range of domestic, commercial and industrial infrared heaters in the world, providing maintenance-free, safe and healthy shortwave heaters for many different types of heating applications.

Further information is available from Tansun on 0121 580 6200, by emailing sales@tansun.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.tansun.com

EVAPORATIVE COOLING HAS CLEANED UP ITS ACT, BUT IS IT UNDER-PERFORMING?

Mark DONOGHUE, DIRECTOR AT DHD COOLING, EXPLAINS WHY CHECKING MECHANICAL SYSTEMS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS COMPLYING WITH WATER SAFETY IN COOLING TOWERS

As cases of Legionnaires’ disease continue to be reported throughout the world we must acknowledge the due diligence that UK owners, operators, water treatment companies and the HSE have applied in ensuring that evaporative cooling systems meet some of the most stringent industry standards in order to avoid these outbreaks. This is a single minded and worthwhile pursuit, but key industry figures are questioning if this is what’s best for overall plant performance and the environment.

Achieving regulatory compliance of operating cooling towers means that organisations have appointed the right people to correctly treat their systems to prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. By utilising the skills of a water treatment company, your business is fulfilling its responsibilities to implement processes in order to prevent putting employees or the public at risk.

However, cooling towers have a primary function which also depends on the mechanical condition of the equipment, and the many nuances of the individual components selected to produce the cold water that your processes demand to make them work. One fan is not necessarily the same as another, one type of heat

exchange media is not the same as another, and one distribution system is not the same as another. The bottom line is: one model does not fit all.

Cooling towers are not too complicated; they promote the efficient transfer of heat mostly through evaporation into a stream of air in order to remove that heat from a process to keep it operating within

acceptable temperature limits. While these temperature limits vary from one process to another, a lot of processes can benefit from being cooler, which can lead to increased output and increased profit.

Whilst it is essential that the internal components are the right ones for your cooling systems, industry experts are urging plant owners to consider options that can increase airflow, improve water distribution, increase safety and contribute to increased heat transfer performance.

Plant Owners are reporting that they are benefiting from improved efficiency and performance by applying different operating philosophies and exploring alternative methods of control in addition to looking at performance enhancements through equipment upgrades.

Maximising performance is all about getting the most out of each and every component in a system. Cooling systems play a pivotal role in overall system performance, so simply valeting a system on an ad hoc basis isn’t sufficient to improve or even maintain its performance. Just like a car, the bonnet needs to be opened to see what’s going on inside, and to consider each and every part as critical in achieving the best overall results.

In addition to improved performance, businesses may be surprised to see how much revenue can be saved with a small investment in their cooling towers. Their cooling towers could be preventing them from realising the full potential of their plant.

TANSUN INFRARED PANELS ARE THE PERFECT HEATING SOLUTION FOR HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTS

Energy consumption in hospitals is on the rise, and electricity already accounts for more than 50% of their energy costs. With the increased use of specialist equipment, consumption is set to increase even more, which is a major problem for climate change.

The NHS produces 5.4% of the UK’s greenhouse gases, and spends around £400 million a year on energy. A significant proportion of this is inevitably being wasted, resulting in huge financial losses.

Many already recognise the importance of an effective heating system in healthcare facilities, as it is vital to keep both patients and staff comfortable. An efficient heating system will prevent energy wastage and keep costs down, and by setting suitable temperatures and ensuring that heating equipment and controls are managed correctly it is possible to save up to 30% on heating costs.

An efficient and hygienic heating system can significantly improve hospital environments, and infrared heating panels are the ideal solution as they provide a uniform, draught free space and create a comfortable indoor temperature, say experts in the field Tansun. Infrared heating panels also provide a hygienic solution as they eliminate the movement of air and reduce the spread of bacteria.

As sterile environments, there are lots of rules and regulations about what technology (especially HVAC equipment) can be installed on hospital premises. Many hospitals have long corridors and large open space waiting rooms and find that traditional heating methods aren’t suitable.

Infrared panel heaters are 100% safe and have been used in German and Austrian hospitals and care homes for many years. Infrared also offers many other health benefits as when the body absorbs infrared heat it increases blood circulation, enhances the immune system and reduces joint pain and inflammation, the same effects as being in a sauna. It can also help people with health conditions like asthma or bronchial ailments that around 12% of UK population suffer with.

Wards housing patients with burns find infrared heating is the only method of heating they can use as there is no movement of air or dispersion of dust particles. Infrared heating is so safe in fact that far infrared, the gentlest form of infrared, is also often used in incubators for babies to keep them warm.

According to research by the Carbon Trust, the simplest way to save the NHS money is to help it to use its energy more efficiently. The first area highlighted in the report is heating, which it believes is a huge area for wastage and high costs that can be easily rectified. Some of the major concerns are:

• Heating being on in unoccupied areas. The Tansun Digital Thermostat helps to control infrared heating panels to maximise their potential and save energy and money. Temperature levels can be adjusted based on heating requirements to heat each individual room separately and can spot heat difficult areas or specific zones.
• Thermostats set to maximum to ‘make the space heat up faster’. This simply results in overheated space. There are a number of reasons why infrared heating panels are ideal for hospital heating, one benefit it that the warmth is felt very quickly. Those switching the heating on won’t have to wait 15 minutes for a cold area to heat up and won’t be using 15 minutes of power to heat air that will inevitably be lost in a draught. Infrared heaters are simply turned on when the heat is needed and a comfortable temperature warms up the people and objects in a room, avoiding the need to alter thermostats.
• Hospitals have areas with different time and temperature requirements. This can be problematic when there is only one heating control system in place. Dividing areas into zones with separate controls for heating is easily achieved with infrared heating panels, as directed focused infrared heat warms everything in its range without losing heat to other spaces, and combined with the Tansun time lag switches or motion detectors provides the perfect heating solution. With Tansun zoning and control it is easy to optimise energy efficiency, slim down heating bills and boast a truly eco-friendly heating system.

Tansun radiant panels are designed with a number of benefits which include providing healthy, comfortable and gentle heat, ensuring safety and reliability, and are silent making them perfect for noise-sensitive environments. Developed to be highly energy efficient, the panels are cost effective and can save approximately 30-70% in heating costs and come with a five-year warranty.

Three panel heaters have been developed by Tansun in different sizes to cater for numerous areas. The Iridium Series 600 (300W), 900 (610W) and 1200 (785W), are lightweight and extra slim radiant heating panels and combine advanced heating technology and have a neutral design of white or black finish to blend in with any decor.

Tansun can create the panels in most RAL colour options to suit all environments. This simple feature can be important for the specification sector to help blend in with particular environments and colour schemes.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and are designed using premium components. The company has been established for 35 years and pioneered the concept of radiant electric heaters alongside Philips technology. Tansun has the largest range of commercial, industrial and domestic radiant heaters in the world, providing maintenance-free, safe and healthy radiant heaters for many different types of heating applications.

Further information is available from Tansun on 0121 580 6200, by emailing sales@tansun.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.tansun.com .