Product category:
Heating Systems, Controls and Management
News Release from: Invensys Climate Controls - Drayton | Subject: Energy Performance Certificates
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 October 2006
Making life more efficient with Drayton
controls
Drayton Controls, looks at what new Energy Performance Certificates will mean for homeowners and the educational role that installers have to play.
The new Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for homes will provide an ideal opportunity for homeowners and installers to address the issue of energy performance within the home through the careful selection of heating controls Here Llinos Jonathan, at Drayton Controls, looks at what the certificates will mean for homeowners and the educational role that installers have to play
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 27 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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From June 2007, every property built, bought or rented will require by law an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Introduced by the Government, the certificates are intended to raise consumer awareness of sustainability and energy issues within the home.
The EPC will detail average costs for heating, hot water and lighting and will quantify how energy efficient the house is, whilst also making suggestions on how to reduce energy costs.
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Homes will be rated from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the most in-efficient.
The rating will be achieved through home analysis carried out by a qualified home inspector and will detail firstly the SAP (Standard assessment procedure) rating for the energy efficiency of products within the home and secondly how much carbon is emitted.
With domestic heating accounting for 27% of the total carbon emissions produced by the UK, this is clearly an important statistic to understand if the Government is to achieve its targets of reducing the UK's carbon emissions by 2010.
The introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate is therefore a very positive step forward and means that for the first time people will be given the kind of user-friendly information they need to reduce both the environmental impact of their home and their energy bills.
In the lead up to the introduction of Part L of the Building Regulations and the move to high-efficiency boilers, installers had a very important role to play in educating homeowners and promoting the energy efficiency message, the lead up to the introduction of EPCs will be no different.
Many homeowners will be unaware of the impending new regulations and installers will need to fully understand the requirements of the new certificates in order to be able to help their customers choose their heating systems wisely, maximising any potential energy savings and significantly increasing the energy rating of their home.
In the past many homeowners have been reluctant to improve energy efficiency within the home as they believe it to be costly and disruptive.
However, with recent rises in energy costs adding around 30% to an annual fuel bill and the impending EPC's, homeowners will need to address energy efficiency within their own home sooner rather than later and this is where installers have an important role to play.
One of the easiest ways for homeowners to increase the energy efficiency of their home is to either install or upgrade heating controls.
By installing timer/programmers, room thermostats and Thermostatic Radiator valves (TRVs) the average homeowner can save approximately 25% off their heating bills.
For those homes with systems already in place, further savings may still be achieved if existing heating controls are upgraded to newer, more advanced controls.
Installing TRVs, such as Drayton Controls TRV 4s, on all radiators throughout the home, enables homeowners to alter the temperature within each room depending on its purpose and required temperature independent from the rest of the house.
This is a major energy saving benefit for the home; ensuring heat is only distributed in rooms that require it.
Other potential products to increase energy efficiency within the home include the use of programmers and thermostats, providing an excellent level of heating control and comfort for homeowners.
Drayton Controls' new Digistat + 2 and +3 programmers represent a breakthrough in programmable thermostat technology.
Both products offer intuitive easy programming and a new stylish, contemporary design to complement any home's decor.
The digital display, which is easy to read, provides a constant record of actual room temperature and programme status and familiar controls ensure that both models remain easy to use.
The Digistat +2 and +3 enable homeowners to set different temperatures for different periods during the day or week according to their requirements and changing lifestyles.
Homeowners can choose between three pre-defined programmes to best suit their needs.
Alternatively they can create their own individual heating programme quickly and easily or simply modify one of the existing programmes.
An override function for all programmes ensures that homeowners have complete flexibility and total control over their comfort.
June 2007 may still seem a long way off but installers should be taking the time now to educate their customers about the implications of the impending Energy Performance Certificates and the range of products available that will help them achieve a higher energy rating when the certificates do come into force.
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