Commercial Boiler Upgrades

In the UK, buildings are the second largest emitting sector, after domestic transport, and in 2019 the heating of homes and workspaces accounted for almost a fifth of the UK’s total carbon emissions*.

A significant proportion of the heating demand is via gas powered boilers, with many boilers now being outdated and running at a much lower efficiency compared to a modern-day equivalent. Upgrading an old existing commercial boiler with a new more efficient version is a very easy way for a business to find immediate carbon and energy cost savings.

Boiler Technologies

Nearly everyone, at some point in their life, will have been within a building that uses a traditional gas boiler to provide heating and hot water. Older boiler models tend to operate as low as 60-70% efficiency, whereas modern equivalents will be in excess of 90% making them much more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The improvements in efficiency are largely attributed to three main advancements.

Improved Heat Exchangers

Modern heat exchangers are able to extract more heat from the gas that they burn.

Condensing Technology

New boilers condense the water vapour, which would have been previously wasted, to recover the latent heat.

Better Temperature Control

Smarter and programable controls allow for a more precise temperature management to reduce waste.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Boiler

The most obvious benefit of operating at an improved efficiency is a reduction in bills and a reduced carbon footprint. However, operational and qualitative benefits can also be considered.

Reduced Heating Bill

Utilising a more efficient boiler will have a direct positive impact on your operational expenditure, with immediate bill savings.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

A more efficient model means using less gas which, in turn, leads to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Reduced Operational Strain

A modern boiler is less likely to have a fault or breakdown meaning stress and operational down time is reduced.

Consistent Heating

With more advanced and sensitive temperature controls, efficient boilers provide more consistent heating.

Quieter Operation

Newer boilers have a higher quality build meaning that they often operate a lot more quietly than older boilers.

Free Up Space

New boilers are often a lot smaller than the older models helping to create more space in plant rooms.

Who Should Consider Boiler Upgrades

The easiest answer is everyone! Any commercial property with a boiler which is nearing its end of life or has shown fault should consider a boiler upgrade. Boilers typically have a lifespan of 15-20 years; however, many commercial premises still have boilers which were installed at the start of the century, or even earlier. In particular, sectors which should consider boiler upgrades are properties that rely heavily on heating and hot water.

For example, the hospitality industry such as hotels, restaurants, and care homes, will likely not have only have a high reliance on boilers for their day-to-day operation, but they will also have a high heating demand, and could therefore benefit greatly from upgrading old boilers to modern and more efficient equivalents.

Alternatives to Boiler Upgrades

Whilst upgrading old boilers can provide significant cost savings and a reduction in carbon emissions, there are now other alternatives which could provide even greater benefits.

For example, electrifying a heating demand by swapping out gas boilers for an electric equivalent or a heat pump and installing on-site renewable generation such as roof mounted solar panels to help power the increased electrical demand, is an excellent and effective way to transition to a much more sustainable and lower cost heating method.

Please contact us to find out how Ennovus Solutions can help you review and upgrade your boiler network.

References

* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6194dfa4d3bf7f0555071b1b/net-zero-strategy-beis.pdf

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