Care home energy efficiency improvements

Description

An air source heat pump transfers heat from the air and uses it to heat the building.

Benefits

Changing the heating system to be a source heat pump system can reduce, or eliminate, the need for using other less efficient gas or electric heating systems, saving you money on your heating bills.

Changes required to building

An inspection will need to be carried out beforehand to determine the heating needs of the property. Air source heat pumps require appropriate space 

around the system to function properly. Additionally, air source heat pumps require larger than standard radiators to heat the property effectively, these will need to be installed. Before installing a heat pump, you should ensure the property is properly insulated and airtight.

Level of disruption

Installation takes around two days, however for care homes/larger properties this can be significantly more. The installation of new radiators will increase the time required.

Description

Solar water heating panels use the heat from the sun to heat your hot water.

Benefits

Installing these panels can reduce the amount you spend on heating hot water using gas boilers or electric immersion heaters.

Changes required to building

Site assessment will be required to determine best orientation. If the equipment is being placed on a roof, the roof should be inspected beforehand to ensure the roof is strong enough. A new water storage system may need to be installed.

Level of disruption

Installation takes around two days for a standard house sized roof. Will require longer for larger roofs and access will be needed to attic space.

 

Description

A ground source heat pump transfers heat from the ground and uses it to heat the building.

Benefits

Changing the heating system to a heat pump system can reduce, or eliminate, the need for using other less efficient gas or electric heating systems, saving you money on your heating bills.

Changes required to building

Ground source heat pumps work best on low heat systems such as underfloor heating. Radiators are unlikely to achieve the same heat with ground source heat pumps when compared to a boiler powered central heating system. For water heating you may need a separate electric immersion heater. Before installing a heat pump, you should ensure the property is properly insulated to avoid wasting money. Enough space is required outside to dig a hole for the system.

Level of disruption

Installation at a standard sized house would take around two days, however, for care homes/larger properties this could be significantly more. The installation of new underfloor heating system will increase the time required.

Description

Photovoltaic panels (more commonly known as PV panels) convert sunlight into electricity

Benefits

Installing PV panels reduces the amount of energy you need to buy from the grid and can save money on electricity bills.

Changes required to building

Site assessment will be required to determine best orientation. If the equipment is being placed on a roof, the roof should be inspected beforehand to ensure the roof is strong enough. Additional analysis is required to confirm access to a south facing roof without excessive shading.

Level of disruption

Installation takes one to two days for a standard house sized roof. Will require longer for larger roofs and access will be needed to attic space.

Description

The lights automatically turn on when movement is detected and go off after a set time when there is no movement.

Benefits

Installing these controls in appropriate areas can reduce energy use and save money on electricity. They can also reduce slips, trips and falls if staff and residents move around the building at night.

Changes required to building

Adding motion sensors to the corners of the rooms and wiring them up correctly should be the only change required.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption.

Description

These controls detect the levels of ambient daylight and adjust the electric lighting requirements accordingly.

Benefits

Used in appropriate areas, they can reduce energy use and save money on electricity by ensuring lights are not left on when they’re not needed.

Changes required to building

Adding daylight sensors to the correct part of the rooms and wiring them up correctly should be the only change required.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption.

Description

Installing more energy efficient light bulbs can reduce electricity usage and save money. They often require a relatively small outlay, resulting in a short payback period.

Benefits

LED lightbulbs are the most energy efficient bulbs on the market and can save you money on your energy bills.

Changes required to building

Swapping the bulbs.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption.

Description

Depending on your external wall construction type there are a variety of insulation types that can be installed either on the outside or inside of the walls.

Benefits

Adding insulation to internal or external walls can reduce the amount of heat lost and gained through them and save money on heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. For solid walls, internal insulation is generally cheaper than external. External wall insulation can also improve weatherproofing and sound 

resistance and reduce draughts.

Changes required to building

A layer of insulation is added to either the inside or outside of external walls.

Level of disruption

Internal: can be very disruptive, room will have to be empty and floor area will be slightly reduced. Can make it hard to fix heavy items to walls. Any penetrating or rising damp must be rectified before installation.

External: you may need planning permission for external insulation but can be carried out at the same time as other external work to reduce the disruption.

Description

Adding extra insulation in the loft floor or between roof rafters or switching to a more insulating material in the loft can reduce the amount of heat lost through the roof.

Benefits

Save money on heating bills as the heat is more effectively contained within the building.

Changes required to building

All items in loft or roof space being insulated must be removed. If your hot water tank is in the loft then this will need a tank jacket, and all pipes must be insulated before the insulation is laid. Make sure ventilation gaps are maintained.

Level of disruption

Disruption should be minimal during installation provided access is available. Laying enough insulation for a small to medium sized care home only take a day for a trained professional.

Description

There are a variety ground floor insulation types that can be installed depending on the floor’s construction type.

Benefits

Insulating the ground floor can reduce heat loss through it and save money on heating.

Changes required to building

Flooring will all need to be pulled up and re-laid. In a suspended timber floor, all joists should be checked to ensure they are dry using a moisture meter.

Level of disruption

Very disruptive. The rooms must be emptied and the whole floor will need to be taken up. This can take weeks in larger buildings.

Description

Replacing external glazing in windows, doors, and roof lights, with a newer double or triple glazed system can reduce heat loss and save you money on your heating bills.

Benefits

New double glazing is designed to keep the maximum amount of heat in the building, reducing external noise, drafts, and condensation as well as saving money on energy bills.

Changes required to building

In the majority of cases minimal preparation is required, just taking down blinds/curtains and clearing furniture away from the windows.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption, about one hour per window (although additional decorative works may be required after installation in some instances).

Description

Adding draught proofing measures around doors and windows reduces heat lost from the inside of the building.

Benefits

Installing draught proofing around doors, windows and other openings can reduce heat loss and save money on heating as well as increase resident comfort by reducing cold draughts.

Changes required to building

Adding draught excluders to doors and windows.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption.

Description

A simple time control that turns the heating on and off at a fixed time each day can ensure the heating is on only when needed.

Benefits

Installing timer-controlled heating can reduce the amount of heating waste and energy consumption and save money on your heating bills.

Changes required to building

Generally, very few (if any) changes to the heating system are required. However, if your current boiler is very inefficient it may be beneficial to change this also.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption unless a new boiler is required.

Description

An optimum start heating control switches the heating on so that the building reaches the desired temperature just in time for when the area is going to be occupied.

Benefits

These controls reduce wasted energy used to heat unoccupied areas. Installing these can reduce energy consumption and, save money on your heating bills.

Changes required to building

Generally, no changes are required to the heating system itself. However, if your current boiler is very inefficient it may be beneficial to change this also.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption unless a new boiler is required.

Description

A weather compensation heating control automatically alters the internal temperature by adjusting the heating level according to the outside temperature. The boiler will burn the exact amount of fuel needed to match the heat lost from the building.

Benefits

This ensures you don’t heat the building to higher temperature than necessary. Installing a weather compensation heating control can reduce energy consumption and save money on your heating bills.

Changes required to building

Many weather compensators operate the boiler circulating pump continuously, so consideration of the distance from boiler to rooms should be given. Some weather compensation controls still require a boiler programmer and room thermostat to be installed.

Level of disruption

Minimal disruption unless a new boiler is required.