Case Study: Boyle GAA Club, Abbey Park, Co. Roscommon
Calor Gas and Rinnai make a winning team “ The new, reliable hot water system allows us to concentrate our efforts on the playing field” • Purpose built 450m2 GAA Clubhouse • Integrated water heating system provides power for both showers and kitchen
• Instant, unlimited hot water on demand • Reduced energy costs as no wastage of hot water
Boyle GAA Club has been a successful sporting club for over 40 years, with a dedicated local following. The club is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains, in the shadow of Boyle Abbey and alongside the Boyle River. a purpose designed system for the new clubhouse. Aidan, together with Treasurer Michael Gilmartin, set up a project team including architect Chris O’Dowd and the builder, Jimmy Dwyer, to examine the options for the supply of a reliable hot water system that was both efficient and cost effective.
The new purpose built Clubhouse at Abbey Park, Boyle – officially opened 1st May, 2010.
BUSINESS
Boyle GAA Club
NAME
Aidan Lavin
POSITION Club Chairman In 2009, the club’s Board decided that a new clubhouse with more modern facilities was needed to meet the demands of the club which is used year round. The old clubhouse, built in the 1970’s, was struggling to meet the requirements of the players – particularly with regard to hot water for the showers.
The existing electric powered system used immersion heaters to bring water up to temperature in hot water cylinder tanks. This provided only limited hot water, which regularly ran out. The project team was briefed to consider all available options; including oil, solar power, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). On contacting local Calor agents, Liam and Mary Clifford, the team were soon speaking with Aidan Ryan, Calor’s local Sale Representative – and identified that Calor could best meet their needs. Aidan Ryan recommended a visit to St Farnham’s GAA Club in Sligo – which confirmed the benefits of a gas powered system. ‘We’re seeing increasing interest in Calor as the flexibility and reliability are self- evident. The team from Boyle could see with their own eyes what could be delivered, and that such systems were well established
Club Chairman Aidan Lavin explains; ‘The original system was no longer up to the job. It had a water storage system that took at least three hours to heat up. If there were two consecutive matches, the hot water would run out, and the second teams would have cold showers. There is no night that the club is not in use, therefore the water demand for the club is very high, and with the old electricity installation, the demand for hot water could not be met.’ The Board recognised that with the old system no longer fit for purpose, there was a real opportunity to install
Aidan Lavin, Club Chairman of Boyle GAA Club who was instrumental in the fitting of the new hot water system.
The Calor solution provides a constant hot water supply for the home team, as well as the opposition. and good value,’ says Aidan Ryan. ‘We recommended an integrated system using Rinnai hot water heaters, and the project team brought our proposal to the Club’s Board.’
A 310 gallon bulk tank provides all of the power for the showers and kitchen in the Clubhouse.
Calor Gas powered Rinnai Water Heaters – the ideal hot water solution Michael Gilmartin explained: ‘With the old system, someone needed to be at the clubhouse three hours in advance to turn on the hot water. You could also drive past at night, and the six immersions could be left on, and showers could be left running.’ The board realised that installing a Calor hot water system would avoid this wastage, save money and also provide instant hot water on demand, meeting the requirements of the club. Having assessed all options, the Board gave the go-ahead to the team’s recommendations and the new clubhouse, complete with integrated hot water system, was officially opened in May 2010. ‘We even won round the installer, who has over 60 years’ experience in fitting oil fired systems!’ says Aidan.
By contrast, Calor-powered Rinnai water heaters provide a continuous flow on demand, meaning that you never run out of hot water. An added benefit is that showers can be run directly from the water heating units, eliminating the need for thermostats, saving both energy and money. The new Calor powered system provides plentiful and reliable hot water throughout the clubhouse, from the changing rooms to the kitchens. Four Rinnai water heaters ensure that piping hot water – capped at 40˚C to prevent scalding – is available in less than 90 seconds for the first shower, and 15 seconds thereafter, with unlimited hot water available at any time. The showers are eco-friendly and cost efficient, with 20-second supply push buttons minimising water wastage. Located discreetly in the plant room, two of the heaters power eight showers in the home team’s changing area and one shower in the referees’ changing room, with the other two powering the eight showers in the opposition team’s changing area. There is also no requirement for anyone to turn the system on or off, as the system is ready for use at any time of the day or night.
Instant hot water on demand Traditional electric storage systems are typically unable to meet modern hot water demand due to their design. Heating recovery times are often greater than the period of use – as seen by Boyle GAA Club.
The Clubhouse dressing rooms have 8 showers in each and one in the referees’ changing room. All are eco friendly with 20 second supply push buttons.
Efficiency and cost savings The same heaters provide all of the hot water for the changing rooms’ sinks, and the kitchen area. Installation of the pumped system also proved straightforward, with surface mounted piping eliminating the need for channelling – further saving on cost. The system is also robust – along with an integrated water softening system, Dimplex heaters in the plant room are set to prevent freezing, and further showers can easily be added should the need arise, given the capacity available. The club has already seen substantial savings in energy costs, with a saving of €422 between electricity costs in July 2009 and Calor costs in July 2010. The system is reliably fuelled by a 310 gallon Calor bulk tank, installed behind the clubhouse. Club Chairman Aidan Lavin says that the project has been a resounding success. ‘The new clubhouse and its facilities are first class. It’s clear that when you work with Calor, you aren’t just buying gas, but expertise and peace of mind,’ he says. ‘We wanted a system that was instant, fool-proof and required no storage. Calor delivered a new, reliable hot water system that allows us to concentrate our efforts on the playing field – where they belong!’
Comparative Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels
THE BENEFITS AT A GLANCE • Infinite hot water on demand • Standby hot water storage losses eliminated, as water is only heated when it is required • Easy to control water temperature, no worry of scalding • No manual requirement for switching system on/off • Calor purity means direct fired systems are almost 100% efficient • Gas appliances require less maintenance as Calor is cleaner burning • Lower carbon hot water solution • Harmless and odourless combustion products • Gas tanks do not require the construction of containment bunds for potential spills – unlike oil • Cost savings due to no wastage of energy
Fuel LPG Electricity Oil Coal Peat Briquettes
gCO2 /kWh (NCV) 229.3 542.8 257.0 340.6 355.9
Source: SEI Energy in Ireland Report 2009
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