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Retrofitted heating solutions can also mean lifecycle cost savings HVAC systems within a building are among the costliest over their lifespan, consuming as much as 50% of the total energy use, as well as vast amounts of water. However, for facilities owners and managers seeking to reduce the carbon and water footprint of their buildings, steps can be taken to create sustainable water and heating solutions to meet the changing needs of buildings, and offer reduced lifecycle costs through energy-saving measures, says Karl Wolf, Vertical Market Manager – Building Solutions.
There is a clear opportunity to
optimise existing buildings and offer reduced energy, CO2 and water footprints with innovative bolt-on solutions that meet the shifting, and sometimes unpredictable, demands within a building as needs change. Whether designing new buildings with shifting usage in mind or refurbishing older apartment blocks or municipal buildings to meet new needs, selecting the right energy-efficient products can prove a worthwhile investment and save on lifecycle costs. A critical plank in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, and that of the EU Renovation Wave Initiative, is retrofitting the legacy
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of older buildings and harnessing their potential for energy and carbon reduction. The following case study of a retrofit project in Portugal – where a key city hospital complex in Lisbon was given an environmental overhaul by Xylem Water Solutions – clearly demonstrates what can be achieved. In this instance, the expansion of three hospital units was needed to cater for the growing population and maintain the excellent levels of service. Hospitals were never far from the headlines in the past 15 months, and the need to create the optimal environment for both workers and users is paramount, making this a classic case study. With unprecedented fluctuations in demand, modern HVAC systems must provide the greatest amount of uptime with the lowest energy consumption. Flexible HVAC systems can adjust to changing conditions throughout the day: differing numbers of people or changing environmental conditions can be managed through innovation and smart solutions, while heat meters enable a better understanding of conditions within the building. The refurbishment and expansion of the Lisbon hospital complex offered the opportunity for energy and cost savings, and included the installation of new solar thermal energy technology to
ensure a low environmental footprint. To boost the HVAC capacity, Xylem worked with a local partner to install Ecocirc circulators, e-LNE inline pumps, as well as pressure expansion vessels to serve the hospital’s hot water circuit and work within the solar thermal circuit. New Lowara Ecocirc high-efficiency pumps can save up to 90% on electricity costs compared to old standard heating circulators. Both systems are operated autonomously, guaranteeing the lowest energy consumption of hot water applications in all areas. Refurbishing building systems can bring huge energy cost savings in the long-term, as well as prolonging their lifespan and saving the planet’s finite resources. An audit inspection of the pumps, booster sets and systems installed in a building services application can gauge whether they are running efficiently, then determine which products could be retrofitted with energy-saving measures or replaced with energy-efficient alternatives. The range of solutions includes high-efficiency circulators for residential and commercial heating, cooling and hot water applications. In conclusion, Karl Wolf says: “Upgrading pumps to run at their peak efficiency for heating or cooling a building ultimately saves on operating cost, while also meeting the everchanging demand of the HVAC system and prolonging its lifecycle.” For more information on smart, retrofit heating and cooling solutions see www.xylem.com/en-uk Q
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