This document is intended for energy advice professionals only, and not the consumer

Advisor Factsheet November 2008

Heating Controls

Key Points

Savings Potential
Typical savings for upgrading heating controls in a gasheated 3 bed semi are shown in the table below:

Recommended minimum controls package for wet central heating system includes room thermostat, cylinder thermostat (if customer has a hot water tank), timer/programmer and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). Room thermostats should be set to the minimum temperature necessary to provide a comfortable living temperature, between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Turning your room thermostat down by 1 degree could typically cut around 65 from heating bills and 330 kg of CO2 a year Timers/programmers should be used to ensure that the home is not being heated when it is unnecessary. TRVs should be turned down low or off in rooms that are not in use.

Further Information

The Domestic Heating Compliance Guide can be found at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_P TL_DOMHEAT.pdf The third tier guide on compliance from The Association of Controls Manufacturers (TACMA) can be found here: http://www.beamaenergy.org.uk/Site/downloads/TACMA Guide.pdf The Association of Controls Manufacturers (TACMA) website www.heatingcontrols.org.uk. Tel: 020 7793 3008.

Installing New Heating Controls (typical savings for 3 bed semi) Gas Oil Room Thermostat Starting from no controls / yr kgCO2/yr / yr 60 320 kg 8 95 400 kg 12

Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) Cylinder Thermostat Full Controls Package

Starting from just a room thermostat

Starting from no controls

kgCO2/yr / yr kgCO2/yr / yr

45 kg 22 110 kg 180

50 kg 30 125 kg 235

Replacing an average boiler with a new A-rated condensing boiler plus full controls package

No controls to room stat, cylinder stat, TRVs, a full programmer and boiler interlock No controls to room stat, cylinder stat, TRVs, a full programmer and boiler interlock. Boiler efficiency: 72% to 90% (gas) and 80% to 90% (oil)

kgCO2/yr / yr

910 kg 350

990 kg 350

kgCO2/yr
For price and energy saving assumptions, see accompanying note

1,800 kg

1,480 kg

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am replacing my boiler, is it okay for me to request that my installer leaves the controls as they were? Not unless the existing controls are compliant with the current building regulations. Installers should be fully aware of the requirements for potential controls upgrades to make their installation compliant with the regulations, and should explain these to you. Why is a "programmable room thermostat" better than an ordinary one? A programmable room thermostat combines a time switch and room thermostat. This allows the user to set different periods with different target temperatures for space heating, usually in a daily or weekly cycle. For example, you may find that you are comfortable at a lower temperature at certain times of the day or week. I live in an open plan flat do I need separate heating zones? Not necessarily. The regulations specifically exclude the requirement for sub-zoning in open plan dwellings where the living area is greater than 70% of the total floor area. I want my room thermostat installed in the kitchen but the installer says that this will affect its performance. Is this correct? Yes. Room thermostats work by monitoring the temperature of the air flowing across them and this must be representative of the rest of the room. It should be sited where it has a free flow of air around it and in a position that will be generally responsive to the operation of the heating system. It should never be sited in the following locations: Isnt it better for me to leave the heating on low while I am out the house rather than turn it off, so that the house takes less time to heat up when I return home? No! If you want your house to be readily heated up when you wake up in the morning, or come in from an outing, you should use the timer/programmer to switch the heating on a suitable time before hand. You can time how quickly your home heats up and cools down by switching the boiler on and measuring the time taken to reach a comfortable temperature. If this is, for example, 30 minutes, set the programmer to switch the heating on 30 minutes in advance of times when you know you will be waking up or arriving home. Leaving the heating on for any longer than this when you are out the house, even on a low setting, means that the boiler will be working continuously when the heating is not needed, and all the energy it produces will be wasted.

Background
A basic controls system will ensure that the boiler is only turned on when it needs to be, and allow the householder to choose:

When the heating is on and off. How warm their home will be.

In a room with another major heat source, e.g. a gas fire or cooker (ruling out kitchens), or in an unheated room. In direct sunlight. In a room fitted with radiator thermostats. In a draught (either warm or cold). Directly opposite a radiator or other heat source. Directly above a radiator or other heat source, including heat-emitting electrical appliances such as TV sets, videos, Hi-Fi, etc. In a corner of two walls. In a corner at the junction of the wall and ceiling. Behind furniture or curtains.

Different temperatures for different parts of the dwelling. More complex control systems will make detailed calculations to optimise the operating efficiency of the heating system.

Different Technologies
The correct selection and use of controls could save a significant proportion of a homes energy bills. The following flow chart will help you to identify the best section of this guide to use in providing advice.

Does the customer live in their own home?

YES

Is the customer getting, or planning, a new boiler installation?

YES

Section 1 Controls required for new boilers

NO

NO

My heating system does not seem to warm the house thoroughly, even though I have been keeping the room thermostat to its highest setting the radiators never seem very hot. What could be the problem? Many boilers have their own thermostat. If this is set too low, the temperature of the water supplied to the radiators will never be enough to heat the house. Look on the boiler for a temperature dial (you may need to remove the casing to do this) and set it to an appropriate level.

Section 3 Using your controls more efficiently

YES

Would the customer consider investing in a controls upgrade?

YES

Section 2 Improving your heating controls

Energy Saving Recommended heating controls need to meet the standards set out in UK building regulations for new homes. To meet the criteria, they also must include instructions approved by the Plain English Campaign, which means they will be easy to use.

Section 1 - Controls required for new boilers

Building Regulations for England and Wales require that where replacement boilers are installed into existing buildings, heating controls should be brought up to the same standard as if the boiler was installed into a new house. Customers having a replacement boiler installed may therefore need to get their controls upgraded for the system to be compliant. The control requirements for all types of domestic heating systems, (wet, warm air, electric storage heating and hot water) are stated in the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide (a second tier document forming part of the building regulations) and can be summarised as follows:
Requirements for boilers installed as part of a new system Combination boilers Conventional boilers 1 Boiler interlock Boiler interlock Room thermostat Room thermostat Timer/programmer Timer/programmer At least two zones Cylinder thermostat. with separate A zone valve or three port valve temperature and (in to control the temperature of larger properties ) stored hot water time control At least two zones with separate 2 provided by temperature and (in larger programmers and properties) time control provided room thermostats or by programmers and room by TRVs. thermostats or by TRVs. Separate timing of the hot water circuit, and separate hot water circuits with time and temperature control in larger properties.

Section 2 Improving your heating controls

There is currently no defined standard for upgrading heating controls on their own, although it would be reasonable to aim for the minimum levels defined within the building regulations, as they apply to replacement boilers. 2.1 Basic heating controls The most common heating controls are room thermostats, timers/programmers, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and (where the heating system includes a hot water cylinder) cylinder thermostats. 2.2 Advanced heating controls There are also more sophisticated control options that people might consider. Some of these may be more appropriate to consider as part of a complete system upgrade, as they are expensive to install and require fundamental changes to the system piping and wiring. Any enquiries on these should be referred to manufacturers.

For boilers installed as a replacement for an existing boiler the controls should be as for new systems except that the heating can be controlled as one zone. Where only a hot water cylinder is being replaced in a gravity circulation system, a thermo-mechanical cylinder thermostat should be installed as a minimum provision.

A boiler control interlock is where controls are wired so that when there is no demand for either space heating or hot water, the boiler and pump are switched off. Larger properties are defined as those with a total usable floor area greater than 150m2

Control function Compensation - Load Multiple zones controlled by Thermal Actuators Compensation - Weather

Basic functionality Adjusts the temperature of the water circulating through the heating system according to the temperature measured inside the building. This takes account of natural heat gains Multiple full zones allow tighter control with boiler interlock. The use of thermal actuators can achieve these zones providing individual zone/room time and temperature control, allowing heat distribution to be more effective and efficient. Adjusts the temperature of the water circulating through the heating system according to the temperature measured outside the building. Adjusts the heat-up of hot water storage cylinders according to the measurements of the stored water at differing points in the cylinder. Measurement and control of stored water temperatures at different levels in the cylinder A combined time switch and cylinder thermostat which allows the user to set different periods with different target temperatures for stored hot water, usually in a daily or weekly cycle. Modulation of the gas valve in boilers maintains more efficient combustion. This can be achieved by the use of controls internal and external to the boiler. Multiple full zones allow tighter control with boiler interlock. The use of motorized valves can achieve these zones providing individual zone/room time and temperature control. Allowing heat distribution to be more effective & efficient. Multiple full zones with boiler interlock created to provide individual room time and temperature control. Lack of occupants within a heating zone, allows the controls to setback the heating to a lower temperature. Adjusts the starting time for space heating according to the temperature measured inside or outside the building, aiming to prevent the building heating to the required temperature before the chosen time. Allows the boiler to operate to the appropriate demand of multiple zones. Temperature control which provides additional features and functionality to standard room thermostats. A device, or feature within a device, to delay the chosen starting time for space heating according to the temperature measured inside or outside the building. A combined time switch and room thermostat which allows the user to set different periods with different target temperatures for space heating, usually in a daily or weekly cycle. A control that learns from experience by monitoring and modifying its subsequent behaviour accordingly. Control feature that automatically controls heat demand windows are opened. External controls that determine the modulating rate of compatible system components as a function of load on the heating installation.

DHW cylinders - Optimisation of energy top-up DHW tank sensing - Multi-level DHW cylinder - Programmable thermostat Modulating boilers

Multiple zones controlled via zone valves Multiple zones controlled via RF controllers Occupancy sensing temperature setback Optimum start control

Synchronised boiler operation based on multiple zones Room thermostats -Advanced

Room thermostats Delayed start

Room thermostats -Programmable

Self adapting controls

Window-open detection Modulating controls (communicating)

Section 3 - Using your heating controls more efficiently

Type Room thermostat What it does A room thermostat keeps the house at a constant temperature that is fully adjustable. It senses the air temperature around it and controls the heating output so that the room is kept at the temperature set on the thermostat. Timers/programmers should be used to ensure that the home is not being heated when it is unnecessary (for example during the day when everyone is at work or school). A timer will allow your heating and hot water to be turned on automatically when required and independently of each other. How to use it Ideally a room thermostat should be set between 18 and 21 degrees C in a main living space. Turning your heating down by one degree will reduce your heating bill by around 10% - this corresponds to an average saving of around 50 on your heating bill and 330 kg CO2 in a gas-heated 3 bed semi. If your house takes around 30 mins to heat up to a comfortable temperature, the timer should be set to turn the heating on 30 mins before you wake up or arrive home. Similarly, you can set the timer to switch off 30 mins before you go to sleep/leave the house. Programmers may have a number of additional set features, for example a boost function, which will add an extra hour to the end of your set heating time, as well as manual over-ride options, which allow you to have the heating constantly on or off if required. TRVs are adjusted by turning the valve between a minimum and maximum setting (often from 1 to 5). They should be used to turn the radiator off in rooms which are not used for long periods of time.

Timer /Programmer

TRVs

TRVs allow you to control the temperature of each room independently without the use of a room thermostat. They regulate the flow of hot water entering the radiator thus controlling the amount of heat it emits. If you have a conventional boiler with a hot water storage tank, the cylinder thermostat senses the temperature of the water in the tank and switches the heat supply on and off accordingly.

Cylinder thermostat

A cylinder thermostat should be located around a third of the way up on the exterior of the tank. It should be set at 60 degrees and should not need to be adjusted after that. If you have a hot water tank jacket covering the tank then the thermostat must not be covered by the insulation.

Compliance
Building regulations for England and Wales require that where replacement boilers are installed into existing buildings, heating controls should be brought up to the same standard as if the boiler was installed into a new house. Customers having a replacement boiler installed may therefore need to get their controls upgraded for the system to be compliant. For further details see Section 1 (above).

Recent and Future Developments

Energy Saving Trust will be conducting advanced heating control trials. These are likely to start early 2009 and results are expected in 2010.

Energy Saving Trust, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP, Tel 0845 602 1425 www.energysavingtrust.org.uk KS4.1 Energy Saving Trust November 2008. E&OE