More than 70% of the energy that we produce is generated with fuels that we have to import. That makes the plan that our government announced in October 2010 – to be energy-independent by 2020 – very ambitious. To achieve that objective, we have to do more than simply invest in energy generation using alternate energy sources. We shall also have to reduce the amount of energy that we use for heating by between 30% and 40%. And everyone will have to make a contribution.
Most households are still paying an energy bill that is based on the number of square metres of the house. They really have no idea about the amount of energy they use for heating. To complicate things, it is difficult to find out how much energy has been saved in comparison with last year. And, finally, most of the old heating installations do not make it possible to save energy 'consciously'.
If we want to achieve our 2020 targets, we will have to start with renovating and insulating our old buildings on a massive scale. We will also have to renovate our heating installations through measures including switching from a one-pipe to a two-pipe system, installing room thermostats and replacing manually operated radiator taps with thermostatic radiator controls.
Energy savings through energy meters
Research has shown that up to 30% of heating energy can be saved through the installation of an energy meter for the simple reason that it makes an immediate connection between a household's energy consumption and the energy bill and provides an incentive to turn the room thermostat or the thermostat radiator control down a couple of degrees to reduce costs. “The less I use, the less I pay” is still an effective operative principle.
The most accurate energy meter is the ΔT meter. Two temperature sensors, one on the inflow pipe and one on the return pipe, send multiple readings per second to the energy meter, which calculates the difference between the two values. At the same time, the flow meter sends the values of the flow used to the energy meter. The figure for the energy consumed is derived by multiplying those two values and then adding the products of the repeated multiplications.
This type of energy meter is also very difficult for people to manipulate, i.e. fiddle with. It will therefore become very difficult for people to pay for less than they have actually used. The meter also takes the total energy consumption of the home into account. The heat that is released through pipes is also included in the calculations. Caleffi markets this type of energy meter under the brand name Conteca. The Conteca energy meter can also be connected on top of a cold-water meter and a hot-water meter and it comes in a variety of versions (recessed, wall mount, etc.).
More comfort and reduced costs thanks to city heating unit
It is also possible to save even more energy at the substation level. By installing a satellite unit in each apartment, a number of objectives can be achieved simultaneously.
A satellite unit has the same function as a natural gas boiler, but does not require a flame and therefore has no chimney structure. This unit produces hot water both for heating and for sanitary purposes – i.e. showering, washing. By producing sanitary hot water locally, only one substation is needed rather than two and there is no heat loss between the substation and the apartments. In addition, those units are usually made with modulating regulator vents that ensure that the amount of water that is taken from the substation is exactly the amount of water desired. That raises the temperature difference between the inflow and the return pipes in the primary circuit, improves the efficiency of the substation and of the city heating system and reduces the heat losses in the return pipe.
Caleffi city heating unit can be used everywhere
In the spring of 2011, Caleffi introduced the SAT K 30, a compact and light satellite unit for city heating installations. The SAT K 30 has a heat exchanger for heating and a 40 kW heat exchanger for sanitary hot water that can produce up to 17 litres of sanitary hot water per minute. This unit also has an electronic regulator that makes it possible to easily adjust the temperature of the heating and of the hot water for each apartment. That puts each household in charge of its own comfort and energy bill. The electronic regulator operates the modulating regulator valves in the heating circuit and the sanitary circuit and ensures that as great a difference possible is achieved between the inflow and return pipes. An integrated Conteca energy meter is available as an option for the SAT K 30.
For larger projects, the basic version of the SAT K 30 can be modified in response to specific conditions or specific wishes. For more information, please contact Caleffi.
Most households are still paying an energy bill that is based on the number of square metres of the house. They really have no idea about the amount of energy they use for heating. To complicate things, it is difficult to find out how much energy has been saved in comparison with last year. And, finally, most of the old heating installations do not make it possible to save energy 'consciously'.
If we want to achieve our 2020 targets, we will have to start with renovating and insulating our old buildings on a massive scale. We will also have to renovate our heating installations through measures including switching from a one-pipe to a two-pipe system, installing room thermostats and replacing manually operated radiator taps with thermostatic radiator controls.
Energy savings through energy meters
Research has shown that up to 30% of heating energy can be saved through the installation of an energy meter for the simple reason that it makes an immediate connection between a household's energy consumption and the energy bill and provides an incentive to turn the room thermostat or the thermostat radiator control down a couple of degrees to reduce costs. “The less I use, the less I pay” is still an effective operative principle.
The most accurate energy meter is the ΔT meter. Two temperature sensors, one on the inflow pipe and one on the return pipe, send multiple readings per second to the energy meter, which calculates the difference between the two values. At the same time, the flow meter sends the values of the flow used to the energy meter. The figure for the energy consumed is derived by multiplying those two values and then adding the products of the repeated multiplications.
This type of energy meter is also very difficult for people to manipulate, i.e. fiddle with. It will therefore become very difficult for people to pay for less than they have actually used. The meter also takes the total energy consumption of the home into account. The heat that is released through pipes is also included in the calculations. Caleffi markets this type of energy meter under the brand name Conteca. The Conteca energy meter can also be connected on top of a cold-water meter and a hot-water meter and it comes in a variety of versions (recessed, wall mount, etc.).
More comfort and reduced costs thanks to city heating unit
It is also possible to save even more energy at the substation level. By installing a satellite unit in each apartment, a number of objectives can be achieved simultaneously.
A satellite unit has the same function as a natural gas boiler, but does not require a flame and therefore has no chimney structure. This unit produces hot water both for heating and for sanitary purposes – i.e. showering, washing. By producing sanitary hot water locally, only one substation is needed rather than two and there is no heat loss between the substation and the apartments. In addition, those units are usually made with modulating regulator vents that ensure that the amount of water that is taken from the substation is exactly the amount of water desired. That raises the temperature difference between the inflow and the return pipes in the primary circuit, improves the efficiency of the substation and of the city heating system and reduces the heat losses in the return pipe.
Caleffi city heating unit can be used everywhere
In the spring of 2011, Caleffi introduced the SAT K 30, a compact and light satellite unit for city heating installations. The SAT K 30 has a heat exchanger for heating and a 40 kW heat exchanger for sanitary hot water that can produce up to 17 litres of sanitary hot water per minute. This unit also has an electronic regulator that makes it possible to easily adjust the temperature of the heating and of the hot water for each apartment. That puts each household in charge of its own comfort and energy bill. The electronic regulator operates the modulating regulator valves in the heating circuit and the sanitary circuit and ensures that as great a difference possible is achieved between the inflow and return pipes. An integrated Conteca energy meter is available as an option for the SAT K 30.
For larger projects, the basic version of the SAT K 30 can be modified in response to specific conditions or specific wishes. For more information, please contact Caleffi.