Optimise your heating system with pipe insulation

Pipe insulation is a feature of any well designed mechanical system but, as the last component specified and installed its impact on the overall sustainability of a system is very limited. Installing more and more pipe insulation isn’t a way to viable way to fix mistakes made early in the system design process. The rate of heat loss from a pipe is directly influenced by the temperature gradient with the surrounding air, often referred to as the ‘delta-T’. As the ‘delta-T’ becomes greater the rate of energy loss increases dramatically. For heating pipes operating at 60°C the ‘delta-T’ indoors should never be greater than around 40°C but outdoors on a cold day the same pipe could be subject to a much greater ‘delta-T’, potentially 60°C or more. Reducing the temperature differential by 50% directly reduces the heat flow by 50% so bringing your heating pipes in from the cold is something you should always consider before applying pipe insulation.

Pipe insulation should be considered as an integral part of the design of a heating system

Heating Systems Test

From an urban design perspective high density accommodation is particularly attractive because agglomeration means that the overall energy use is far less than it otherwise would be. This is certainly the case when it comes to heating systems.

In traditional dwelling houses each home has its own dedicated boiler that satisfies all of the heating and hot water demand. This method is also seen in many flats due to the flexibility of the approach.

Larger heating systems are, however, inherently more efficient than smaller ones, especially when the heating demand becomes large enough to make combined heat and power (CHP) systems viable. It often, therefore, makes sense therefore to pursue a single heating system for multiple dwellings.

Little known tricks that dramatically cut energy loss from pipework


You may have spent hours comparing the specifications of different boilers or air-conditioning units and weeks figuring out how to maximise your BREEAM score but is it possible that the true secrets to environmental sustainability lie outside a box ticking exercise?

Putting insulation at the heart of your design

Putting insulation at the heart of your design


It can be critical to the overall performance of a heating system but many consultants are unaware of exactly how pipe insulation works or how to maximise their energy saving potential.

Are you saving energy every day?

Are you saving energy every day?


Pipe insulation is one of the most effective energy saving techniques available but it can only save energy when your heating system is in use. Ironically it’s the least well-designed heating systems that operate for longer periods and benefit more from bigger thicknesses of insulation.

Insulation and the climate challenge

Insulation and the climate challenge


Almost every modern building has a space heating system and even the best of these heating systems are energy intensive. Pipe insulation is one of the best available technologies for reducing this energy waste and reducing your Carbon footprint.

Information

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