HOW TO ACHIEVE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY FOCUSED BUILDING RETROFITS
A combination of regulatory pressure, environmental concerns and utility costs means that energy efficiency is now a crucial issue for everything from homes to workplaces to public sector buildings. However, achieving this is not always simple, especially for older buildings.
While there is a focus on the performance of new buildings, 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 have already been built. This means that to achieve the target of a 78% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2035, existing buildings must be retrofitted to improve energy performance.
Minimise heat losses
One of the most fundamental considerations when retrofitting a building is the insulation levels. Eliminating heat losses through upgrades to the insulation of the walls, roof and floor will help reduce the energy needed to achieve the target room temperatures.
Heating efficiency
Among the most effective ways to reduce the energy usage and the carbon footprint of a building is to reconfigure the heating system for low temperatures – typically a maximum flow temperature of 50ºC to 55ºC. A practical route to achieving this is through the use of a radiant heating system, such as underfloor heating (UFH). The much larger surface area when compared to a conventional radiator-based system makes it simpler to reliably heat the building to the required temperature with a lower maximum flow temperature. This also makes UFH highly compatible with air- and ground-source heat pumps as well as other low carbon technologies, such as solar thermal installations.
Underfloor heating for retrofit
There are range of UFH systems available, including those designed specifically for retrofit. However, there are several important factors to consider when choosing the right system for a project.
Key features to look for:
When retrofitting a building to improve energy efficiency, maximising the insulation levels and implementing a low temperature heating system can make a significant difference. Find out more about the Uponor underfloor heating options here.
While there is a focus on the performance of new buildings, 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 have already been built. This means that to achieve the target of a 78% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2035, existing buildings must be retrofitted to improve energy performance.
Minimise heat losses
One of the most fundamental considerations when retrofitting a building is the insulation levels. Eliminating heat losses through upgrades to the insulation of the walls, roof and floor will help reduce the energy needed to achieve the target room temperatures.
Heating efficiency
Among the most effective ways to reduce the energy usage and the carbon footprint of a building is to reconfigure the heating system for low temperatures – typically a maximum flow temperature of 50ºC to 55ºC. A practical route to achieving this is through the use of a radiant heating system, such as underfloor heating (UFH). The much larger surface area when compared to a conventional radiator-based system makes it simpler to reliably heat the building to the required temperature with a lower maximum flow temperature. This also makes UFH highly compatible with air- and ground-source heat pumps as well as other low carbon technologies, such as solar thermal installations.
Underfloor heating for retrofit
There are range of UFH systems available, including those designed specifically for retrofit. However, there are several important factors to consider when choosing the right system for a project.
Key features to look for:
- Compatibility with existing floor structure – some UFH systems, such as Uponor Minitec , can be installed on top of the current floor covering, over the existing screed or as part of a complete floor replacement, depending on the requirements. Lightweight systems such as Uponor Siccus can be used where the floor structure has a low static weight-bearing capacity.
- Floor height increases – some retrofit UFH systems raise the floor height by as little as 15mm.
- Thermal mass of the system – primarily provided by the screed in wet installation systems, a larger thermal mass will absorb, store and release heat to help minimise the amount of energy required.
- System performance – not all UFH on the market offers the same performance in terms of ease of installation, heat up times or compatibility with floor finishes.
- Manufacturer support – expert technical assistance from the manufacturer throughout will help minimise potential issues and simplify the design and installation.
When retrofitting a building to improve energy efficiency, maximising the insulation levels and implementing a low temperature heating system can make a significant difference. Find out more about the Uponor underfloor heating options here.