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SEA launch Technology-Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings Policy Report
SEA launch Technology-Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings Policy Report
The Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) launched their Technology-Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings Policy Report on 20th February 2023.
As a current member and supporter of The SEA, Showersave Managing Director, Tony Gordon, was delighted to join The SEA alongside, Politicians, speakers and sponsors at the launch event.
Speaking at the event, Jade Lewis, Chief Executive at The SEA, said that, it is hoped the report will inform future policy to ensure the best approach is taken for decarbonising UK heating and buildings - one that delivers the right technologies for the best outcomes.
Showersave confirmed as Finalist for Innovation in Sustainability Award
Showersave has been Shortlisted as a Finalist in the 2023 Business Eye Awards, Innovation in Sustainability category.
Showersave is an innovative, easy to install renewable technology, widely used by some of the UK's leading housebuilders.
There are currently 100,000 Showersave installations in homes, across the UK and Europe, all of which are benefiting from the recovery of the heat energy contained in the waste water being thrown down the drain.
The Business Eye Sustainability Awards, in association with Strategic Power Connect, are due to take place at the Culloden Estate & Spa on 23rd February, 2023.
What is Waste Water Heat Recovery?
Andrew Sadler, a Sustainability and building compliance expert published "What is Waste Water Heat Recovery?" blog in 2019. This informative article is still relevant in 2022 and a great resource for those interested in finding out more about the benefits of using Waste water heat recovery.
Read blog: What is Waste Water Heat Recovery?
Showersave increases presence at NSBRC
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre is open 6 days a week, with a fully packed timetable of events, there’s always a reason to visit!
Showersave is a permanent exhibitor (Stand 85) at the centre and recently increased exhibition space, to allow for the installation of product demonstration units.
The new exhibition space was completed in preparation for the annual NSBRC May event, which attracted hundreds of visitors involved in self build and renovation projects.
Find out more about Showersave at the NSBRC
Heat pumps work better with Showersave
The provision of sufficient cost effective domestic hot water, using heat pumps, continues to present challenges.
Showersave has invested in the professional services of The Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) at University of Ulster and Chris Martin of the Energy Monitoring company to find out what issues may lie ahead for house builders as heat pump installations become more prevalent.
The results of testing and subsequent analysis have revealed the undisputable benefits of using Showersave systems alongside heat pumps. A detailed analysis and report is available to download below;
Download: The performance of WWHRS in domestic heat pump installations
If you wish to discuss the use of Showersave alongside heat pumps for future projects, call us on 028 9334 4488 or email sales@showersave.com .
Showersave achieves Gold member status
Showersave recently achieved Gold member status with the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
The Supply chain sustainability school was launched in 2012 and offers free access to learning resources to anyone working in the built environment or aspiring to work in the sector.
The school covers a wealth of topics relevant to any workplace, from fairness, inclusion and respect (FIR) and modern slavery; to waste and wellbeing. Specialist topics such as offsite, digital, procurement, management and lean construction are also covered.
Find out more about the Supply chain sustainability school and the benefits membership has had for Showersave by downloading our member case study at https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/about/member-case-studies/ .
Thermal camera detects impressive results in recent Showersave installation
Home builder and Passive house specialist, GP Developments recently installed the Showersave QB1-21 during a renovation project in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The company, who focus on luxury developments in desirable locations were keen to share the results of their thermal imaging photos.
Garrett Quinn, Engineer at GP Developments stated via Linkedin
"I couldn't wait to put our thermal camera on it to see it's performance- the results did not disappoint!
Cold water feed enters at 11oC, as it passes by the waste water the temperature rises to 27.4oC, meaning the hot water requirement to the shower is significantly reduced. Picking up a Delta T of 16.4oC should not be overlooked.
Why do we create Carbon Dioxide when making hot water and then let that water flow down a drain? You may as well throw your money down there too. Look it up, a tiny capital cost to save potentially 60% of your DHW needs"
To find out more about specifying Showersave products, Call us on 028 9334 4488 or email sales@showersave.com
Showersave awarded Innovator Certification by Innovate NI
Following our successful application for an Innovation Voucher from Invest NI, Showersave has been awarded Bronze level Innovator certification.
The certification, awarded by Innovate NI is recognition of our commitment to the generation of innovative ideas and products within the waste water heat recovery market.
Find out more about Showersave Waste water heat recovery systems by visiting our website www.showersave.com .
What’s in store for the future Energy Company Obligation?
The Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) has published it’s report: Recommendations for a future Energy Company Obligation.
We wish to applaud the SEA on addressing key issues and engaging with industry wide stakeholders in producing a report aimed at improving ECO and tackling fuel poverty in the next decade.
We are particularly keen to raise the profile of the point addressed on page 13 of the SEA report:
“The current pressure on delivery through HHCRO has increased the costs in finding eligible households and exposed flaws in the obligation itself. For example, the current legislation only refers to ‘space’ heating, excluding any measures that reduce carbon in other ways, such as heating of water”
This is an important point, as the drive to decarbonise our homes both new build and existing, hard to heat and treat homes will increasingly necessitate the use of grid electricity. This will inevitably lead to an increase in the cost, to the resident, for showering. Our space heating will require less energy, this will not however, result in a reduced usage of hot water for showering, in fact the converse could be true.
Therefore, there is a need to address this as we are quite literally now throwing energy down the drain. If we do not address energy use for domestic hot water in ECO4, it could be conceivable that the fuel poor will reduce their use of hot water and this will have unforeseen consequences in terms of health and wellbeing. Showersave is an off-the shelf tried and tested, system installed in over 70,000 European homes which can reduce energy thrown away while showering by >50%.
The future of waste water heat recovery
Neil Macdonald, Technical Manager at the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council, takes a look at the consultation on the Future Homes Standard and what it is likely to mean for waste water heat recovery for showers.
In October 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a consultation on the Future Homes Standard, regarding changes to Part L of the Building Regulations for new dwellings.
It set out two options for uplifting energy efficiency standards, which were:
Option 1: ‘Future Homes Fabric’ would deliver a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, based on ‘very high’ fabric standards (typically triple glazing), a gas boiler, and a wastewater heat recovery system, as standard.
Option 2: ‘Fabric Plus Technology’ would deliver a 31% carbon emissions reduction based on ‘very high’ fabric standards (double, possibly triple glazing), a gas boiler, wastewater heat recovery system, and solar PV, as standard.
In each of the suggested specifications, wastewater heat recovery for showers (WWHRS) is included as part of the Part L compliance package.
Read HVP magazine article in full