Boilers

Description

In order to meet Dumfries and Galloway Council's targets in reducing its energy costs and carbon emissions, the Council considered the development of business case for the installation of Secondary Return Technology to Heating Systems across the Council's property portfolio. The equipment is required to: — Establish the optimal comfort level through memorising usage patterns. — Reduce hot water costs. — Distinguish between real demand and short cycling. — Ensure boiler pump remains inactive for prolonged periods of no demand whilst maintaining compliance. — Be fitted to hot water systems using any fuel source. At present the Council turns the hot water off in our schools over the holiday periods, increasing the probability of burst pipes and the Council have been advised this is not a safe practice; the solution is required to mitigate this risk and provide full system circulation on a 24 hour basis which mitigates legionella risk. Following market research conducted by the Council's Sustainable Development and Procurement teams into this technology, the result suggested that the installation of the Circosense product could be considered further on a trial basis as a proof of concept exercise to determine whether the technology can deliver the requirements in section 1.4. The trial was conducted at four sites in Dumfries and Galloway. Findings from the trial found that: — An average energy saving of 43 % could be achieved across all Council sites. — The average payback would be 2.8 years. The product is expected to have an average life of 10 years. — A return on investment of 350 %. The market research conducted found that only one supplier, Campbell and Kennedy Ltd can produce this product and hold the patent for this technology. Therefore, it is felt that the publication of a VEAT notice is the most appropriate method to procure this product for Dumfries and Galloway Council.