Page 34 - Plumbheat Magazine

Tackling Fuel Poverty
No connection required
When it comes to developments in domestic heating controls, ‘smart’ is the word on everyone’s lips. Many assume that to be worthy of this title, thermostats must be high-tech, Wi-Fi compatible devices. However, Honeywell believes
that it is much simpler than that. Here, marketing communications manager Andy Mansfield explains why, in the world of heating controls, smart does not necessarily mean connected.
AS CONSUMERS wise up to their benefits, smart thermostats will become commonplace in most UK homes. Indeed, the total expected adoption rate is expected to be in the region of 66%, according to a recent survey by Raconteur.1
This is good news for installers who will find it easier to upsell ancillary devices when completing other
work such as installing a boiler or conducting a service, maximising the potential returns on each job. However, specifying the correct product requires an understanding of what actually makes a control smart.
Modern programmable thermostats have automated processes built-in
that make the boiler work more efficiently; these clever algorithms
help householders to save energy
and maintain their desired room temperature. Wi-Fi connectivity is often the last piece in the puzzle.
So, what are these technologies and what do they do?
OpenTherm
OpenTherm is a communication method between the boiler and thermostat. It allows the amount
of heat provided by the boiler to
be altered to match the varying demand signal, by reducing the flow temperature to a minimum possible level as it leaves the boiler. This modulation improves boiler efficiency by running at lower flow temperatures for longer periods of time.
TPI
Room thermostats featuring time proportional integral (TPI) technology use a sophisticated algorithm to provide close control of room temperature
to ensure the boiler is fired just
32
long enough to achieve the desired temperature, and not a second longer.
Recent tests commissioned by BEAMA, conducted at the University of Salford’s Energy House, demonstrated that installing a TPI thermostat with thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), was shown to provide an additional 13% in energy costs compared to a traditional on/off control.2
Neither OpenTherm nor TPI require any human intervention to work effectively; installers can simply configure the homeowner’s preferences during commissioning and let the technology take care of the rest.
Location-based temperature control, or ‘Geo-fencing’
Thermostats with this function use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to detect when there is nobody at home and automatically switch off
the heating, to avoid wasting money warming up an empty house.
Remote access
Finally, for those who even greater control and convenience, Wi-Fi connectivity offers a host of other useful features. Using a dedicated app or voice-controlled smart hub such as Amazon Echo, homeowners with
a connected control can adjust their heating at any time of the day or night, from wherever in the world they are, to suit their lifestyle.
Homeowners do not need to be technically proficient to benefit from energy savings, opening up the benefits of smart technology for all. With the right thermostat, smart can also be simple.
For more information, please visit http://www.honeywelluk.com/ •
Autumn 2017