SB 4152 Web

Article
A new era for electric heating
Some recent regulation and technology developments could signal a new era for electric heating. Innovative electric heating
and hot water experts, The Electric Heating Company, explore these developments and how Schools, offices and public
buildings could benefit.
The common perception of Electric
Heating is that it comprises ageing
electric storage heaters which are
expensive to run, often difficult to control
and provide a poor heating experience.
However, a new regulation and technology
developments provide further evidence that
this perception could not be further from
the truth. The Electric Heating Company
(“EHC”) have long been advocates of
modern electric heating systems and
welcome this new regulation and
technology developments.
A new energy efficiency standard, ‘LOT 20,’
technology developments relating to demand
side response management and
improvements in the combination of electric
heating and Renewables all show that electric
heating should not be discounted as a
heating solution for your School
or Property.
New ‘LOT 20’ Energy Efficiency
Standards
On the 1st January 2018, a new regulation
affecting “the ecodesign requirements for
local space heaters” became effective. This
derives from an EU Commission Regulation
transposed into UK Law under the Energy
Related Products Regulations (ERP). This new
regulation is often referred to as ‘LOT 20’ and
requires any new local space heating system
installed from this date onwards to be
compliant with set energy efficiency
standards.
The aim of LOT 20 is to reduce the energy
consumption through accurate management
and control of electric heating appliances and
minimise wasted energy. To meet the
objectives of LOT 20, better use of intelligent
timers, controls and sensors must be made.
Standard on/off heating appliances without
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such controls will no longer be compliant
and manufacturers and distributors will no
longer be able to sell these.
Any new local space heating system installed
from 1 January 2018 onwards must be
compliant with the new LOT 20 performance
standards. The legislation is not retrospective,
so existing systems in place will not be
affected.
To be LOT 20 compliant, heaters will in
general now need to include 3 key features:
• 24/7 time and temperature control, either
built in or through wireless/WIFI APP.
• Electronic thermostatic control for accurate
room temperature measurement.
• Open window/door recognition so the
heater can reduce usage if the user leaves a
door or window open
reducing the room
temperature rapidly. Some
radiators will have a smart
start facility included,
which allows the heater to
choose the time it engages
to bring the room up to
the required temperature
set by the user.
All heaters must also meet a minimum
seasonal space heating energy efficiency
requirement too.
This new regulation change is welcomed by
EHC and will stop basic static storage heaters
and electric panel heaters with basic manual
controls from being available for sale. All new
electric heating systems will be fully
controllable 24/7 for time and
temperature purposes. Furthermore,
advanced technology like open
window sensors should reduce
consumption when windows or doors
are left open.
EHC have been well prepared for this
new regulation. The EHC DSR Electric
Combination Radiators, an update to
the EHC Combination Radiators
which have proven very popular in
many Schools across the UK, have
been LOT 20 compliant since
January 2017. This range of LOT 20
compliant radiators continue to
offer full controllability, ease of
operation and, on the correct
Simple homepage of the
DSR Control System
electricity tariff, continue to be affordable to
run. Through a central programmer School
Janitors will still be able to control the time
and temperature of the whole heating system
to suit the School. Room thermostats and
individual radiator controls also allow
Teachers to control individual classroom
temperatures.
Demand Side Response Technology
Demand Side Response (“DSR”) is about the
use of electricity, rather than how it is
generated, and promotes the smart use of
energy to shift demand for electricity in real
time. DSR technology can reduce peaks in
demand when National Grid might struggle
to supply and reward for consumption in off
peak periods. DSR is now widely accepted as
a smart way for Large Businesses to reduce
their total energy costs and reduce their
carbon footprint. Over the past few years,
DSR technology has been developing rapidly
and is now ready for implementation on a
smaller scale.
EHC have been closely monitoring advances
in DSR technology and over the past 18
months have developed their own solution;
the DSR Electric Combination Radiator.
Through a Smart WiFi DSR Control System, a
Consumer can control the time and
temperature settings of up to 30 radiators
anytime and anywhere. The special features
of the DSR system also allow the Consumer
to limit electricity consumption to avoid
exceeding the maximum power available or
to limit consumption in peak periods when
electricity tariffs are at their most expensive.
EHC are expanding this DSR Control System
and are currently trialling the ability of
this DSR Control
System to respond
to external signals
for frequency
response and time
of use tariff
purposes. This will
allow groups of DSR
Electric Combination
Radiators, potentially
thousands at a time,
to have their
consumption reduced
or turned off for a
short period of time
by an Aggregator. This
may be required if