NHS sustainability

Caring for our Future

With the launch this January of the House of Common’s Climate Assembly UK which is tasked with bringing groups together to discuss achieving Net Zero targets, it was clear that much of the initial onus would fall on public sector organisations to become vocal in their support of the Government’s aims.

There is a tremendous challenge existing to drive the level of change needed to achieve Net Zero. The easy work has been done, such as shutting down coal-fired power stations, which has meant the Government’s Carbon Budget targets have so far been achieved. But the consensus has been that the next carbon budget will miss its target and subsequent others could fall further behind. And that was before Net Zero by 2050 was introduced. To successfully drive uptake of low carbon systems, which will on the most part be unfamiliar and deemed an unwanted, and for some an unwarranted cost, requires vocal support and better communications with, and education of, both the domestic and commercial sectors.

The Climate Assembly UK will have 110 representatives, randomly selected by ‘civic lottery’, giving voice to the UK public. They will hear balanced evidence on the choices the UK faces, discuss them, and make recommendations about what the UK should do to become Net Zero by 2050. Swaying these representatives who, by the very nature of the selection process, are unlikely to have more than a cursory understanding of the broad range of current fossil and low carbon technologies and practicalities of integrating them, means it must fall to key public bodies to take the first conclusive steps on the path to Net Zero.

In light of this, the NHS has made a wide-ranging statement on not only cutting carbon emissions to Net Zero but in particular reduce air pollution, of which Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) is, without doubt, one of the most concerning.

A by-product of the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, NOX are a major contributing factor to poor air quality, the most toxicologically significant being a combination of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). It can cause lung irritation and respiratory infections as well as being linked to cancer, asthma, strokes, and heart disease. The Royal College of Physicians believe it directly leads to as many as 40,000 deaths each year. This has led to widespread recognition that more needs to be done to address NOX emissions and the care sector needs to be seen to be addressing emissions that are a by-product of its activities.

Sir Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said:

“With almost 700 people dying potentially avoidable deaths due to air pollution every week, we are facing a health emergency as well as a climate emergency.

Patients and the public rightly want the NHS to deliver for them today, and to help safeguard the future health of our children and grandchildren.”

Whilst the press have focussed on the recommendations made to NHS staff to, such as encouraging less driving to work less and bringing in reusable cups and bottles, the real opportunities lie in two other proposals which a panel will now consider and respond to later this year.

The first would see a reduction, or cessation entirely, of up to 30 million outpatient appointments, which would have huge implications on reducing vehicle emissions, but could be a very difficult sell to the public.

The second, easier option, is to reduce emissions from buildings. The BBC reports Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, saying the implications for the NHS building stock were ‘huge’.

“Everyone must now work together to understand how environment-harming heating and lighting systems can be replaced without redirecting funds from patient care.”

He is correct, as the levels of change Net Zero demands of any property could conceivably require heavy capital expenditure. Especially so with the NHS estate, where the demand would more likely require major refurbishment of existing, often ageing, properties that will not be fit for purpose in terms of low carbon solutions alone.

At Adveco, we have considerable experience working with and supplying hospitals throughout the UK with hot water and heating systems, offering a mix of gas, electric and low carbon technologies. Now, looking forward, we are rethinking how those systems can be used in a meaningful way to take us towards Net Zero. That means leveraging the advantages of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and solar thermal, alongside the current generation of high-efficiency micro-CHP, gas and electric boilers and water heaters. This hybrid approach provides the versatility to use and enhance existing systems in building stock, gaining improvements without wholesale rebuilding which comes with a considerable price tag. The approach also acts as a ‘boarding ramp’ towards a whole new class of technologies including hydrogen and other ‘green’ gas alternatives.

Critically, the systems and applications that we are able to design, supply, commission and service are available today and can be shown to be cost-effective. We can accurately map operational costs and payback periods so that planners can budget for change with a high level of confidence. With long-term savings assured when correctly managed and maintained, there is no reason why improved heating and hot water systems should need to see funds being redirected from patient care. In fact, the savings over the next 30 years could easily be invested back into the NHS to the advantage of patients and staff.

Learn more about our work for the care sector

Adveco 2020 Product Overview Now Available

The 2020 Adveco Product Range brochure serves as a quick reference document covering a wide range of products and services provided by Adveco and A.O. Smith. The current range incorporates commercial hot water and heating equipment including: condensing gas water heaters; storage tanks, oil & electric water heaters; solar thermal; boiler cascade systems; stainless steel cylinders, thermal storage tanks, carbon steel buffers, combined heat & power (CHP); Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP). These technologies are the building blocks for Adveco’s bespoke packaged plant rooms and system offerings. All supported by our applications and field engineers who provide expert commission services, warranty maintenance and training.

If you are seeking support in the design, supply, commissioning or servicing of business-critical hot water, heating and power then this brochure is a useful tool to have to hand.

You can download the brochure now.

Adveco Extends MD Family

  • Range extension includes 10 new compact light commercial wall-mounted gas condensing boiler variants for central heating and DHW projects
  • Highly efficient, cost-effective to run and rated for ultra-low emissions
  • Compact and smart for no-nonsense installation and maintenance

Hot water and heating specialist Adveco, adds 10 new high-efficiency wall-mounted models to its popular MD condensing gas boiler range for light commercial applications.

The MD wall-mounted boilers offer the same high-quality patented heat exchanger construction, with continuous non-welded run of titanium stabilised stainless steel, providing exceptional construction strength and corrosion resistance. The wall-mounted variants of the MD also incorporate the brand-exclusive three-pass design, featuring large bore, circular tube cross-sections that reduce the collection of debris to ensure greater longevity.

All the MD boilers feature efficient pre-mix burner technology to help control operational costs and significantly reduce NOₓ and CO emissions.

Unlike many wall-mounted boilers, the compact MD offers integrated run/fault signal for connection to a BMS system. With 0-10 V input on the MD, a BMS system incorporating interior/exterior sensors can deliver automated heating control with these boilers.

Bill Sinclair, technical director, Adveco says, “Following the unprecedented success of the floor-standing MD boiler, which received accolades including being highly commended in the 2019 H&V News Awards, we can now broaden the options for commercial customers with a wide choice of wall-mounted appliances. Bespoke hot water and heating system design and supply is at the very heart of everything we do, extending the MD range ensures we can continue to deliver the perfect results for your project or application.”

The new range includes boilers with rated heat outputs of 15, 24 and 34 kW. The MD15, MD24 and MD34 have two variants to accommodate either central heating only or DHW via an indirect water heater. A third variant of the MD24 and MD34 includes an integrated Plate Heat Exchanger for instantaneous DHW.

With a 60kW heat output, the MD60 is designed to meet the demands of commercial central heating. Available in two variants, it can be selected with (MD60C), or without (MD60A), an integrated system pump.

Built-in cascade controller and easy to use LCD display provides full temperature control and maintenance self-check for all primary components and functions. The entire MD wall-mounted range is further supported by a seven-year parts and labour warranty when boilers are commissioned by Adveco to ensure long-lasting reliability and efficiency for customer peace of mind.

Additional Features

MD15, MD24, MD34

  • Ultra-low NOₓ emissions at 24-31 mg/kWh
  • Uses low cost 60/100 mm diameter PP concentric flue system
  • Natural gas or LPG

MD60

  • Ultra-low NOₓ emissions at 27.9 mg/kWh
  • Uses low cost 80/125 mm diameter PP concentric flue systems
  • Natural gas or LPG
Time To Address Oversized Hot Water Systems

Time To Address Oversized Hot Water Systems

Creating optimised hot water systems is potentially a crucial element of a commercial building project. Unfortunately, what we see far too often are projects that have been oversized, leading to higher outlay costs from demands for more space, install costs, bigger gas pipe and so on.

Oversizing inherently comes from a lack of understanding of different types of domestic hot water systems (DHW), how they fit in the design software and the way that fluctuating demand for hot water impacts these systems at peak. When faced with DHW systems that have too many variables and decisions on diversity, sizing programmes will oversize to prevent the perceived hot water system problem.

When sizing a water system, adjustments need to be made for dynamic and static storage, and a thorough comprehension of peak periods is needed for accuracy. At Adveco, we have designed and supplied systems at both ends of the spectrum, from intense peak/all storage, to continuous demand/all burner power. From our perspective, all commercial sizing is carried out with a 60C supply and 10C designed incoming cold mains temperature. At 60C this delivers temperatures optimised for commercial supply, storage and cleaning.

Request a hot water sizing for your application or project now.

 

Adveco’s HR001 Heat Recovery Unit has been named as a finalist in the commercial HVAC product of the year category of the 2020 Heating & Ventilation News Awards.

Adveco Named 2020 H&V News Awards Finalist

Commercial hot water and heating specialist, Adveco’s HR001 Heat Recovery Unit has been named as a finalist in the commercial HVAC product of the year category of the 2020 Heating & Ventilation News Awards.

The HR001 connects between fridge and freezer condenser units and a hot water installation. Perfect for commercial organisations that make use of large chiller or refrigeration technology as part of their day to day operations, such as restaurants and large-scale catering facilities in hotels, schools or universities and retailers holding frozen stock. The HR001 utilises the waste heat generated by the compressor to indirectly pre-heat the incoming mains within a hot water installation and is capable of achieving temperatures as high as 50°C.

HR001 Heat Recovery Unit. from Adveco - Specialists in commercial hot water systems.

David O’Sullivan, managing director, Adveco, said:

“To have our expertise in commercial heating recognised in this way is a win for the entire Adveco family which has worked so hard to make the HR001 Heat Recovery Unit a success. It is a terrific confirmation of the quality of products Adveco prides itself on bringing to UK commercial heating and hot water projects.

The HR001 Heat Recovery Unit is a key component for many of the bespoke applications we create for our customers, applications that almost everyone in the UK will interact with or benefit from during their lives, from washing hands in a school or restaurant, showering in a hotel, to being warm on a hospital ward.”

Comparing both gas and electric system installations of the HR001 demonstrate weekly heat recovery averaging at 155 kWh/week per site. Customers therefore not only save money by recovering “free” heat, but this saved energy means less overall power demands and reduced emissions across all sites.


Adveco commercial hot water.For further information on heat recovery units, call Adveco now on 01252 551 540 or complete the contact form.