The incorporation of zero carbon or renewable technologies in modern buildings is moving from the fringe into the mainstream. Many system designs now attempt to marry biomass or heat pumps or solar thermal with more conventional, low carbon technologies like gas fired condensing boilers as back-up. Unfortunately, a very high proportion of these designs fail to achieve the high operating efficiencies possible because the two technologies (low and zero carbon) have not been correctly integrated. It is just not sufficient to ‘bolt-on’ a zero carbon system to a condensing boiler system and expect improved efficiencies and reduced energy bills. Integration is much more than simple addition. It is a cohesive, co-ordinated and harmonious whole.
If LZC equipment and system design are not properly integrated there is the danger of…
