1. Energy Action Conference
Presenter: Richard Sherlock

2. What is fuel Poverty?
Fuel Poverty is the interaction between low income, expenditure prioritisation, fuel prices, high expenditure on uneconomic fuels, poor insulation, inefficient heating methods and low capital expenditure on the building. Source: SEAI 2002
What can we solve

3. What can a heat pump do? A heat pump: Can reduce heating Costs
Is an efficient heating system/Method.
Thus a heat pump can reduce the need for income prioritisation by reducing fuel costs and reduce the “Heat or Eat” Dilemma.
Examples later will show the difference.

4. Legislation Market Drivers for Heating
Current Legislation is driving:
Primary Energy Reduction
Carbon Reduction
For social Housing this has some implications.
“Energy Efficient measures and Running cost reductions are not mutually exclusive”
Seen through new building regulations and new EN Standards for energy efficiency,
It is not feasible to proceed without tending properly to the existing ousing stock, nowhere is this challenge more relevant than in the social housing sector

5. Running cost and access to fuel must be equal to energy efficiency for social housing
Running cost must be a primary consideration as is access to fuel in viable quantities, fuels which must be bought in bulk are not suitable for social housing.

6. There is also an inequity between Rural and Urban in the fuel allowance.
Lets see where these come together on an Energy efficient Vs Cost basis with a comparison of oil and gas in a retrofit situation

7. Rural Vs Urban – Retrofit Situation
Rural - Oil
Urban Gas
New Install 90% Eff Oil boiler
Cost per Litre: €0.98
Cost per Kwh Delivered: Cent
Assuming SPF 3:1 Saving
Day Rate Cost: € %
Night Rate cost: € %
58% Average Saving
New Install 90% Eff Gas boiler
Cost per Kwh: €0.06
Cost per Kwh Delivered: €0.067
Assuming SPF 3:1 Saving
Day Rate Cost: € %
Night Rate cost: € %
25% Average Saving
To demonstrate I will take a simple Urban and Rural situation, Both systems are equal in efficiency thus deemed to be equal in primary energy efficiency.
Each household receives €20 per week in fuel allowance. For electricity we are using the highest rates on the market using pre pay meters rather than post pay biiling, this in effect will give a worst case for the heat pump, But are the systems equal, Oil is 60% dearer than gas in this situation, with the caveat that gas carries a line rental of circa €105 per year, In a standard house this is still cheaper than oil.

8. Benefits of Electrical heating
Access to small quantities is possible, no fuel can be purchased in smaller quantities
Electrical heating through heat pumps is cheaper than traditional fossil fuels
Fuel subsidy can be administered through electrical allowance
Reduction in service costs for some housing providers.
No Onsite Carbon Monoxide production
No travel required to access fuel
Cleaner than a traditional oil system

9. Case Study: Longford County Council
Installed and monitored for over two years, monitoring is ongoing

10. Cost and Scope of Upgrades to Semi Detached House
Pumped Cavity Insulation
Multi Fuel Stove – Room heat only
150Ltr Stainless Steel Cylinder
300mm Attic Insulation
Heating controls with Dedicated DHW zone
Aluminium Radiator upgrade
6Kw Daikin Air Source Heat Pump
“Typical upgrade cost is <€11,000 for the complete works”
Cost and Scope of Upgrades to Semi Detached House

11. Results of the upgrade works
Running costs reduced – Analysis later
A more comfortable living environment for the occupant
Energy Rating Improvement
Before Energy Value = Kwhm2 G
After Energy Value = Kwhm2 C1
“With recent changes in materials a B3 house is now achievable at the same costs”

12. Tenant Reviews
Air to Water Heat Pumps
Hot Water Included
Bill includes normal Household applicances e.g. electric cooker,washing machine etc
Management of Heat by Tenant
Stove Available (No back Bolier)
Maintenance Costs to Tenant / LTC
House Address
House Type
Standard ESB Charge (Bi-Monthly)
Average cost of ESB Bill (Bi-Monthly)
Average Cost per day (Based on 60 days)
Average Temp of House
Average Cost of Solid Fuel
Comments
No.4 Athlone Road
Two bed semi-detached OPD bungalow
€35
€200-€225
€3.33-€3.75
Yes
23-24oC
Room Stats (Heat available 24/7)
€3.50/week
None
Tenants are delighted with new heating system
No.8 St. Emers
€160-€180
€2.66-€3.00
20-23oC
Ran on a timer clock (6-8 Hrs a day)
€7 /week
Tenant is delighted with new heating system
No.45 Templemichael Tce. 
Three bed terrace two storey 
€210-€250
€3.50-€4.16
21-23oC
Don’t use stove
No.40 Great Water St 
Two bed terrace two storey
€0-€60 *
€0-€1 per day
Unknown
In Hot water mode. Manually turned on when required (3-4 Hrs /day)
€7/week
* €70 free ESB per bill
Houses are circa 50-90m2 in size, this is reflected in the running costs.
Houses are kept above average temperature despite the presence of thermostats, this is tenant choice.
Each house is running for circa 3 euro per day in the winter period

13. Running Costs Analysed
Winter Running Costs
The was the coldest day of the year with a average outside air temperature of 1.5°C and a weekly average of 3.7°C, with a peak of 7.2°C during the day and low of –3.5°C at night. On this day the heating system used 19kWh(€3.23), and the weeks consumption was 129.3kWh(€22).
Cibse’s guide on heating season
32 weeks x 7 days x 8 hours x load
32 x 7 x 8 x 2.48 = 4,444 kWh
DHW 4000 kWh
Recorded Heating & DHW use
Input Power Compressor 4,058 kWh
€690
Input Power Emersion 151 kWh
Total €716
Summer Running Costs
On the day of the council site visit the outside air temperature averaged 19.9°C, the heating system used 3kWh(€0.51) in hot water mode, and the weeks consumption was 27.8kWh(€4.73). The assumption would be that it uses 50cent a day to keep the DHW at 48°C and every Saturday morning it brings the tank to 60°C for a disinfection cycle.

14. Yearly Indoor vs External Temperature

15. Internal v’s External Environment on the coldest week
The heating system created a comfortable living space on the coldest week of this year( to ), with an average indoor temperature of 21.3°C and 38.2% RH. Compared to an average outdoor of 3.6°C and 78.6% over this winter period in Longford.
Internal Temperature
External Temperature
External Humidity
Internal Humidity

16. Wicklow County Council – Bungalow / New Build
Installed 2014

17. Kerry County Council Example 2

18. Example 3

19. Example 4

20. Questions