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An Investigation into the Limitations of Low Temperature District Heating on Traditional Tenement Buildings in Scotland

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  • Michael-Allan Millar

    (James Watt School of Engineering, Systems, Power and Energy division, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Neil Burnside

    (James Watt School of Engineering, Systems, Power and Energy division, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Zhibin Yu

    (James Watt School of Engineering, Systems, Power and Energy division, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

Abstract

Domestic heating accounts for 64% of domestic energy usage in the UK, yet there are currently very few viable options for low carbon residential heating. The government’s carbon plan commits to improving the uptake of district heating connections in new build dwellings, but the greatest carbon saving can be made through targeting traditional housing stock. This paper aims to quantify the potential carbon and energy savings that can be made by connecting a traditional tenement building to a district heating scheme. The study uses a transient system simulation tool (TRNSYS) model to simulate the radiator system in a tenement block and shows that a significant benefit can be achieved by reducing the supply temperature; however, the minimum supply temperature is drastically limited by the building condition. Therefore, the study also critically compares the benefits of a lower supply temperature against minor refurbishments. It was found that improving building conditions alone could offer a 30% reduction in space heating energy consumption, while building improvements and integration of a river source heat pump could offer almost a 70% reduction. It is the recommendation of this study that a dwelling be improved as much as economically possible to achieve the greatest carbon and energetic savings.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael-Allan Millar & Neil Burnside & Zhibin Yu, 2019. "An Investigation into the Limitations of Low Temperature District Heating on Traditional Tenement Buildings in Scotland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:13:p:2603-:d:246274
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Østergaard, Dorte Skaarup & Svendsen, Svend, 2016. "Replacing critical radiators to increase the potential to use low-temperature district heating – A case study of 4 Danish single-family houses from the 1930s," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 75-84.
    2. Brand, Marek & Svendsen, Svend, 2013. "Renewable-based low-temperature district heating for existing buildings in various stages of refurbishment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 311-319.
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    Cited by:

    1. Benedetta Grassi & Edoardo Alessio Piana & Gian Paolo Beretta & Mariagrazia Pilotelli, 2020. "Dynamic Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Reducing District Heating Temperature on Indoor Thermal Comfort," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Michael-Allan Millar & Bruce Elrick & Greg Jones & Zhibin Yu & Neil M. Burnside, 2020. "Roadblocks to Low Temperature District Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Antoine Reguis & Behrang Vand & John Currie, 2021. "Challenges for the Transition to Low-Temperature Heat in the UK: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-26, November.

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