Ensuring Energy Efficiency With Heat Meters

Energy Efficiency

When Terminal 5 was being planned, there was significant environmental opposition and concerns over carbon emissions and the effects on local habitats, including the path of two rivers. When the project was given the go-ahead, these concerns were taken into account and stringent environmental targets were set for every step of the process, both during construction and for the long term future.

The building of Heathrow was a complex project; along with the environmental planning, the entire build had to be completed without any impact on the rest of the activity or infrastructure at the international airport. To achieve this significant construction was undertaken off-site, including the roof, which was partially assembled in Yorkshire and the latest technologies were employed.

When it came to the buildings interior, Terminal 5 utilized high quality fittings that ensured on-going energy efficiency and the minimisation of waste. Temperature control within the expansive interior was an area of focus. The need to regulate the temperature in such a huge space could lead to costly energy consumption, which would not be in keeping with the environmental targets.

The building was designed with large glass windows that allow the terminal to benefit from natural light and heat. To prevent over-heating, the design of the building incorporates areas of natural shade. Additional heating is used, but these design features reduce the requirement and the temperature is carefully monitored and controlled, to ensure energy efficiency.

The Micronics Ultraflo 2000Flow and Heat Meter is one of the fittings used forthis temperature monitoring. The Ultraflo 2000 is a clamp-on, ultrasonic flow meter,created to monitor liquid flow, but with the use of a temperature probe is effective as a heat meter.It has been installed (along with other products) to provide an energy measurement solution. By monitoring and managing the temperature, the Ultraflo 2000 is playing a small part in ensuring that up to 30 million people a day are happy, as well as minimising energy waste.

Terminal 5 is a huge construction, but Micronics flow and heat meters are equally suited to smaller scale buildings too. Creating a comfortable temperature in your business can lead to an enormous bill every month due to the energy consumed. If you want to measure the flow of energy used in your building, whether its a small commercial factory, a shopping centre or a building on the scale of Heathrow airport, installing a heat meter will allow you to monitor and manage the actual physical flow of energy used for heating.

A heat meter will allow you to identify where energy can be channelled more effectively for an improved outcome and reductions in both consumption and cost. The savings made through monitoring and changes can soon cover the cost of installing the heat meter. Many of the heat meters clamp on your pipework and machinery. This means that installing them requires no interruption to your processes and they can easily be removed for maintenance, or when they are used as a temporary measure.

The Ultraflo 2000 is supplied with electronics, sensors and all mounting hardware and also a temperature probe when it is used as a heat meter. Whilst installation is uncomplicated, Micronics have specialist engineers who can come on-site and install heat meters for you as required.

If you want a temporary monitoring solution; either to decide whether to invest in more permanent energy monitoring, or to identify areas of improvement for increased energy efficiency, it is possible to hire portable heat meters from Micronics. This can be ideal for inspections and to help you meet your own industrys environmental targets.

Whether you are planning a new project, or making improvements to an existing building, if energy efficiency and cost reductions are core to your project, Micronics can help you to achieve your goal.