Water heating specialist Rinnai says heating and hot water account for more than one third of UK business energy consumption, so having firm control over this area can help reduce energy bills and achieve all important CSR environmental requirements on carbon reduction.
Operations manager at Rinnai, Chris Goggin says: 'Traditional energy supply networks are under increasing pressure, with some industry experts predicting power cuts by 2017, so it is essential that as a responsible manufacturer we do our utmost to produce economical and highly efficient products that will help to limit the overload.

'As we move towards 'smart' grids for the distribution of our energy supply and with the development of smart monitoring to support smart grids there is now a desperate need for BMS compatible smart controls for heating and hot water systems to keep energy costs at a manageable level.'

Goggin draws this analogy: 'You wouldn't leave a car engine running overnight just so it is ready to use in the morning and we must apply the same commonsense approach to buildings. There is no point leaving a gas appliance on all the time when it is only going to be needed to heat hot water at certain times of the day. Rinnai's development and investment in integral smart controls for its appliances compatible with sophisticated BMS, is said to allow easy monitoring which in turn identifies areas where energy is being wasted.'

With the impending implementation of Part L the company has introduced a range of products said to go the extra mile in terms of efficiencies and are said to be effectively future proofed against any changes in legislation.

Goggin says that intelligent controls that boost the performance of heating and hot water systems must not be looked on as a desirable option but as a fundamental
component of any installation.

'There is a responsibility by industry to monitor and control energy usage, which means those manufacturers who are most adaptable will survive as they support the drive towards a greener industry,' says Goggin.

The controls will be available at the end of the year.