Renewal of heating and cooling systems
Old heating systems such as old oil and gas boilers use significantly more energy than new systems. So, if a building has an old boiler, it is reasonable to replace it either to a new preferable condensing boiler. It should be considered whether the heating source can be changed to a less polluting one.
Renewable heat sources like solar heating or geothermal heating can be considered. The use of PV panels (photo voltaic/solar panels) should never replace a proper building insulation since there will be a huge need for electricity in the future.
Other improvements to the heating system that can provide energy savings, is the regulation. All systems should have automatic controls to ensure that the heating is switched off when there is no heat demand. Thermostats on all radiators and management of indoor temperature, e.g. by automatic lowering of radiator temperature during night time should be mandatory.
Mandatory inspections of cooling systems
Significant energy savings can also be obtained by scrutinising the cooling system of a building. It may not be regulated to fit the need, it may be oversized or it may just be an old inefficient system ready for replacement. In the EU, it is now mandatory according to the EU Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings to have large air-conditioning systems inspected on a regular basis. The EU sets the limit of the systems to be inspected at a rated output of more than 12 kW while some member states have chosen a lower limit, e.g. 5 kW in Denmark.
New types of cooling systems using alternative energy sources such as ground water or sea cooling are also under development to make cooling less dependent on fossil fuels.
Cooling systems in large buildings must be inspected on a regular basis according to the EU Energy Performance Buildings Directive.
