ECM: Space Heating & Cooling

Information by State  Print version   CAUTION STATEMENT TURN OFF UTILITIES: Turn off electricity, gas, propane, and other utilities before starting repairs, cleaning, or installations to avoid accident or injury. BE AWARE OF LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDS: Many residences built before 1978 have paint that contains lead, which can pose a serious health hazard if paint, chips, and dust are not handled properly. See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead brief before disturbing painted surfaces in homes of this vintage. Follow the HUD “Lead-Safe Housing Rule” for requirements for notification, evaluation and reduction of lead-based paint hazards. BE AWARE OF ASBESTOS HAZARDS: Homes older than 1977 may have building products that contain asbestos such as insulation, high-temperature gaskets, roofing and siding shingles, and vinyl sheet flooring. See the EPA asbestos brief before disturbing such materials. BE AWARE OF MOLD AND MOISTURE HAZARDS: Molds can gradually destroy materials they grow on; can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people; can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold; and can cause other serious health problems. To learn more about preventing and cleaning up mold in homes, see these mold guides and the EPA brief on What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas.

H3. Install Boiler Controls

Description

Boiler controls save energy by regulating the boiler so that it operates only when necessary. Some central boiler systems are totally uncontrolled, providing heat with no regard for how much is needed. In these situations, boilers are started up in the fall and remain on throughout the heating season until they are shut off in the spring. In other cases, the steam or hot water distribution system has apartment-level thermostatic controls, but the boiler runs constantly, even on warmer days when heat is not needed. Controls installed on the boilers can reduce energy waste by shutting off the boiler when the outdoor temperature reaches a specified temperature.

Applicability

• Multifamily buildings with central boilers
• Central boilers with no controls linked to outdoor temperature

Types

• Outdoor reset/cutout
• Runtime
• Steam valve operation
• Water temperature

Considerations

• Perform a life-cycle cost analysis prior to installing major system components.
• Other HVAC system energy conservation measures should be evaluated as alternatives or complements to this measure.

Performance/Economics

• Boiler controls can save approximately 10 to 30 percent on space- and water-heating costs.
• It is important that the maintenance staff receive training on newly installed controls and that operating instructions remain accessible.

Resources/Links

Energy Conservation for Housing – A Workbook, HUD, September 1998. Pages 7-49 through 7-51 address boiler controls as an energy conservation measure. 

Improving Energy Efficiency in Apartment Buildings, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 1995. ISBN 0-918249-23-6. Pages 68 through 79 address boilers and controls as energy conservation measures. 

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 1999, ISBN 0-918249-38-4. Pages 81 through 85 address boiler control modification methods and strategies.

HUD Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor, Discusses HVAC Controls, strategies to increase HVAC efficiency, and other modifications worth considering.

ENERGY STAR Program: Heating and Cooling Equipment, Provides information on high-efficiency heating products endorsed by the Energy Star Program.

Furnaces and Boilers, Part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Consumer's Guide.