Being part of the renewables revolution helps us feel like we are making a real difference, both now and in the future.
We recently installed a transformative upgrade to the heating and hot water system of a multi-floor student accommodation building in the heart of Sheffield.
By replacing outdated gas boilers with state-of-the-art air source heat pumps and smart hot water tanks, we were able to help the management team not only more than double energy efficiency but also significantly improve the living conditions for its residents.
This kind of project is one of our favourites, exemplifying the massive benefits of embracing modern, sustainable technologies in residential settings.
Energy-Efficient Heating Systems
The rapid increase in energy prices over the last few years is making the transition to air source heat pumps ever more attractive, due to their energy efficiency, long life span and low levels of maintenance needed.
Unlike traditional gas boilers, heat pumps extract heat from the ambient air and transfer it indoors, providing heating and hot water. This method can be up to five times more efficient than conventional systems, leading to substantial reductions in energy consumption and utility bills.
Smart hot water tanks complement this system by optimising water heating schedules based on the usage patterns of the real people living in the building. These tanks can store excess heat generated during off-peak hours, ensuring hot water availability while minimising energy waste.
By using an integrated system like this, energy efficiency is kept high, which keeps bills low.
Low Carbon Heating Solutions
The city of Sheffield has set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and the installation of heat pumps and smart hot water tanks contributes directly to this goal. Heat pumps significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to gas boilers, with potential reductions of around 2,900 kg annually per unit.
Moreover, smart hot water tanks can integrate with other renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to further decrease reliance on fossil fuels. These systems play a crucial role in decarbonising residential buildings by effectively storing and utilising renewable energy.
Enhancing Resident Comfort
Alongside the obvious environmental benefits, the new heating system will markedly improve the quality of life for students. Residents will now enjoy more consistent indoor temperatures and readily available hot water, benefits they will feel on a daily basis.
Modern heat pumps are whisper quiet, which will help create a more peaceful living environment, conducive to study and relaxation. Additionally, the system's reliability reduces maintenance issues, helping the building management team provide students with uninterrupted comfort throughout the year.
Collaborating with Technology Partners
The success of this project hinged on effective collaboration with technology partners. The hot water tanks, developed by our innovative partner company Enviroheat HET, contain many advanced features which reduce energy usage and keep the water hotter for longer.
Our partnerships with advanced technology providers facilitate the seamless integration of new, more future-focused systems into the existing infrastructure. Their expertise ensures that our installations meet every building project's and its residents' specific needs, setting a precedent of excellence for future projects.
A Model for Sustainable Living
This upgrade serves as a model for sustainable living in student accommodations and beyond. It demonstrates how modern technologies can be harnessed to create energy-efficient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly living spaces.
As more buildings adopt similar systems, the cumulative impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions will be substantial. Projects like these both benefit their current residents and contribute to broader efforts to combat climate change.
By embracing such innovations, we move closer to a future where comfort and sustainability go hand in hand, paving the way for greener communities and a healthier planet.
We would love to help you bring your ideas for increased efficiency to life. You can get in touch with our design team at info@timesgroupltd.com
As our company is growing, we are getting to rub shoulders with some new and interesting people.
I recently attended a CONSTRUCT event in Manchester where Tom Stannard, the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council and Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, spoke.
Over the course of the morning, both Bev and Tom made repeated commitments to the communities of Manchester, whose focus was clearly attuned to how the built environment needs to be considered in terms of how it can contribute to both business and personal growth and stability.
While politically cautious, both Bev and Tom suggested reasons to be optimistic as we look into Greater Manchester’s future and remarked that the cities that Manchester used to look to for inspiration and guidance, Barcelona, Lyon and Toronto, for example, were now looking to share ideas as equals.
Gently interviewed by Simon Bedford of Bedford Advisory, the speakers talked about using community consultation to generate opportunity and both the public and private sectors working together to make the best use of our available resources.
Both speakers reiterated the city's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and explained how the city is experienced by its residents and visitors is created in the first instance by the built environment and future developments around the city will be bearing this very much in mind.
Personally, I found the event extremely refreshing in terms of its lack of agenda, by which I mean, it concentrated on the main thing, how the future of the built environment will be increasingly aligned to its direct benefit to the people in terms of value, whether it be reduced energy usage or faster and easier access to its main thoroughfares.
Thanks very much for the invite Lucy from Luma Marketing.
January's cold snap was cold!
It was so cold; even our office, Geordie Neil, was wearing a coat!
Another notable thing that happened last week was the number of calls we got from people who had air source heat pumps that had been installed by other companies, but that just couldn’t keep up.
We spent a LOT of time last week on call out trying to fix these systems to keep everyone as warm and comfortable as possible.
So, why did the heat pump failures happen?
Well, most companies follow the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) guidelines which recommend configuring domestic heat pumps to -3 degrees, which is usually acceptable, but during super cold snaps like last weeks with some areas getting WAY below that - that configuration can cause problems
(At TimesGroup Ltd we configure ours to -7 degrees, which means 100% of our customer's heat pumps were working fine all week)
So why does the -3 make so much difference?
1. Heat Pump Failure - Limited Configuration
While a heat pump configured to -3 degrees can effectively extract heat from the outside air down to that temperature, its efficiency and output can significantly drop as the mercury plummets further. January's temperatures plunged far below -3 degrees in many areas, pushing these heat pumps beyond their designed operating limits.
2. Heat Pump Failure - Increased Demand for Heat
As outside temperatures drop, the demand for heat inside our homes naturally increases. This puts additional strain on heat pumps, which may struggle to meet the higher heating requirements during extreme cold spells. The bigger the difference in temperature between the inside and outside, the harder the machine has to work to make up the difference.
3. Heat Pump Failure - Defrost Cycle Issues
Heat pumps operate by extracting heat from the outside air and transferring it indoors. In cold weather, frost can build up on the outdoor unit's coils, hindering its ability to absorb heat.
To combat this, heat pumps have a defrost cycle that periodically melts the frost. However, during prolonged periods of extreme cold, the defrost cycle may not be able to keep up with the frost buildup, leading to reduced efficiency and potential system failure.
4. Heat Pump Failure - Backup Heating Systems
Many heat pump systems have backup heating elements, such as electric resistance coils, that kick in when the heat pump can't keep up with the demand. However, these backup systems may not be able to fully compensate for the heat pump's reduced output during extreme cold, resulting in insufficient heating.
5. Heat Pump Failure - Lack of Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring optimal heat pump performance. A poorly maintained system may be more susceptible to failure during extreme weather events.
What you can do to avoid Heat Pump Failure.
To make sure your heat pump system has been configured and maintained properly, give us a call on 0161 413 6156, and we can run you through the best option for you.
Making a real positive difference in the personal and professional lives of the people we work with can sometimes feel like a big and complex job…and honestly, it is.
We have found that trying to do that alone is the hard way, so we have created forward-looking and supportive business partnerships with some truly excellent organisations, like EdanPower, Enviroheat, and Wigan Council.
Each of us brings our own special blend of skills and expertise to help each other reach more people, reduce carbon, and make homes and businesses more energy-efficient and sustainable.
“...If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” Ubuntu proverb.
We completely understand that sustainability is a valuable but complex issue, so we are delighted to announce our newest business partnership with the fabulous team at Litmus Sustainability.
Litmus are genuine experts in what they do and are building a truly stellar reputation for helping businesses understand their carbon footprint, increase their sustainability and be seen as THE business to work with in their field.
“You are the sum of who you surround yourself with” Confucious, 6th century BCE
Today, sustainability is more of a necessity than ever.
All of our collaborations aim to propel our mutual goal of creating a more sustainable future, leveraging innovative solutions and responsible practices.
Harnessing Innovative Solutions
Our new partner, Litmus, specializes in easy-to-understand technologies that significantly reduce environmental impact. Their expertise will help us drive our sustainability initiatives, from renewable energy systems to waste reduction techniques.
Together, we aim to integrate these solutions into our operations, ensuring that both we and our customers exceed our environmental goals.
Our partnership will enable us to launch various supply chain and community-driven projects to promote environmental awareness and sustainable living.
Business Partnership to Infinity and Beyond....
We see the future as collaborative and positive.
Our new partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey towards increasing sustainability. By combining our strengths with our new partners, we will make substantial strides in reducing our environmental footprint and promoting a more sustainable future.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this next stage of our green journey together.
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) was set up by the UK Government to increase confidence in home-grown energy by developing a certification for rigid adherence to uncompromising industry standards in quality, competency, and compliance.
MCS sets, defines, and maintains the Standards for low-carbon energy technology products, contractors, and their installations. These include heat pumps, solar, biomass, small wind, and battery storage.
We are delighted to announce that, after much hard work by our team, we have achieved our full MCS certification.
What our MCS accreditation means for you
Simply put, our MCS accreditation means that you can be absolutely sure of the quality of the work we do, the technology we install, and the results you will get from taking a low-carbon approach to powering your home or business.
The auditors took a long, hard look at every part of our processes to ensure we can deliver what we promise to the same super high standards, every single time.
This puts you in control of the whole process of reducing your environmental impact and your fuel bills.
Many families and businesses are looking at how they can control their energy use right now, especially as there are a number of grants available to help them lower or even eliminate the cost.
To find out how you can do the same, call us on 0161 823 4440 or email us at hello@timesrenewables.com
We are absolutely delighted to share our brand new website!
This project, which has been bubbling under for a little while, is now ready for your enjoyment and we can't wait for you to dive in.
A massive thanks goes to Matt from Studio-Olivers, who helped us bring the whole thing to life and make it easy to read, simple to navigate and packed full of useful information about renewable energy options. Total Legend!.
Designed with you in mind, our whole site is user-friendly, visually captivating, and truly shows what we are all about. We've incorporated new features to help you find grants, updated our technical content, and introduced a fresh and modern design that we're sure you're going to love just as much as we do.
It communicates clearly who we are, what we are all about, and how we can help.
Enjoy exploring the new website!…if you have any feedback, we would LOVE to hear it, drop us a line
