Alpha Heating Innovation has supplied a series of its boilers for installation on a residential project in Inverurie, near Aberdeen. The combination of units is helping to achieve the additional 30% reduction in carbon emissions required to keep in line with recently updated Scottish government building regulations.

To achieve the outstanding reduction in carbon emission levels, Alpha supplied 50 of its CD50 storage combi boilers in addition to SolarSmart units, GasSaver top boxes and FlowSmart 50 units for installation across the first phase of the residential site, with more to follow on upcoming project stages.

The CD50 storage combi boiler was selected due to its ability to meet above average demands for hot water – a point of particular notice in properties with multiple bathrooms or tenants, as built during the Inverurie project. Due to its 52 litre built-in storage cylinder, the CD50 unit is able to deliver hot water at an impressive flow rate of 18 litres per minute – enough to fill a bath in just 3-5 minutes.

To complement the CD50 boilers, Alpha’s award winning SolarSmart package was also fitted allowing households to generate a back up heat supply should it be required.

Designed to work with a combination boiler, unlike traditional solar thermal systems which work only with a standard boiler, SolarSmart is ideal for use in this situation and helps deliver significant energy and financial savings as a result. SolarSmart works by heating the stored volume of water using only energy generated through the SolarSmart solar system meaning no gas is used in maintaining the cylinder temperature.

Installed to work with the new units, Alpha’s GasSaver and FlowSmart technologies were also employed to help meet even greater levels of emission reduction. GasSaver sits above the boiler and works by recycling waste heat from boiler flue gases. This warmth can then be used to pre-heat cold mains water before it enters the boiler.

As a result, the boiler works to heat warm rather than cold water resulting in around 35% less gas being used, helping to reduce energy costs whilst saving up to half a ton of carbon per year. As such, the product itself is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust and is SAP Appendix Q recognised.

For larger households within the project, FlowSmart was also installed to help meet the higher than average hot water demand. Whilst a combination boiler alone is able to supply large volumes of water in average use situations, it is unable to deliver very large volumes of hot water to multiple outlets at the same time. FlowSmart is able to meet such needs and is also approved by the NHBC in accordance with Chapter 8.1 for simultaneous draw-offs up to 18 L/min.

As a result of the successful project installation, Steve Lyon from Malcolm Allan Housebuilders has been presented with the regional NHBC Site Supervisor of the Year award. Steve commented: “I am extremely pleased to receive the award and believe this is owed in part to the Inverurie project where Alpha’s market leading product innovation has helped to achieve an outstanding reduction in carbon emissions. The units work extremely well together and help to bring an efficient means by which hot water and heating services can be supplied to households regardless of their varying levels of requirements.”