Hot water energy calculator
Energy consumption for hot water: calculation, simulation, optimization
The energy consumption to provide hot water in buildings was until now not relevant in the debate on energy efficiency and climate protection.
Currently, well-insulated buildings often consume more energy for hot water than for heating. It is time to abort this area to increase energy efficiency.
With the new online calculator “Hot Water Energy Calculator” from GF Piping Systems it is possible to easily calculate the energy consumption.
In addition, it is possible to simulate the extent of the savings potential and the time it takes to pay it off depending on the chosen technical optimization measures.
How does the tool work?
Together with scientists from the University of Ostfalia, GF Piping Systems has developed an online calculator with which it is possible to calculate the energy consumption to provide hot water in the building quickly and easily.
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In the tool you can enter the necessary parameters such as usable area, year of construction, tank storage content, water temperature, energy source or information about the distribution system.
And with this information, the calculator returns the data: energy demand per year in kWh, annual CO2 emissions in kilograms and annual energy costs in euros. Likewise, the online calculator identifies heat loss during the generation, distribution and storage of hot water.
In a later step it is possible to simulate possible optimization measures with which energy efficiency can be increased. The online calculator immediately shows the amount of energy and money that can be saved per year with these measures. And not only that: the number of years necessary to amortize the investment and the amount that can be saved in expenses in subsequent years are also graphically represented.
Frequent questions
How is it possible to perform such a complicated calculation with such ease?
Behind the easy-to-use calculator “Hot Water Energy Calculator” lies extensive development work by GF Piping Systems and the University of Ostphalia. The calculation principles are based on the currently valid DIN standards and broad assumptions that are proven. A first reference project, in which the results were simulated before optimization, shows that the results of the calculations are realistic. The evaluation of the data is refined during the process and verified on real objects. The tool offers valuable inputs to decide from when it is profitable to invest in the optimization of a hot water system in the building.
How can you reduce the energy consumption of hot water?
In principle, there are three technical measures to reduce energy consumption for providing hot water, except for the reduction of hot water consumption itself:
- Improvement of the insulation of hot water pipes and taps
- Adjustment of the optimal operating point of hot water circulation with the Hycleen automated system and its electronic compensation valves
- Modernization of the technology of the installation: the degree of effectiveness of the generation of hot water and the circulation pump depends in most cases on the age of the technology linked to it. In principle it applies: the newer the technology, the greater the degree of effectiveness.
It should be noted that drinking water hygiene basically has more importance than energy saving.
What role does hydraulic compensation play?
A properly functioning hydraulic compensation reduces the amount of circulating hot water. By reducing heat losses it is possible to apply lower system temperatures. The worse the hydraulic compensation and the greater the heat loss, the more energy will be consumed to maintain the necessary temperatures required for drinking water hygiene. And, in addition, the greater the necessary power of the pumps will also be. Also, from the higher temperatures a higher DeltaT results for the room temperature, which in turn increases the cooling losses in the circulation and in the accumulator.
How does the Hycleen automated system increase efficiency?
The Hycleen automated system allows adjusting the optimal operating point of the installation through constant monitoring of its status. In this way, a small amount of hot water circulates at a low temperature, of course, while maintaining prescribed hygiene standards. Unnecessarily high temperatures and flow rates due to missing, poor or poorly maintained hydraulic compensation are a thing of the past. Pipe sections with high heat losses can be identified and remediated from an energy point of view with a subsequent improvement of the insulation where there are failures.