EU Eco Design Directive - Energy saving pumps

[gremlin_95]

I've just been reading up on the above as part of some college work, some of you may know that all replacement external circulating pumps had to be high efficiency from January 2013.

In 2015, this will also apply to the integral pumps found in combi/system boilers, some manufacturers have already starting putting high efficiency pumps in already.

However from 2020, it will will also apply to the /replacement/ of integral pumps in /existing/ appliances, now some appliances, like my boiler for example which was installed in 2008 will only be 12 years old in 2020 and it came with a standard efficiency pump...this means that, if the pump was to fail, the boiler would have to replaced unless the manufacturer released a new modified high efficiency pump! My boiler was just an example, it was on sale with the same pump until end of 2011.

Surely this is madness?! Replace an entire boiler which may well be in perfect working order just because a high efficiency pump isn't available?

See:

[John Rumm]

Not to mention the giant Eurocratic "woosh", that energy "wasted" by a circulating pump in a heating system goes where exactly?

[polygonum]

Though it could make a bit of sense if the pump is used for hot water in the summer. A crappy, old, inefficient pump, against shut TRVs, on much of the day, could actually use quite a bit of electricity.

Maybe changing the pump isn't the optimum approach, but perhaps not as brainless as it initially appears?

[meow2222]

Of course its mad, its the law on energy conservation.

NT

[Peter Parry]

No, usually much simpler - bribery. Most Eurotwaddle laws are the result of someone, usually a manufacturer with a product to sell, bribing the appropriate people to introduce the appropriate laws to help their profits.

[The Natural Philosopher]

finally the penny is dropping....

[Jim Newman]

It goes to waste.

Would you seriously argue that CH pumps are typically located in a 'sensible' place for space heating?

[Arty Effem]

In theory it's not a gas/combustion related job, so you could tackle it yourself if need be an no-one the wiser, unless you're worried about about a dawn raid by the Boiler Gestapo.

The whole EU concept is madness, just vote UKIP on May 2nd.

[John Rumm]

Generally, yes.

They are frequently cooled by the water they pump. They are often in airing cupboards etc.

Either way, no matter how inefficient they may be, forcing the replacement of an entire working high efficiency boiler due to a legislated non availability of a replacement part has no ecological benefit whatsoever.

[John Rumm]

Indeed, if you can't sell a product on its own merit, lobby for legislation to force its adoption. Sawstop anyone?

[Andy Cap]

That's because most of it is driven by the industry, not commonsense. How many people put additional heating in their kitchen when the boiler's changed for a more efficient model? Why do we keep on paying people to have an unlimited number of babies, when population growth is the real threat to the world's resources?

Andy C

[Andy Cap]

yourself if need be an no-one the wiser, unless you're worried about about a dawn raid by the Boiler Gestapo.

+1

Whatever their shortcomings and your personal persuasions, the EU issue outstrips them all.

[Tim Lamb]

Ours is in the *airing* cupboard!

[Brian Gaff]

Well, I'm sure by then we will be out of the Eu if it exists in any case. One has to ask the question though, with all the push on efficiency over the last 10 years, why don't the manufacturers already have these in their equipment as standard?

Brian

[dennis]

These days they tend to be in the boiler and contribute very little high grade heat to the system.

They can be used as anti frost heaters though.

[dennis]

My system has had one for at least five years, I don't remember exactly when I fitted it so it may be longer.

[Man at B&Q]

Think it through a bit more. Just where does it "go to waste"?

Would you seriously argue that CH pumps are typically located in a outside the habitable areas of houses?

MBQ

[Andy Champ]

My pump is _heated_ by the hot water it is handling. If I was concerned about the odd few watts I'd lag it - then it would warm a little more, then dump its heat into the water.

But as it's in the airing cupboard ICBA.

Andy

[Man at B&Q]

yourself if need be an no-one the wiser, unless you're worried about about a dawn raid by the Boiler Gestapo.

+2

Hopefully in 2 years time the other lot will have got the message.

MBQ

[Dave Liquorice]

Why would the pump be on during the day? Surely it would only be on when there was a demand for heat(*) and the system was fully pumped? If it's on with out a demand for heat that is a control system problem not a pump effciency one.

How much less electricity does these high effciency ones use? A pump is only around 100 W anyway and it still has to do the same amount of work in circulating the water. They are also simple. How do you increase the effciency? Add some electronics? Electronics that consume energy in manufacture, will all that extra energy be matched by the savings?

FFS KISS.

(*) And any pump overrun of course.