Micronics Clamp-on Heat Meters Provide Cost effective
Solution to Improve Energy Monitoring and
Efficiency for Luton Borough Council
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Luton BC public authority has responsibility for public buildings and since Local Government Reorganisation, schools within its capture area.
The council’s Principal Building Services Engineer is Mr John Evans.
Micronics U2000’s have been supplied and installed for 40% less than alternative in-line meters at the local authority’s sites to measure and monitor heat energy distribution from central boiler house installations.
This is part of Luton BC’s overall program for improved energy monitoring and efficiency across the
Borough, however, the requirement is also specifically driven by the Councils need to comply with Part L2 of
the Building Regulations when replacing or upgrading existing heating plant. These regulations specify that it is deemed reasonable to expect that at least 90% of the annual energy consumption be accounted for
under the Regulation guidelines. The Building Regulations are applicable to all new and refurbished boiler
house installations and since April 2001 compliance has been managed by Luton BC’s Building Control department or delegated to a competent engineer or officer within the authority.
Micronics Clamp-on Heat Meters Provide Costeffective
Solution to Improve Energy Monitoring and
Efficiency for Luton Borough Council
Micronics U2000 Clamp-on, Ultrasonic
Heat meters were chosen because they
are non-invasive i.e. they can be installed
without the need to cut into existing pipework.
The clear benefits are:
• Significantly lower installations costs (40% Less) than an
alternative in–line meter installation!
• Less disruption than installing an alternative in-line
meter.
• Avoidance of residual venting problems associated with system drain down.
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The Micronics U2000 and U100 series - Clamp-On, Non-Invasive and Cost Effective
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A specific site example is Luton’s Lea Manor Sports Centre and High School where four Micronics U2000
Heat Meters are being used to monitor the four LPHW circuits fed from the central boiler house. The LPHW
energy supplied for the School heating, Hot Water Services heating, Sports Centre heating and Pool heating
are individually metered and the information is used to apportion the overall energy bill to the individual
areas. In addition to billing the individual energy consumption information establishes individual ownership
and accountability for the energy consumed by the individuals responsible for the School and Sports Centre,
which encourages better energy management.
The installation also provides valuable monitoring information
for John Evans, as an increase in energy consumption for an area or specific plant against its target or
benchmark would be clearly visible, prompting investigation and corrective action.
The system has been installed since the summer of 2003 and John is pleased with the results. He plans to
roll out the application to other sites within the borough and he believes the opportunity for replication and
contribution to good energy management in similar schemes across the UK should be extensive.
Government guidelines on the potential savings attainable from the effective use of metering and monitoring
