NetZero Case Study: Carlow Fire Station in Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
Future-proofing the Carlow Fire Station
Built in 2002, Carlow Central Fire Station is a busy fire and rescue service located in the heart of the bustling south-east town. The station is a two-storey steel structure fitted with metal- framed, double-glazed windows and, until recently, two gas-fired boilers – one for space heating and one for domestic hot water. When one of the boilers broke down, Carlow County Council – which operates the fire station – decided that it was economically beyond repair. Rather than seeking a like-for-like replacement, the council decided to apply for a Community Grant through SEAI, which would facilitate an energy-efficient upgrade in the shape of a heat pump but more importantly, ensure that Carlow County Council is striving towards decarbonising one of Carlow County Councils assets.
Our Commercial Retrofit Solution
Having conducted an assessment of the building and the energy needs of the fire station crew, RTS recommended the installation of a Daikin air-to-water heat pump. This involved removing the broken-down boiler and replacing it with a reversible (i.e. heating and cooling) heat pump system from the Daikin Bluevolution range – a cost-effective solution for new buildings as well as an ideal replacement for older, less efficient heating systems. The Daikin EWYT-CZ features inverter driven scroll compressors and is designed for optimum
energy efficiency and reduced operating costs thanks to market-leading performance and reliability. The system uses R-32 refrigerant, offering A+ efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of the unit. The system installed in the fire station consists of two outdoor monobloc units feeding into a 300 litre buffer tank to provide space heating and cooling within the building. The Council kept the remaining boiler for hot water production, using it as a back-up to the heat pump with manual changeover controls. Separate to the installation of the new heating system, the Council also had foam beads injected into the wall cavity to improve insulation levels and ensure the heat pump could operate efficiently.
Delivering Consistent Comfort and Reduced Energy Consumption
One of the key motivations behind installing a heat pump in Carlow Fire Station was that it would help reduce the building’s greenhouse gases by 51% (2030 target), while increasing the Council’s input into energy efficiency in the public sector from 33% (2020) to 50% (2030), in line with the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate.
In the shorter term, fire station personnel noticed an immediate uplift in the building’s comfort level. The Daikin heat pump is designed to provide reliable, consistent heat all year round, with no need to boost the system in search of higher temperatures as had been the case with the previous gas boiler. Once the system was installed, RTS managed the handover process with fire station personnel receiving on-site training in how to operate the heat pump and track energy usage through Daikin’s Intelligent Touch Manager system. The result is a highly efficient heating system that works away quietly in the background, maintaining an optimal level of comfort while using far less energy than a fossil fuel boiler. By switching to renewable energy for its space heating and cooling needs, Carlow Fire Station is also embracing a more sustainable future.
Daikin R-32 Scroll Inverter Chiller EWYT-CZ Air to Water Heat Pump
- Cooling and cooling capacity range: 16-90 kW
- Full inverter technology
- Wide operating range from -20°C to 46°C in cooling mode and 20°C to 35°C in heating mode
- Hot sanitary water up to 60°C
- Best energy efficiency levels currently in the market
- Easy remote monitoring
“We’re very pleased with the performance of the Daikin heat pump system which has significantly improved comfort levels within the station, while giving us the peace of mind of knowing that we’re consuming far less energy than with the previous system.The installation was straightforward and hassle-free, and we’d have no hesitation in recommending RTS to other public service bodies. From an environmental standpoint, it’s also reassuring to know that we have dramatically reduced our carbon footprint in line with the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, while future-proofing our energy needs here in Carlow town.” – Michael O’Toole, Facilities and Energy Manager, Carlow County Council