Grundfos launches energy saving A-rated circulator pump

(15/11/2006)

In every house heated by radiators there is a circulator pump that circulates hot water in the radiators. The pump is indispensable – but you can save money on your electricity bill if you replace the old pump with an energy-saving pump.

The majority of British households have conventional circulator pumps installed, however these pumps work at a constant speed whether it is snowing outside or we are in the middle of a heatwave. This means they use up to five times more energy than an electronically controlled pump that adjusts the speed to the actual heat requirements of the system.

A conventional pump uses as much as 500 kWh per year, costing approximately £57 in electricity. With energy saving pumps installed in the 19 million domestic central heating systems in the UK, consumers would save more than 2 billion kWh or £208 million annually, equivalent to the amount of electricity Devon uses each year.

A new energy-saving circulator pump does cost more than a conventional pump, however the pump can lead to energy savings of up to 80 per cent, which ensures any extra cost is regained through lower electricity bills. In addition to the money saved, the new circulator pump also protects the environment because it helps to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.

Grundfos has launched a new energy saving circulator pump, the ALPHA Pro. This intelligent A energy-rated pump for central heating systems adapts to provide only the heat required, helping save money on electricity bills, while protecting the environment.

Energy-efficient pumps adapt their speed to the actual heat requirements of the radiators, as opposed to older pumps found in most British homes. These pumps operate at the same speed every day irrespective of the amount of heat actually needed.

Grundfos has introduced both small and large A-labelled circulator pumps. Compared to the conventional D graded pumps, A-graded pumps save up to 80 per cent of the energy consumption.

The European Association of Pump Manufacturers (Europump) has created a straight forward classification system that makes consumers aware of the energy efficiency of their circulator pumps. The majority of new circulator pumps on the European market will be classified according to an energy-labelling scheme, where the pumps are graded on a scale from A to G, similar to the EU energy-labelling system used for refrigerators and electric bulbs. Conventional circulator pumps, installed in European households today, are typically graded as D, whereas the Grundfos ALPHA Pro is graded A.

A conventional D graded circulator pump has an annual energy consumption of 500-600 kWh whereas the new Grundfos energy saving pump consumes around 115 kWh a year. The number of energy saving circulator pumps sold in Europe by Grundfos since August 2005 will create annual energy savings of 400 Million kWh corresponding to the electricity consumption of 90,000 households.

The Grundfos ALPHA Pro domestic circulator was presented with the Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE) prestigious ‘Award for Excellence” for the ‘Most Innovative Product of the Year’.

Bill Bucknell, Executive Chairman of the IDHEE, said: “The international ‘Award for Excellence’ looks for stand out products in the marketplace, which demonstrate innovation, energy savings, and best practice installation. We found the Grundfos ALPHA Pro fitted our ethos of raising standards with innovative products, while protecting the environment. By using this A energy rated pump, homeowners can save money while reducing demand for electricity from the power plant, which made it a genuine winner in our eyes.”

The Grundfos ALPHA Pro domestic circulator pump costs around £120 and can be purchased through your local installers.

Related categories:  Central heating systems and pumps   Energy Conservation   Pumps   Radiators: panel, convector, towel rails   Residential applications 

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