SBH02_19-24 3/19/09 9:52 AM Page 19
Hot Property
he selfbuild market has historically have all been touted as the solution but, as the
As we move towards zero
T
led the way with new energy crisis deepens and we move to ever
technologies, pioneering such tighter building regulations, a new contender is
carbon new homes, heating
concepts as underfloor heating coming to the fore; electric heating.
remains a hot topic of
and rainwater harvesting, and is Paving the way for this latest development are
widely recognised to be at the forefront of the the proposed revisions to SAP and Part L,
debate. David Garrity,
zero-carbon movement. which mean that many homes will no longer
As selfbuilders continue to construct some of need space heating for much of the year due to
Managing Director of Heat
the most environmentally friendly homes in the improved HLP values, and the increased
Electric, examines why
UK, the majority of existing low and zero carbon availability of clean, green electricity, whether
homes are also selfbuilds. In its January 2009 generated on or off site. electric heating is getting a
report, entitled ‘Self build as a volume housing In contrast to traditional plumbed heating
solution’, the National Self Build Association systems where the heat is either ‘on’ or ‘off’ with
warm welcome from
(NaSBA) stated that the green credentials of radiators and rooms often hotter or colder than
selfbuilders across the UK
selfbuild homes meant that 100,000 tonnes of desired, electric heating systems can enable the
CO2 per year could be saved if an extra 25,000 creation of a heating schedule that is tailored to has been programmed to achieve. If the room
were built. the exact needs of a property’s occupants, is too cold the radiator will activate until the
With heat responsible for around 47% of the reflecting not only when and where they want desired temperature has been reached at which
UK’s total carbon emissions, the when, where heat, but also the specific temperature they point it will immediately stop drawing electricity.
and how of its provision in any new build is a want each room to be. In this way, cold spots, overheating and energy
major design consideration. To date, A-rated Moreover, each individual radiator constantly wastage are avoided.
gas boilers, heat pumps and biomass systems monitors the room temperature against what it Continued on page 21
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