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important. More often than not, it is a case of
A Warm Welcome
horses for courses when it comes to each room,
hallway or landing.
Radiators and towel warmers come in a
broad range of designs and colours,
natural energy for the underfloor heating system. including traditional styles in materials such as
combination of underfloor Our industry is always looking forward, steel or brass, allowing the feel of an older
A
heating and ground source not just with underfloor heating, but with other building to be maintained.
pumps can make for a technology too, searching for ways not only to Alternatively, when heating a larger space with
friendly welcome – in more improve the home comforts in life, but to big distances between walls, underfloor heating
ways than one, says safeguard our environment and our pockets. (UFH) will more than likely be the more efficient
Barry Lynch, Group Products Manager While speaking of looking back, there is option, spreading the heat throughout the floor
at Myson. something to be said about an old house; space and, therefore, the room, removing cold
When it comes to a friendly welcome, a warm the feeling of it having a past, the style, the spots and inconsistency of warmth.
home or office always helps. It is now possible elegance and big, classic bay windows. I’m not While hot water UFH systems are ideal for
to make such a welcome environmentally talking Wuthering Heights, but a simple home, these wide open spaces and free up wall
friendly as well. whether in a town or the country, can generate space, their electric brethren do something
Increasingly, bespoke underfloor (UFH) these feelings. similar for tighter areas, such as a small kitchen
systems are being designed to be run off While a new house is more likely to require or bathroom.
sustainable energy. Two of particular note less work, these older, Georgian or Victorian Often, such rooms can be cramped enough
come to mind. homes simply have that je ne sais quoi. when you have white goods and cupboards all
The only problem is, they were built long fighting for space, so there is no room for a
UFH – Ground Source Heat Pumps before the times when energy efficiency was an radiator. Electric UFH overcomes this space
A recent installation of UFH was installed into issue. With big blazing fireplaces and radiators and can be retrofitted, acting like a powerful
a church-led youth village. To make the site blasting out heat, draughty windows and a lack electric blanket.
environmentally friendly, the builders had of insulation meant that this excessive energy Many of the energy efficient
engaged experts to install ground source heat use was required to counteract heat loss. Scandinavian-style homes do a good job of
pumps and UFH into the four buildings, which While building and planning regulations often mixing and matching heat sources, using UFH
will provide accommodation for up to restrict what can be done about replacing older on the ground floor, supplemented by radiators
100 young people. In this instance an UFH windows with double glazing, options are now in the bedrooms and towel warmers in upstairs
system will run off ground source heat pumps, readily available on the market and there are bathrooms. While the heat rises from the UFH,
meaning the natural warmth of the land can be many schemes now by which insulation can energy efficient products can be used upstairs
used to help heat the buildings. be funded. on a lower heat to simply top up the warmth
The trick, once you have reduced heat loss, from below.
UFH – Wind Power is then to ensure efficiency when warming This two-fold issue of efficient heating in an
This next project highlights the use of the home. old home is a tricky one which is best made
wind power as an energy source for UFH. More efficient heating comes from careful with an overall plan, rather than being
Working with specialist installers, a bespoke consideration to the size of the building and the implemented piecemeal. Removing heat loss
system has been installed in the office and individual spaces it contains, whether it is old or and improving the warmth generated within an
changing areas at Crystal Rigg in Dunbar. new. However, the importance of getting this older home is certainly a worthwhile project.
The Crystal Rigg coastal wind farm is generating right in a home which leaks warmth is very
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