POSITIVE ENERGY
Is far infrared underfloor heating the answer to the heating energy crisis? The experts at IOBAC discuss.
The UK is one of Europe's biggest users of natural gas – 85% of homes use gas central heating, and it also generates a third of the country's electricity.
But heating residential properties in this way is a major contributor to carbon emissions, with nearly one quarter of the UK’s total emissions coming from the way in which we run our homes.
So, for the sake of our planet, how we heat our homes must significantly change. The UK Government has committed to ‘net zero’ greenhouse gases by 2050, which means we will need to reduce the carbon emissions from heating our homes by 95% over the next 30 years.
In March 2019, it was confirmed that as part of the Future Homes Standard all new homes will need to be ‘zero carbon ready’ from 2025. It will be illegal to install gas boilers in new build homes, with gas and oil boilers phased out almost completely by 2050.
In its mission to deliver zero carbon homes, the government has also instigated sweeping changes to Part L of the Building Regulations coming into effect from June 2022.
The changes cover the conservation of fuel and power in new- build homes and stipulate that an average new-build will need to produce 31% less CO2 emissions versus current requirements. This is an interim step – from 2025 it needs to be 75% less.
One of the key drivers in achieving these ambitious targets is the move to alternative heating systems, namely very high efficiency electrical heating and heat pumps which the Future Homes Standard states will ‘become the primary heating technology for new homes’. It aims for the number of heat
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pump installations to soar from 30,000 per year currently to 600,000 per year by 2028.
Underfloor heating is the ideal partner to heat pumps, as it can operate at lower temperatures than boilers and radiators, yet still provide comfortable heat for homeowners. Underfloor heating typically uses either water pipes or electric mats as the key heating element, with many products available on the market today.
However, homeowners still tend to view underfloor heating as a luxury addition to their home, and there can be some disruption involved in retrofitting it to existing homes, or when repairs and redesigns are required.
EZY-WARM UNDERFLOOR HEATING To overcome all these costs, environmental and practical concerns, flooring and heating expert IOBAC UK Ltd in conjunction with NexGen Heating have developed Ezy-Warm Underfloor Heating. This ultra-thin, super simple system can be powered by renewable energy sources, using far infrared radiant heating for maximum heat and cost efficiency.
The system comprises three simple layers: an Ezy-Warm Heated Mat, an approved underlay and the homeowner’s choice of floorcovering including carpet, LVT, laminate and wood.
IOBAC co-founder and director Ian Spreadborough explains: “We wanted to take the headache out of underfloor heating. Our simple solution means that now homeowners can easily install a stunning designer floor with heating added in. It’s very easy to install, maintain and change, with no specialist trades needed and minimum disruption to the home.
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