Domestic heating


Why 2023 needs to be the year of action


www.heatingandventilating.net


The year 2023 needs to be a significant year for the deployment of low-carbon heating systems for several reasons according to Oliver Baker, chief executive at Ambion Heating


N


ot only are we one step closer to the 2050 Net Zero target, but we are also increasingly running out of time to meet new regulations


that require major changes to how the UK’s homes are heated. For example, the Future Homes Standard, which


will see fossil fuel heating systems banned in all new builds, ensuring homes produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under current regulations, is due to come into force in 2025 - just two years away. Similarly, the energy crisis has brought greater attention on how to address the UK’s leaky housing stock in the most cost-effective ways, with the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) calling for a ‘national mobilisation’ to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the country. There have been positive moves in this direction. The Chancellor announced new funding for energy efficiency in his Autumn Statement, although this will not start until 2025. Can we really wait two years to retrofit inefficient systems? Arguably no - action needs to be taken now. The good news is that there are several Net Zero house trials happening right now, and we are proud that we are working with Bellway Homes as part of the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 facility - a unique research project that will test and validate housing design, home heating and approaches to using a variety of energy technologies. Our low- carbon heat panel technology is also included in a test project with Liverpool John Moores University. That said, we are also working with several landlords, developers and specifiers that need a


26 February 2023


because it works best across 24 hours. This flat demand profile – there are no morning or evening energy spikes in usage – means that if a homeowner is on a flexi tariff, the system can achieve around a 25% saving in the unit cost of their energy. So, if you put those two things together – the 63%


reduction in electricity usage with the 25% saving on unit cost – the running cost is very comparable with gas.


Reduced damp and mould


solution that can help them solve the issues affecting homeowners and residents right now, particularly when it comes to avoiding fuel poverty and reducing damp and mould.


One of these solutions is low carbon heat panels.


Combatting fuel poverty This system has a unique control panel which uses dynamic pulsing – rather than a ‘zoning’ on/off approach used by other systems – to dramatically reduce energy usage and maintain a room’s temperature within 0.1oC of its target, 24 hours a day. Infrared heat panels are then used because building materials absorb and store infrared, releasing it between pulses, making it the perfect partner for the pulsing approach. The results of using dynamic pulsing plus the


infrared panels are significant - users can expect to use 63% less electricity when compared to conventional systems - which also equates to a 63% reduction in carbon emissions. The system also reduces the unit cost of electricity


One key concern now is finding ways to reduce damp and mould. Because infrared produces a dry heat and warms the fabric of the home rather than the air, low-carbon heat panels reduce condensation at source, providing a more comfortable experience. This helps to both reduce damp and mould and the circulation of dust and allergens.


Easy to install


For installers, low carbon heat panels are compact and easy to install, whether they’re being retrofitted into an existing building, installed within a new build, or even used in modular properties. This is because they simply need wiring into the mains rather than plumbing in, as there is no central boiler, external unit, or water-based delivery system.


A future-ready solution


For us, the future of heating is electric - it is the only sensible choice for the low-carbon transition. However, we know that every penny counts at the moment. That is why it is important that a range of technologies are considered so installers, developers, specifiers and landlords can meet decarbonisation objectives and increase comfort, without risking fuel poverty, ensuring the transition is accessible to all.


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