Solving the space conundrum

Heating is undoubtedly a hot topic. For electrical contractors, it is also one that is becoming increasingly important as homeowners, landlords, tenants, developers and specifiers look to move away from traditional fossil fuel systems and towards super-efficient electric alternatives.

The challenge of fitting the UK’s homes with low carbon systems is a key focus of several recent government policies, including the Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Buildings Strategy.

For the new build market, the Future Homes Standard, which is set to come into force in 2025, is designed to ensure all new homes produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under current regulations.

For existing properties, initiatives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme have been launched to tempt homeowners away from fossil fuel heating to air source heat pumps, although this scheme has been criticised for only providing grants for 30,000 heat pumps a year over three years – well short of the government target of installing 600,000 per year.

However, there is one issue that doesn’t get a huge amount of attention when it comes to decarbonising the UK’s varied housing stock – space.

There are millions of properties, including accommodation blocks, terraces and smaller houses, where installing a large low carbon heating system just isn’t feasible. This means they are often relying on less efficient systems to heat their properties.

This poses a unique challenge for contractors and every party involved – how can these new or existing homes be heated in a cost-effective way that meets decarbonisation objectives and government regulations?

While there is no one-size fits all solution, the answer is to look at a wider, more innovative range of heating options that can help these millions of ‘missing properties’ decarbonise and achieve a low carbon transition that is accessible for all.

The good news is net zero homes – including those for smaller properties – are being trialled across the UK. Some include the installation of Ambion’s Low Carbon Heat Panels, to assess how they perform when compared to conventional heating systems.

This technology has a unique control system 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 0.1°C of its target, 24 hours a day.

Discreet 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 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.

For installers, the units 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.

Therefore, for electrical contractors, demonstrating expertise in installing the latest low carbon electric heating systems could be a key differentiator when it comes to winning contracts. As such, Ambion is working in partnership with a number of electrical contractors to train them on installing its system.

Whichever way you look at it, the future of heating is electric – Ambion says it is the only sensible choice for the low carbon transition. However, when it comes to properties with limited space, the options currently being championed at government-level simply aren’t feasible.

Therefore, it is important that a range of technologies are considered for these ‘missing’ properties to ensure they can feel the benefits of low carbon heating in the most cost-effective way possible. And electrical contractors will play a key role in this process.