As the environmental crisis continues to be at the forefront of our minds, with the news headlines about eliminating boilers from the home, and the cold weather setting in, we take a look at what options you may have for making your heating more sustainable.
1. Eliminate the need for heating.
New build homes should aim for a high level of integrated insulation and as near to complete air-tightness as possible to make the building efficient. Taking these measures may mean you eliminate the need for a daily heating source altogether. The Passivhaus technique is best-in-class and looks at the entire building to leave you with a net-zero-ready home.
2. Or get as close to that as possible.
If you’re looking at making your existing home more heating efficient the same rules apply. You want to use high levels of insulation, make the building as airtight as possible, and choose renewable sources of heat for what you do need. This means eliminating gas usage completely and choosing an energy provider who uses solely renewable electricity (or install some solar panels yourself). Ground source heat pumps are the most popular way to replace a boiler.
3. Look at alternatives to radiators.
Underfloor heating distributes heat more effectively than traditional convection heaters, while infrared panels use radiant heat and can be hidden in your walls. Opting for more traditional wood burners, then make sure it complies with new Ecodesign 2022 regulations on lower emissions.
To get more information we recommend the following information providers:
- The Energy Saving Trust has a range of information on making your home more energy efficient: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/.
- The Glass and Glazing Federation offers excellent advice on choosing the right windows: https://www.myglazing.com/.
- The Heat Pump Association has a detailed guide to Heat Pumps and why you should install one: https://www.heatpumps.org.uk/consumers/heat-pump-technical-information/what-is-a-heat-pump/.
- Solar Energy UK offers detailed information about switching to Solar Energy: https://solarenergyuk.org/solar-energy/.
- Ofgem has excellent advice about energy companies and possible grants you may be eligible for: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households.
- Grand Designs Magazine has a great guide on buying the right wood-burner: https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/heating/wood-burning-stoves-guide/.