The 2025 ban on gas boilers in new builds which was announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement may have caused concern for some, but the widespread adoption of renewable energy technology opens up a new conversation around how we might heat our homes in the future. Sheldon Cooper of underfloor heating specialist, WMS discusses.
“While many housebuilders might plan to combine renewable energy technology with their default radiator specification in the run up to 2025, I’d argue that this is the right time to review entire heating systems and their associated supply chains.
“It’s an expectation of many new-home hunters nowadays that properties should have underfloor heating (UFH) installed as standard. Of course there are options in the radiator market, but according to the property professionals we’ve spoken to, once buyers have experienced the difference UFH makes to the comfort of a property, they won’t accept anything less.
“Added to this, having worked in this industry for 15 years, we know UFH works far more efficiently with renewable energy technology than radiators do. This is because UFH covers a greater surface area and can therefore run at lower temperatures – at 50oC rather than 80oC. The demand UFH places on energy sources is therefore significantly less, making them ideal for use with heat pumps and solar panels.
“Switching up entire heating systems isn’t something which can happen overnight. There are an alarmingly wide range of options and combinations to consider, not to mention the upheaval involved for any integrated supply chain. But these are all obstacles which can be overcome – with a little bit of research and selection of the right supply chain partners. For example, switching to a direct electricity source is unlikely to be efficient, some give you less output than input, heat pumps however typically offer in excess of four times the output (4.0 + coefficient of performance). At WMS we will guide and advise you through the endless possible system options that we can tailor to work with any floor build up and are continually investing in new ways to improve our use of materials, installation technology and energy efficiency.
“2025 presents the housebuilding industry with a challenge, but we like to see this an opportunity to make things better.”
