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With the world moving steadily towards Net Zero, the way we heat our homes is more important than ever. Renewable energy is becoming more mainstream, making low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps and electric heating the go-to solutions for a sustainable future. So, which is the better option? Let’s delve into the details of each system, their pros and cons, and determine which low-carbon heating solution is best.
Heat pumps capture heat from outside and move it around your home. There are two main types of heat pump: air source and ground source.
Air source heat pumps look a little like air conditioning units, and are installed outside the house next to an external wall. They vary in size depending on your homes heating needs, and can be used for both heating and cooling.
Air source heat pumps work similarly to refrigerators. They absorb heat from the outside air and release it inside. Despite their efficiency, they deliver a lower heat supply than other systems, leaving homeowners opting for supplemental heating solutions to heat their homes.
Ground source heat pumps use buried pipes to extract heat from the ground and transfer it to your home’s central heating system. The ground’s consistent temperature year-round gives these systems an advantage over air source heat pumps, particularly in the colder months.
Pipes are installed either horizontally or vertically in the ground, connected to the heat pump unit indoors. This setup extracts heat from the earth, converts it into liquid circulating through the pipes, and transfers it to your home’s heating system via a heat exchanger.
Electric heating systems are 100% efficient at point of use. For maximum efficiency, we recommend systems that use radiant heat, include energy-saving features, and offer smart programming. Electric radiators are particularly effective, making them strong contenders as low-carbon heating solutions.
Our ELKATHERM® electric radiators are German manufactured, ultra-efficient and highly controllable, serving as an excellent primary heating system for homes. They are available in a huge range of wattages, sizes, shapes, styles and colours to fit any room design and heating requirement.
ELKATHERM® radiators contain a smart ceramic fireclay core, which heats to its optimum working temperature in minutes and stays warm for hours with minimal top ups. The heating element is directly embedded into the core, ensuring longevity and efficiency. They heat your home using a combination of convected and radiated heat, providing quick heat up times and long-lasting warmth, ensuring comfort even when they aren’t drawing power.
For your hot water heating, we recommend Sunamp. Compact, efficient and cost-effective, Sunamp’s heat battery technology uses a phase change material to turn clean, fresh, cold water into fast flowing hot water. Sunamp can save you time, money, space and energy. The heat batteries are up to four times smaller than equivalent hot water cylinders, freeing up vital space in your home whilst providing cascades of mains pressure hot water throughout your home. Sunamp can use standard or off-peak tariffs to charge, and can work with almost any energy source – including solar PV.
The UK government’s push for heat punps faces significant hurdles: specifically high installation costs and the structural limitations of many UK homes.
Conversely, electric heating solutions like ELKATHERM® radiators are gaining popularity, with just 37000 homes using heat pumps and 2.2 million using electric heating. The lower upfront costs, ease of installation, zero maintenance, and superior controllability make electric heating the preferred choice for many households.
Electric heating offers unmatched control and flexibility for transitioning to a low-carbon home. It’s cost-effective and efficient, allowing gradual upgrades rather than a full retrofit. Get in touch today to book your free home survey and make the first step towards a low-carbon home.
