Find your Local
We're a national brand with a local team in your area.
Select the location below that's closest to you:
Is your home affected by Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch-off? Find out more
With traditional gas and oil heating methods being slowly but surely phased out, it’s clear that the future of home heating is electric. With ‘wet’ heating systems known for their unsightly pipes, expensive servicing and limited lifespan, they’ve more than outstayed their welcome. Not to mention how they tie us in to the big energy providers!
If we are to reach the UK Government’s net zero emissions target, we need to reduce the carbon emissions from heating our homes by 95%. Having an efficient heating system running on a low carbon fuel is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce your fuel bills and your carbon emissions.
Electric boilers heat water using electricity and circulate this warm water through radiators or underfloor heating pipes. These systems usually include a large hot water cylinder to store the hot water.
Electric boilers are considered to be around 99% efficient, as they turn all the electricity they use into heat. Despite being extremely efficient, electric boilers often have a low Energy rated Products (ErP) score. This is because historically, the process of producing electricity often involved burning fossil fuels, which created harmful carbon dioxide. Renewable energy generation has increased massively in recent years – in fact, 2020 marked the first year in UK history where electricity came predominantly from renewable energy, with 43% of our power coming from a combination of wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric sources. It is expected that, as more electricity generation becomes renewable, the ErP rating given to electric boilers will increase.
Electric boilers often have much lower installation costs than their gas counterparts, and they don’t require additional costs such as annual servicing, gas certification and carbon monoxide detectors. On average they consume just under half the energy of a gas boiler. As an idea, an average sized detached house using an electric boiler could use 9085 kW per year.
Electric boilers, when used with a hot water cylinder, can be paired with special electric meters that provide cheaper electricity units at specific times of the day, such as Economy 7. However if your lifestyle isn’t suited to an Economy 7 tariff, you could end up paying much more for your energy overall than you would on another deal.
Infrared heaters provide heat via radiation, which is targeted at the solid objects in a room. These objects absorb the infrared, warm up, and radiate the heat back out. This means you aren’t heating air that can easily escape – just the objects that require heating up.
Infrared heaters can be mounted on walls and ceilings to provide discreet heating throughout the home. They are efficient to run as the heat they give off is directly absorbed by the objects and surfaces in the room.
Night storage heaters work by storing heat generated by cheaper night-time electricity and releasing this heat during the day. They are usually wall mounted and look a little like radiators. They draw electricity overnight and store it as heat in a ’bank’ of ceramic bricks or clay to use the following day. They are traditionally used with special electric meters that provide cheaper electricity units at night time, such as Economy 7.
The most efficient modern storage heaters are called ‘high heat retention storage heaters’ and can be up to 27% cheaper to run than standard storage heaters. However, if your lifestyle isn’t suited to an Economy 7 tariff, they could cost you more than you expected. Storage heaters traditionally have very limited control options, and you may find that all the heat has been expended by night – making your home cold.
Renewable energy is generated from organic sources that are naturally replenished, such as the Sun, wind, biofuel and water. The process of generating energy from these sources emits hardly any greenhouse gases, unlike with fossil fuels and coal.
Setting up your own solar or wind system just isn’t feasible for everyone, but there’s still ways you can make a difference. Simply switching to a green tariff only takes a matter of minutes.
By choosing electric heating powered by renewable sources, you could save money on your electricity bills and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Heat pumps capture heat from outside and move it into your home using electricity. Heat pumps are considered to be very efficient heating solutions, as the amount of heat they produce is more than the amount of electricity they use. The amount of heat energy moved versus the amount of electrical energy used depends on the source temperature and output temperature, so it varies throughout the year as seasons change.
Heat pumps are best for keeping ambient warmth in the home, but not for boosting heat. Installation can be very costly and cause a lot of disruption to your home and garden. You’ll also need space for a water tank and for the pump itself.
Biomass is an energy source generated by burning wood, plants and other organic matter. Biomass heating systems burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a single room, or to power central heating and hot water boilers.
Burning wood does emit carbon dioxide, however, this is the same amount that was absorbed over the years that the plant was growing. The process could be considered to be sustainable, as long as new plants are grown in place of those used for fuel. There is increasing concern that burning wood at home can negatively impact local air quality, potentially contributing to serious health problems.
An automatically fed pellet boiler can cost between £10,000 – £20,000 including installation costs. Fuel costs for biomass boilers can also vary depending on fuel type and availability.
Solar thermal technology harnesses the heat energy from the Sun and converts it into hot water. These systems require a boiler or immersion heater as a backup to provide an extra boost to your home’s hot water generation, especially during the Winter months.
Installing a two or three panel solar thermal system to supply a 200 to 300 litre cylinder could cost between £4000 to £7000. You’ll also need to factor in the cost and space requirements of a water cylinder, and additional boiler if your current one is not compatible.
Solar photovoltaic (also known as solar PV) systems convert energy from the Sun into electricity. The larger the system you install, the more electricity it has the potential to produce – and the larger the upfront cost. Costs also vary depending on the type of solar cell used. Other costs to consider include maintenance, regular cleaning, replacing inverters and insurance.
One major benefit to solar PV systems is the use of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which provides financial support to small-scale renewable energy generators for the electricity they export to the grid.
How you heat your home is extremely important. Not only will the best heating system keep you cosy and warm all winter, it will also have a positive impact on your carbon footprint and your energy bills.
Installing your own renewable energy generator at home isn’t an option for everyone, but switching to a green tariff is easy and can help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Home heating is changing and moving away from fossil fuel; the days of gas and oil heating systems are numbered. The future is in utilising renewable energy sources to heat our homes with electricity. Installing our A++ energy rated ELKATHERM® electric radiators and a Sunamp heat battery could save you money on your energy bills, while also helping to protect the planet.
Heat Electric are specialists in ultra-modern and efficient electric heating. We’re proud to be a Which? Trusted Trader for our high standards of customer service, value and quality, and our NAPIT accredited installers work to a no mess, no fuss policy when fitting your stylish new heating system.
ELKATHERM® electric radiators are A++ energy rated. They stay warm for hours with minimal additional power, meaning more warmth for your money and greater control than traditional storage heating. ELKATHERM® electric radiators use a massive five times surface area to provide superior radiated heat and spread convected warmth around the room, ensuring you aren’t left with cold spots. There’s no need for a noisy fan, so you won’t get uncomfortable dry air associated with other forms of electric heating. Once your ELKATHERM® electric radiator is up to temperature, it will typically draw between 15 and 17 minutes of electricity per hour to top up the core and maintain your cosy home. You can control each room individually, selecting the times and temperatures to best suit your lifestyle, and ensuring you don’t waste heat in rooms you aren’t using. We offer a range of control options, including our latest smartphone app which allows you to control your heating remotely.
Our ELKATHERM® electric radiators also come with a 4-year guarantee for electronic components, and a massive 25-year guarantee for the internal heat core. They are completely VDE approved and LOT20 compliant.
Sunamp heat batteries deliver mains pressure hot water on demand with superb efficiency. Packed with modern electric water heating technology, Sunamp heat batteries are ultra compact, need little or no maintenance, and can be charged using an off-peak energy tariff, or divert energy from solar PV, heat pumps or other renewable sources. They are perfect for those conscious about reducing carbon emissions, reducing or eliminating gas usage and controlling energy bills. Update your homes’s water heating system safely, quietly and with excellent pressure with Sunamp.
Call us today to book your free home survey on 01244 371 445.
