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Electricity is a form of energy which can easily be distributed with minimal loss. Heat regulation is simple, precise and spontaneous. By using electric under-floor heating, energy is converted to warmth exactly where you need it – on the floor. Modern thermostats allow you to precisely control the temperature and energy usage in all kinds of rooms. By using such thermostats one can optimize one’s own needs whilst at the same time keeping energy use at a minimum.
The general tendency is towards the introduction of stricter and more severe building regulations regarding insulation of new properties. This means that new homes have “better” U-values (rate of heat loss) and need less heating than old properties. The number of days where there are heating needs are therefore less than before ! A heating source which is both flexible and swift to regulate will be preferred. Larger, centralized heating systems become less efficient when the total need for energy is reduced. Hot water, which is often used as a form of energy carrier has a high heat capacity and is slow to regulate (if it gets too hot one often opens the window to cool down the room !). If one has a falling total energy output need, the share of energy used to drive pumps / motors etc. will increase in relation to the amount of energy which is given off as “consumable” warmth. In addition, centralized heating systems experience a considerable loss of heat along their channels of heat distribution.
One can argue that this doesn’t apply for air to air heating pumps, but remember that the warmth comes from one single source. Single source heating does not give a balanced and even level of comfort heating in a large room. Electric floor comfort heating on the other hand, gives you exactly the heat you need – where you want it ! It follows then that the average temperature in a room with electric under-floor heating is lower than in a room with single source heating. This is because the temperature will be lower near the ceiling than by the floor, when floor heating is used. When one uses single source heating, heat rises up to the ceiling and gives a heat loss which one doesn’t really need. In addition, it will always be too warm by the source itself if one is to have a comfortable temperature far away from the source itself.
With an increasing production of green electricity and lower total energy needs in modern buildings, there should be posed critical questions as to the development of extra infrastructure for other types of heating systems, both as regards efficiency and the environment. Heating sources which are both swift and easy to regulate should be used – as for example is demonstrated by electrical under-floor comfort heating.
Electrical under-floor heating:-
- Is invisible
- Gives an optimal distribution of warmth in the room
- Does not smell (no burning dust).
- Is noiseless (no air pockets or strange sounds in pipes)
- Is maintenance free (no pumps, pipes, or motors which have to be maintained)
- Is simple and has a low cost of installation (heating cable and thermostat only).
- Gives you warmth where you want it.
- Produces warmth efficiently in the right place where heat loss is at a minimum.
- Can easily be regulated – precisely and spontaneously.
- Allows you to minimise energy usage.
The general tendency for Electrical underfloor heating products is therefore very positive and could well be one of the mayor way’s of heating in future years/decades.
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