Over 90% of the homes in the UK are heated using either a gas or oil boiler. However just because it is most commonly used, it doesn’t mean it is the best option. These two options aren’t too great for keeping your carbon footprint down, which is why exploring alternative options is always a good idea. If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, you should consider what other options you have.
Insulation
Before you can even consider better ways to heat your home you need to consider whether you can keep the heat in. If you have poor insulation, you will be putting your heating on higher and higher because it will be escaping outside rather than staying in your home or building, this, in turn, results in you using more energy, spending more money while also increasing your carbon footprint.
Good insulation ensures that when you turn your heating on, it stays inside meaning you won’t need to use as much to heat your home. Insulation can cost a lot of money depending on how much you need to be done, so this may not be an option for everyone, however, if you can it is a great way to bring your energy bill down.
Heating Options
There are a few different heating options which will help to reduce your carbon footprint. All of them come with both pros and cons, this should help you weigh them out so you can choose the option that is right for you.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump works in a similar way to a fridge except it is the opposite way around. Instead of making the inside colder and transferring the heat outside, the heat pump will extract heat from the environment outside the house and pump it inside. Heat pumps are the most efficient form of heating around, even when it is freezing outside heat pumps can easily turn that into hot air. In fact, heat pumps are the most popular option in Sweden now.
There are 4 different types of heat pumps:
Hybrid Heat Pumps
These work alongside the gas boilers. They work by switching between the two based on which one would use the least carbon at the time. When electricity from the grid uses low carbon then the heat pump will be used to power your home. However, if the electricity grid is being powered by a lot of fossil fuels then the gas boiler would be a more suitable option. They can even be used at the same time on really cold days.
Air-Source Heat Pump
These will work by having a heat pump outside your property it will extract heat from the air even when it is cold outside which is then used to heat the water in your radiators and hot water tanks. These pumps may not heat your boiler as hot as a gas-fired one would, however, it does run for a longer period of time instead.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
These heat pumps extract heat from the ground so a garden is needed for this to make a trench. This is a more expensive option than an air source heat pump but it is also more efficient and quieter.
Air to Air Heat Pump
Instead of making hot water in your home, these blow hot air into your home instead. If you have multiple floors to heat up, you may need more than one of these.
Heat Pump Statistics
50-60% reduction in carbon footprint
1 unit of electricity = 3 units of heat
Eligible for a government grant
Heat Batteries
These are fairly new and work alongside heat pumps. They allow the heat that wasn’t used by the heat pump to be stored for later. This means that you will always be able to have instantly hot showers or baths without having to wait for the water to get hot.
These heat batteries are not limited to working with heat pumps, they can also work with solar thermal panels, solar PV panels or charged directly by electricity.
They are very small devices, about a third of the size of a hot water tank and small enough to fit in a kitchen cabinet.
Heat Batteries Statistics
The initial fitting cost will be higher than fitting a hot water tank however, the running costs will be reduced by 30-40%.
Contact Our Team
At ETUK, we supply a range of heating and air conditioning options. If you are looking for an eco-friendly heat pump then get in contact with our team on 01234 77 22 78 who can help to find the best option for you.
