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The climate change is a pressing issue at present, it is essential to find sustainable alternatives to traditional heating systems. These systems often rely on fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Fortunately, many eco-friendly heating systems are available that can help reduce your carbon footprint while keeping your home warm.
The Functionality of Traditional Heating Systems
Before we dive into eco-friendly alternatives to traditional heating systems, it is important to understand how traditional heating systems work. Most homes in the UK rely on non-condensing boilers or electric heaters to provide warmth. Non-condensing boilers heat water, which is then circulated throughout the home through radiators or under-floor heating. Electric heaters use electricity to generate heat. While these systems are effective, they also have significant drawbacks.
Environmental Implications of Conventional Heating Systems
Older forms of heating technologies, including non-condensing back boilers, also have adverse environmental impacts because they emit carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These emissions are harmful to the environment as they cause global warming, and are also hazardous to the health of people as they cause respiratory diseases. Also, the extraction and burning of these fossil fuels are some of the factors that lead to environmental degradations.
Eco Friendly Heating Systems and Their Advantages
There are several benefits of using environment friendly heating systems when compared to the conventional systems. They are more energy efficient, meaning that they will help you cut down on your energy bills as well as your carbon emissions. These central heating systems are also less noisy and do not causes noise pollution hence improving the indoor air quality. The great news about some of the eco-friendly heating systems is that they are funded by the government hence making them almost free.
Eco-Friendly Heating Systems & Their Functionality
There are a number of green ways to heat your home, and the following describes some of the most common forms of environmentally friendly heating systems.
1. Heat Pumps
Heat pumps take heat from the air outside or from the ground and bring it inside your home. They are very effective and can be used for heating as well as cooling.
2. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
ASHPs cool air from outside the building no matter the prevailing weather conditions. They are especially preferred by many homeowners.
3. Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs)
GSHPs take heat from the ground and this is usually at a higher temperature than that of the air. The disadvantage that comes with them is that they require more effort in installation when compared to ASHPs but they are more efficient.
4. Solar Thermal Panels
Solar thermal panels are devices that absorb heat from the sun and then transfer that heat into hot water. This can minimise the use of gas or electricity for heating in your home, and other areas that might require heating.
5. Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers are fuelled by renewable materials such as wood pellet or wood chip to produce heat. They are a renewable form of energy and suitable to be adopted in areas where biomass feedstock is available.
6. Micro-Combined Heat and Power (Micro-CHP) Systems
Micro-CHP systems generate electricity and heat simultaneously. They are a highly efficient option for homes with a high demand for both. Micro-CHP systems are typically powered by gas or biomass, and they can significantly reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint.
7. Electric Heat Pumps
In addition to air and ground source heat pumps, there are also electric heat pumps available. These systems use electricity to extract heat from the air and transfer it into your home. They are a relatively new technology, but they are becoming increasingly popular due to their efficiency and low carbon emissions.
Government Heating Grants
In the UK, government is offering different types of eco-friendly heating grants to the low-income households to switch to the green heating systems. These grants can be used to subsidise the initial costs of installation and therefore make these systems more financially viable. Some of these grant programmes include:
1. ECO Scheme
ECO or Energy Company Obligation Scheme is a government initiative to provide heating upgrade grants to low-income households in the UK. The scheme is in its fourth phase under ECO4 name. This scheme offer free boiler grants, free air source heat pump grants, free first time central heating grants and free insulation grants.
2. Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
This scheme provides grants for homeowners to replace old gas boilers with more efficient models, including heat pumps.
3. Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
The RHI offers payments to homeowners who install eligible renewable heating systems, such as heat pumps or solar thermal panels.
4. Green Homes Grant
This scheme provided grants for homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including installing new heating systems. While it has ended, there may be similar schemes available in the future.
Things to Look at When Selecting Sustainable Heating System
When choosing an eco-friendly heating system, several factors should be considered:
- Your Home’s Energy Needs: The insulation size of the house will dictate the heating system needed to heat the home.
- Your Budget: The initial cost may be relatively high, depending on the type of the system and the requirements of your home.
- Government Grants: There is always an opportunity to look for grants that may be available in your region to assist in the installation costs.
- Environmental Impact: Also, look at the impact the system makes on the environment in terms of carbon emissions.
- Maintenance Requirements: One has to understand that every system that is installed requires a certain level of maintenance. Consider this in your decision making.
The Connection between Insulation & Energy Efficiency
Although the use of energy efficient system is important in saving energy, insulation of your home is also very important. Insulation works to reduce heat loss from walls, floors and ceilings and hence make your heating system more effective. It is important to note that insulating your home is one of the best ways of cutting down on your energy bills as well as your carbon emissions.
Types of Insulation
1. Loft Insulation
This is one of the most popular and efficient way to improve insulation. It entails the process where you put insulation on your attic or loft space.
2. Wall Insulation
Wall insulation can be carried out internally or externally. The internal insulation is where you add the insulation inside the walls of your home while the external insulation is where you add the insulation on the outer side of the walls.
3. Under-Floor Insulation
Under floor insulation is effective in preventing heat loss through the floor. It is especially useful in the older buildings with cold floors in the rooms that are located under other rooms.
Government Grants for Home Insulation
The UK government offers grants to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including insulation. The ECO4 scheme for insulation and the Great British Insulation Scheme offers free insulation grants. These grants can help offset the cost of insulation and make it more affordable.
Conclusion
Eco-friendly heating systems are efficient and cheaper compared to the conventional heating systems. These systems will help you cut on your energy consumption, hence lowering your carbon footprint and enhancing the quality of air indoors while saving on your bills. Thanks to the government subsidies and development in technology, eco-friendly heating is now easier than it has ever been before. When you decide to change your heating system to a more environmentally friendly one, it will be possible to help the environment by making it better for the future generations.
