Underfloor Heating Systems- The Past, The Present And The Future!

Just before winter sets in, normally towards the end of summer there are many smart home owners who prepare their homes well in advance for the cold winter season. Winter will definitely cause intense climatic changes that can even be more extreme. Drastic changes in temperature have claimed many lives and extremities have become just too tough to withstand. Gas and electricity prices are just getting higher often.  Increasing fuel prices and the ever increasing rates of inflation have forced people to look at alternate systems that are economical and efficient. Hence choosing heating systems that are more pocket friendly and that can help to combat the cold comfortably, becomes necessary. Underfloor heating systems were developed to facilitate the above. And, now they are quickly gaining popularity and becoming common in many households.

Ribbon Mats

The Origin

Contrary to what people commonly concur about this heating system, it is definitely not a recent addition to the new inventions. In fact if you really check and look back as far as the prehistoric period, you can find traces of how people used underfloor spaces and cavities and passed smoke to generate heat. People in North Asia and even in Alaska used these cavities to heat floor surfaces. This was done to increase residential temperatures and to fight cold climatic conditions. Basically to put in a nutshell, the smoke heats the floor and easily rotates through the cavities making rooms warm. The Romans with their hypocaust used steam and hot air circulation system between walls and floors as their heating system.

Carbon Film

The Present

Today with recent research, companies have now effectively developed economical Underfloor heating systems. These have distinct and efficient features over older ones. Normally the traditional radiator based heating system costs are much higher than these heating systems. Cost of installation especially for newly constructed homes is low. The heat generated by these reaches almost every nook and corner of the room.  Heat is not concentrated in a particular area of the room. Hence there is a wholesome feeling of warmth in the atmosphere. Associated issues like regular maintenance, uncontrolled humidity and space occupied in the room are eliminated.

Cable Mats

Types

The two kinds of Underfloor heating systems; water- based and electricity- based can be installed relatively easily. Older homes or new constructions, most of the boilers can incorporate this heating installation. The aspects that require consideration while addressing heating requirements of a home include the kind of underfloor, underlay and system. Carpeted rooms although take a while to get warm; however they do stay warmer for a longer duration as well. It is completely up to one’s discretion whether you want to have a carpeted floor or not. Electricity-based ones are less expensive to install, but the expenses to run the same is higher.  What has become more popular today are kits and guides that help in taking a well informed decision on which heating system will suit the needs. It definitely provides both short and long term benefits. Lower installation cost and better heating are making this a preferred heating option. As a matter of caution one can always check and compare the costs and decide.

Solar PV devices can save you from the huge electricity bills

Solar photovoltaic cells or devices based on this technology are used to convert the solar energy into electric energy. The cells present in these devices have the property to produce electrons from the solar energy incident on them. The stream of these electrons is then captured to form a stream of electric energy usable by humans. Various devices such as solar light panels and calculators are based on this theory and are capable of working without batteries. Having such kinds of devices will mean that you will be saving a lot in your electricity bills and will be far off from electricity breaks.

Though the initial cost of these devices can be more than the other battery run devices, but these are worth the cost. The user will recover the whole cost in a very short interval of time by saving on the running cost of the device. If still you feel like your budget is not allowing you to purchase such a device, you can visit a website that supplies these devices on a discounted rate. These websites also offer second hand solar devices which are as good as the new ones. After receiving them, you can either install them yourself or call the professional solar PV installers to do it for you.

Many people are unknown to a very unique feature of using these devices which is that a person using these alternative sources of energy can also earn by selling out the excess energy to their national grid. The government promotes the use of these devices as they are harmless to the environment and the users can also receive rewards and recognition for using them. These are 100% pollution free and using them will mean that you are also contributing towards the welfare of the environment.

Once you get your solar PV light panel, the next thing is to decide the place to install it. The best place to install it will be your home’s roof top. As it will require a continuous beam of sunlight falling on it, it is better to place it on a location that receives efficient sunlight during every part of the day. For home use, small solar light panels are enough for fulfilling the energy needs of your home. Also it will give you an idea about your energy requirements, how much output can be obtained from it, how much time it takes for recovering the total cost of the device, how to go for it if you want to supply the excess energy to your national grid and much more.

When you get familiarized with all these facts, you can think of getting a bigger frame. But before calling the solar PV installers, also consider the space available to you. Depending upon the space available, you can decide the number of panels you can accommodate on your roof top. Not necessarily the roof top, you can also utilize other open spaces near your house like your garden, backyard, etc. Just make sure that the areas receive adequate sunlight and are free from the shade of the trees and nearby buildings.

Do your bit to save the environment

Due to the rising cost of electricity, people have come to realize the importance of the renewable sources of energy. Many home owners as well as corporate offices are incorporating various devices into their homes that work on natural resources like solar water heaters, solar cookers, wind turbines, etc. It not only cuts our electricity expenses but also supports the environment.

How the use of wind turbines can make a difference

The natural sources of energy can be utilizes in many ways. A domestic wind turbine is the perfect example of that. It is very evident how human beings are harming the environment in which they live. Producing your own energy, that too using natural non-harmful energy resources will mean that you are cutting on the carbon content that you emit into the atmosphere. Once you install the device, you will get a continuous supply of energy. Nature has gifted you with unlimited and totally free wind energy. Now, it depends on you whether you utilize it or not.

Except the initial installation cost, you do not have to spend anymore on the apparatus as it requires no or very less maintenance. There are other ways too by which homemade electricity can be produced like by burning fossil fuels. But then again, the burning of fossil fuels will emit lots of carbon dioxide in the form of smoke and excessive heat, which both affect the environment in a bad way.

Earlier, the domestic wind turbine was huge and bulky which made it very difficult to handle and install. It required a lot of space to be installed. The new kind of wind turbines are no more like that. They are light weight and smaller in size due to which they can be easily installed on the rooftop. Though they cannot fully replace the other source of energy, yet they are worth the cost and effort. You can combine it with other forms of energy for a complete backup energy solution.

If you are worried about their cost, then be at ease as these devices have become very inexpensive now. Previously, only hobbyists and the people living in villages and far flung areas who had very less requirements of electric energy used this equipment but due to various reasons, it is used more commonly now. It can either be purchased or can be assembled by getting the basic components required from a hardware shop. It would cost you less than $200. This is the onetime cost and after that, you don’t have to spend anything on it! Assembling them is very easy and you can get a ‘do it yourself’ guide from the shop itself or you can download it from the internet.

Check your home’s aptness for a wind turbine

As the wind turbine will require a speedy wind, just make sure that the area where you live gets these speedy winds during a significant part of the year. These can be installed in homes, villas or any kind of structures. If you are thinking of installing a bigger project of turbines, you will need almost an acre of land space. Turbines with bigger blades can easily be installed in this much of area.