The changing face of central heating and how it affects you

Nothing could have prepared the UK, indeed the world, for the changes we have seen in the last half decade. Soaring energy prices, a global pandemic and a credit crunch, to name but a few. The future of heating homes in the UK is undergoing a transformative shift as we negotiate these challenges, alongside a more urgent need for greener energy and improved heating efficiency.

There are several trends emerging that could begin to influence the way we heat our homes in the future. As your local boiler and plumbing experts, we make it our business to keep ahead of the changing face of heating engineering and share the good bits with you.

Hydronic heating

The use of fossil fuels has long been a known contributor to the UK’s hefty carbon footprint. Unfortunately, not many other viable options to replace it have been available, until now. Hydrogen is being explored as a potential zero-emission energy source for heating. Hydrogen boilers and hydrogen-blend gas networks are being studied as alternatives to natural gas, although these technologies are still in the early stages of development.

Smart heating systems

Everything is smart nowadays, isn’t it? Your speakers, your phone, your tv; so why not your boiler and heating systems? Smart thermostats and heating control systems now allow you to manage your heating remotely. This means you can schedule your heating to come on when needed, optimising energy usage and reducing waste. 

Improved building insulation

Ok, so this isn’t strictly one to do with energy provision (our speciality) but it does affect what you pay on your heating bills, so we thought it was an important one to mention. Better insulated homes lose less heat. It’s as basic as that. The government is investing in improving the insulation of existing housing stock and implementing stricter building codes for new constructions, meaning the home of the future will waste less energy and keep us toastier. Win, win. 

Going green

Renewable sources are beginning to become a serious contender in the world of home heating. While they previously struggled to keep pace with gas, new energy storage technologies, such as batteries, are playing an increasingly important role in optimising the use of renewable energy for heating. These systems can store excess energy from renewable sources when it’s abundant and release it when needed, increasing the overall efficiency of heating solutions.

Customisable heating

Ever been annoyed by the fact that everyone is crowded into the sitting room for the evening but the kitchen radiator is still going full blast? New modular technology allows you to heat rooms according to occupancy, meaning no wasted heat going into unoccupied areas of the house.

These changes are largely characterised by improvements to energy efficiency, with a goal to waste less and use less energy in the long run. While some of these advancements will take a while before they filter into our own homes, there are some small changes you can make in the short term to ensure your home heating is more efficient.

Contact our team today to discuss how we can help your boiler run better, use less energy and cost you less over winter. 

Need help with your boiler or heating system? Contact us today