Today we conducted an Energy Performance Certificate at a property in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. The property was a modest 2 bedroomed semi-detached, completely unimproved from the date of its construction, and not particularly well maintained either. It is set to undergo a full refurbishment, and this will include a new heating system. However, it struck us that the heating in this property will have missed out on the dash for gas. It was built as an electric heating house, never converted to gas, and will hopefully stay as electric only. In effect, electric heating comes full circle in this property.
In a modest 2 bedroom property, the addition of gas central heating is a large overhead. Pipework necessary throughout, radiators, gas boiler, annual service charge, gas standing charge. In a well-insulated smaller property, storage heaters are ideal. They always were ideal. Whilst gas heating offered some advantages, where heating demand can be kept low, it simply isn’t necessary.
It has taken a price shock layered on top of a recognition that the climate crisis is real for the return of electric heating to the mainstream.
Modern electric heating comes in many different forms. Whilst the heat pump is gaining a lot of public attention (and public subsidy), many other forms of electric heating exist. The Tepeo heat storage battery, modern storage heaters and modern infrared panel heaters to name a few.
Storage of heat in particular is due a revival, due to the unavoidable fact that the electricity supply network of the UK will become ever more reliant on weather dependent forms of supply. At times when wind power is merrily generating away, in particular at night, it will become crucial that demand is soaking up that supply. Storing heat in this way ensures heating demand is not overloading the network during the late afternoon / evening peak.
If you want to move off gas, make sure you consider the range of options available, and choose the one most suited to your property and your life style.
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