Manufacturers and installers need to play a bigger role in helping to educate consumers on the latest advances in heating technology so they can maximise their energy saving potential – says Scott Conor from Trust Electric Heating.
We are all very quick to look to rising energy prices as the reason our homes aren’t heated as efficiently as we’d like, but there is a bigger picture to consider. Many homeowners don’t think about overall heating efficiency as much as they should, but human behaviour can have a significant impact on performance and efficiency.
A fundamental yet often overlooked aspect of heating is windows and doors. As key components to the building structure, windows and doors play a crucial role in heating and can impact how heat is both lost and retained within interior spaces.
During cold winter months, radiators are put under undue strain when warm air continuously escapes, leading to unnecessary energy wastage. Poor insulation and single glazing are the most common causes of heat loss, contributing to higher energy bills.
When heating systems are on, radiators work at full capacity to maintain heat within the space. Poorly sealed windows allow warmer air to escape, leading to cold spots and uncomfortable drafts, which may cause occupants to rely on inefficient supplementary heating. Unfortunately, this behaviour doesn’t help to retain heat, it only causes radiators to work harder and consequently increases energy bills.
Smart controls
Modern thermostats have evolved far beyond simple temperature regulators. Advanced programming methods and features have made heating systems more accessible and controllable.
Smart heating systems work seamlessly with most boiler-led and electric systems and can easily be integrated to adapt to daily life. These systems can be programmed to understand behaviour patterns within the home and manage overall energy consumption in real time.
While this technology is great for conserving energy, the way in which occupants use the thermostat can also impact efficiency and sustainability. Setting the thermostat temperature too high or manually overriding its functions can lead to overheating, disrupting the heating system’s cycle and causing it to work harder.
Now, with occupants spending more time at home with the introduction of flexible working patterns, heating systems are being utilised more throughout the day. Again, this means homeowners are more likely to override heating systems without understanding the efficiency implications of doing so.
To help combat this, we have developed thermostats with features such as proximity technology to actively reduce energy consumption and guarantee no energy is wasted in vacant spaces. With proximity, the thermostat connects via Bluetooth to a mobile device, and can only be operated when the device is present, thus saving energy in empty rooms.
Sustainability in mind
As the cost of living continues to rise, the allure of inexpensive radiators can be tempting, but they often lead to increased long-term costs. The need for perpetual operation to achieve a consistent temperature, coupled with brief product lifespans, results in increased waste and escalating energy bills.
Typically, homeowners do not consider how sustainable a heating system is. This could be for several reasons, but I would argue that the main reason is a lack of education from manufacturers on the overall design and materials used in radiator systems.
Some traditional steel convection radiators are constructed from inexpensive materials that rust over time and are inefficient at projecting outward heat, losing it at the back toward the wall. Ultimately, this creates cold spots and again means the heating system is forced to work harder to maintain heat.
This was one of the key driving factors behind the invention of our NEOS electric radiator, which was created with sustainability in mind. The NEOS is designed using an aluminium casing, which is 2.9 times more conductive than mild steel for faster heating. Its soapstone core and patented technology also mean heat is maintained, and not lost toward the wall, to keep the space warm and energy bills low.
Building heating products that offer both performance and longevity is the most sustainable solution.
Joined-up approach
With technology advancing quicker than ever, it’s easy to fall into a ‘style over substance’ trap. I believe that all technological advancements must cater to everybody. When creating new technologies, heating manufacturers must not only focus on developing products that resonate with all demographics but also provide education on how the system works and integrates.
In my opinion, education is one of the main aspects impacting behaviour when it comes to heating homes. Some heating systems can be perceived as overly complex for the busy homeowner, the elderly, or less tech-savvy. This means that technology can become a barrier, rather than an enabler, and people don’t then get the full efficiency benefits of new innovations, which completely defeats the point.
Heating manufacturers need to place more emphasis on education and make innovations accessible to everybody. At Trust, we have created an array of thermostats that are intuitive but also have the backup of technical support from real people on our customer service team so that anyone struggling with the technology can access help and support. Our aim is to help influence human behaviour while seamlessly integrating heating systems with lifestyle habits.
I believe that the ongoing battle for efficiency requires a joined-up approach that combines innovation with education. There is an increased need to understand how human behaviour can impact heating sustainability and overall efficiency as winter draws closer.
Advancements within the market happen so rapidly that there is almost a constant need to analyse and adapt behaviours to benefit from new technology. In my view, it is the responsibility of heating manufacturers to help end users make the most of the benefits of these technological advances, especially in the current climate with net zero goals and rising heating bills.
