A new independent report has been produced that investigates the most cost-effective method through Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) regulations for delivering electric heating and hot water across a range of different housing types.
The white paper – Energy Consumption and Running Costs of Electric Space Heating Systems – assesses how different electric heater systems can help to maximise efficiency and cost savings in different applications. Electric panel heaters, for example, are most effective in small apartments and flats, while heat pumps are better suited to three-bedroom houses and instantaneous point of use water heaters provide the most benefits when delivering hot water in homes.
The white paper has been written by Professor John Counsell, an expert with over 30 years’ experience of design, development, and assessment of heat pumps and has received the backing of Stiebel Eltron, a supplier of heat pumps and electric room and water heaters. The company says that the research could be invaluable for building developers as they look to maximise efficiency when implementing electric infrastructure.
The study focused on three types of home – a one-bedroom single storey ground floor flat, a two-bedroom single storey ground floor flat, and a three-bedroom two storey semi-detached house. All homes were modelled using SAP10.1, with the buildings located in Sheffield which is considered as a median of the UK climate.
The research found a typical new build one or two-bedroom flat up to 65m² could save £2 a week or £73 a year by using electric resistance heater systems when compared to an MCS certified heat pump. Electric resistance heater systems also represented better value for these buildings due to having an average lifespan in excess of 25 years.
Meanwhile, the report found that the cost of installing heat pumps combined with servicing costs and replacement cycles made electric resistance heater systems more viable for flats and apartments. However, a heat pump for space and water represented greater efficiency and environmental value for the three-bedroom property.
Professor Counsell also assessed the benefits of different methods of providing hot water to homes, with instantaneous point of use water heaters being most advantageous. Instantaneous water heating such as electric showers offered reduced costs and emissions in almost every situation when compared with stored hot water. The results also showed hot water plays a significant role in total heating cost and CO² emissions, being in most cases greater than the space heating contribution.
Mark McManus, MD of Stiebel Eltron UK, comments: “This report makes clear that the future of building services is increasingly going to be a choice between these electric technologies. One of the things we are encouraging developers to think about early on in a project is their electric infrastructure so that they can supply their heating and hot water with more efficient solutions like instantaneous water heaters.
“Some developers are even finding that the costs of running three phase electric supply to each apartment in a multi-occupancy block are offset by the space savings they gain by being able to supply a whole apartment with a bath from a highly compact three phase instant water heater. Saving up to 3m² per apartment, they can save enough space over a whole building to fit in complete extra units.
“Being able to specify these highly efficient water heaters also makes it a breeze to meet SAP requirements and becomes a selling point as cost-of-living increases make consumers even more conscious of ways to save on bills.”
To request a copy of the white paper in full, please visit: www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk/whitepaper
