Despite government efforts to shift the nation to clean electric heating, there are a number of obstacles in the way of this energy saving technology. Scott Conor, founder and chief technical officer at Trust Electric Heating, presses for the need to balance energy pricing and deploy fit-for-purpose efficiency calculations.
The UK, like so many other European nations, relies heavily on natural gas imports which historically came mainly from Russia. But the Russian conflict in Ukraine has destabilised world energy supply, leading to fluctuating prices, and, here in the UK, the introduction of a temporary price cap .
Last year, as energy bills hit an all-time high, it became clear that something needed to change. From 1 April to 30 June 2024, it has been announced that energy bills will be reduced from £1,920 to £1,690. While this news is much welcomed, I can’t help but wonder if the intricacies of energy prices, in relation to net zero goals, are being somewhat underestimated in the shifting public perception.
Energy pricing
Even with the proposed changes, electricity is still significantly more expensive than gas. This new cap puts gas at 6.04 pence per kWh (31.43 pence daily standing charge) while electricity is limited to 24.50 pence per kWh (60.10 pence daily standing charge). This disparity causes obvious financial hurdles when it comes to embracing green technologies and innovations, most of which rely on electricity.
I believe we need to make a shift towards more balanced energy pricing. The obvious disparity in cost makes it that much more difficult for homes and businesses to switch to more sustainable options, such as electric heating.
When electric heating and newer, more sustainable technologies are incorporated into a whole-house heating solution with energy storage, it can help reduce overall running costs as well as carbon emissions. In turn, this could take advantage of reduced tariff rates and demand turn-down offers from providers, but this sustainable solution is being hindered by energy prices.
Now, there are grants available for using heat pumps. However, it is worth noting that a recent government report advised that 20% of homes (1.2million) are not suitable for heat pump installation or usage. In my view, we must provide more than one viable green option to be inclusive.
If we want to progress and achieve net zero, we must find a solution that evens the playing field for energy, while also recognising and adjusting energy prices accordingly.
HEM or SAP?
Unfortunately, price disparity Unfortunately, price disparity is not the only hurdle we face. SAP and RdSAP calculations are the only government-approved system used to dictate energy decisions, but the legislation lags woefully behind innovation and does not recognise new technology accurately, if at all.
Ultimately, this means building designers/specifiers, and those involved in improving energy performance within existing buildings often want but can’t install the most up-to-date technologies that could be used to create more energy-efficient homes, due to the fact legislation is so far behind.
However, with the introduction of the new Home Energy Model (HEM), which is touted to replace the SAP in, we could start to see newer and greener innovations recognised and represented as we strive toward decarbonisation.
It is said that the HEM model will simulate energy performance for each half-hour of the day, rather than every month like the SAP, allowing for better representation of smart technologies and systems.
As such, if it works correctly, newer innovations such as electric heating solutions and newer technologies would stand a much better chance of being recognised, especially considering storage and generation.
As with anything new, there are some teething problems. As things stand, not all technologies or systems can be modelled in the HEM, so may not be rated, or scored. Operators of the SAP modelling tool have also pointed to obvious errors in some of the results produced by the HEM draft tool. the HEM draft tool.
A solution
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Once we’ve ironed out the kinks, newer innovations on the market provide hope for both decarbonisation and fair pricing. Our patented NEOS electric radiator (pictured below in a range of colour options) is proven to help consumers save up to 50% on running costs and is up to 290% more conductive and 59.4% more effective than standard electric radiators.
Ultimately, this means a drastic reduction in cold spots around the home, as heat spreads evenly and radiates outwards, without being lost behind. To quantify our claims and back them with scientific research we teamed up with the University of Huddersfield for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, which saw the NEOS electric radiator tested in the university’s ‘Smart House’ research facility.
The partnership findings were presented at the International Conference on Maintenance and Intelligent Asset Management (ICMIAM), which took place at Federation University in Australia in December last year. The final report concluded that the claims were accurate and determined that room temperatures remain, on average, at 27 °C when the radiator’s surface temperature reaches 60°C, meaning homeowners won’t experience cold spots.
Cutting down
When coupled with smart technologies such as the Radiator Buddy app thermostat, electric heating solutions provide unprecedented levels of efficiency, flexibility, and optimisation, making them indispensable in the drive toward net zero. It would be silly to overlook them.
Smart controls and bespoke heating solutions work together to offer advanced, and precise control over energy consumption, and overall temperature based on real-time data including external data and user preference. This allows homeowners more control over energy use, and subsequent bills at the end of each month.
Despite economic turbulence, the reduction of UK energy bills provides us with hope. As we strive toward net zero, I believe we need to consider the bigger picture, continue pushing legislation changes, and continue innovating for the future.
For more on Trust Electric Heating, please visit: www.trustelectricheating.co.uk
