More often than not, we’re having conversations with the contractors and M&E consultants about new heating solutions.
The questions that crop up usually include “what does this mean for my existing radiators?” or “how does this change what we’re using?”
2023 is going to be an important year for the development of commercial heating solutions, the call to increase efficiency but reduce carbon emissions is paramount.
This blog explores, what is available and what solutions you may be faced with on commercial projects heading into 2023.
Heat pumps are growing in popularity.
Recently, the UK government invested £15million into heat pump innovation, suggesting this is the preferred option.
Devices that absorb natural heat from the ground or air, heat pump systems compress it to increase the temperature which can then be used for heating systems internally.
For commercial property, or businesses looking to cut the carbon emissions created, heat pumps are an option that doesn’t require gas or oil. Instead, they use electricity to run the compressors.
What’s more, the systems are cyclical. What isn’t used is kicked back into the atmosphere where it is absorbed by the ground where the process starts again.
If you’re responsible for sourcing heat emitters or radiators, it’s important to make sure the models you choose will work on these new systems.
Electric boilers are another avenue that many commercial spaces are exploring for their heating solutions.
Like heat pumps, they’re not entirely carbon-free and do require the burning of fossil fuels, but the emissions are far less than traditional gas boilers and they’re not quite as effective.
Though they work in the exact same way; electric boilers struggle to heat spaces as quickly as gas boilers and therefore require significantly more electrical energy. When you consider that electricity can be up to 20p per kilowatt hour compared with around 5p for gas, you can see that the difference could be significant.
Though seen as the ‘saviour’ of the energy market, solar energy doesn’t entirely eliminate its use, but instead reduces it by around 60%.
Taking energy from the sun through dedicated panels, this energy is used to heat water which will then pass through internal heating systems such as radiant ceiling panels. Heated water is stored in a tank, much like a boiler, but with reduced emissions.
The system can be expensive to install and requires flat or slanted rooves, although the government does have a range of grants available to domestic and commercial properties. The problem is, the larger your property, the more expensive solar panel installations can become.
The other issue, especially if you’re in the UK is the ‘limited’ number of sunny days. If the source of energy isn’t reliable, you can’t have a reliable form of heating either!
The heating system that you have will influence the emitters your commercial property requires.
It might be traditional radiators on boiler and pipe systems or something like ceiling panels with newer heating technology. Either way, the most efficient heating option is going to be the best.
Contour offers a brand-new range of stylish radiators that can be used on a variety of heating systems. Sovereign is available in four different models and can work on existing heating systems or heat pump systems, providing far more efficient options for commercial spaces.
With options of natural convection or fan-assisted models through the Contour Sovereign range, commercial spaces can be heated two times faster than traditional radiators.
If you would like to consider your energy-efficient radiator options or learn more about Contour’s Sovereign radiator range, then speak to a member of our team or book a free consultation.