What Is The Future of Home Heating?

Image link: http://www.freeimageslive.com/galleries/workplace/energy/preview/solid_fuel_heating.jpg

The future of home heating

The way we live our lives is constantly changing, be it the method by which we communicate, travel, relax and shop.

Technology is advancing at an alarming rate and our basic life now is unrecognisable from that of 20 years ago. Everything is easier, more efficient and instant. In some cases, it is also beneficial for the world around us.

Environmental issues are being taken seriously at government level, with home heating high on the list. The UK Government has targeted ‘net-zero’ by 2050, which means zero carbon emissions. To achieve that target, sweeping changes must be made to the way we heat our homes, with a CBI report going as far as to suggest all gas-fired and oil-fired boilers should be rendered obsolete by 2050. Whilst the immediate impact of that will not be felt in existing homes, the home heating industry is set for drastic change within our lifetime.

Why Do We Need to Change the Way We Heat Our Homes?

For many years now, we have heated and powered our homes by burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Whilst that has proven to be a great benefit to society in terms of advancement and quality of life, it is not sustainable. Not only will these fuels eventually run out, but they also have a severe impact on the environment. Power has seen a swing towards nuclear in recent years, but our homes are still heated by gas and oil.

What Are the Alternatives?

Much depends on where you live. One popular form of heating currently seeing growth is district heating, where a central plant creates heat to be distributed around homes. This only works in dense, urban areas but is already in use in cities such as Vienna and Stockholm. The heat has been generated by burning fossil fuels, but there is a trend towards geothermal heating, heat pumps and central solar heating.

In more remote areas, ground source heat pumps are becoming popular. They pump water down into the earth’s core, where it heats up before being pumped back into the home for heating and other uses. The ground source model can also be used by the district heating method, making it sustainable and adaptable.

What Can I Do Now?

Right now, you can still install a new fossil fuel-powered boiler, but even doing that can help the environment significantly. You can try this hydrogen boiler, It is 3 times more powerful than most fossil based fuel sources. Older boilers tend to be inefficient, meaning they use more of the natural resources to produce the same outcome than a newer model. Installing a gas-fired boiler could well be outlawed by 2025, so it is worth considering making changes to your system now as a form of future-proofing.

To fully protect yourself over the coming years, ensure you also have good cover for your system. The boiler and heating insurance on HomeServe provides you additional cover for your installation, which is advice wholly applicable whether it is existing or post-renovation because in both instances it protects your current home heating system. Nobody wants a breakdown during the colder winter months, especially as it could lead to using electric heaters and other far-less efficient products. If you have put a new boiler in your home and there is a problem, the bill can be huge and having the right cover will again protect you in the event of a malfunction.

The home heating industry is evolving quickly, and it has been for many years now. Burning coal has turned from a necessity into a cultural faux pas and eventually, it will become obsolete. As our homes also evolve and develop, it is important to keep in mind that the changes we’ve seen over the past 20-years will be eclipsed again over the next 20, and staying abreast of what might happen is not only prudent for the modern family but utterly essential.

For something a little more light-hearted than the future of home heating, but no less inspirational, please be sure to check out our article on Our Dark Pink Living Room Tour for an example of how you can overhaul your home.