The benefits offered by a Herschel Infrared System frequently outweigh those offered by alternative heat pump systems
The electrification of domestic heating is essential to achieve net zero and the government is heavily promoting heat pumps as the solution. Infrared, however, is often a more cost effective and far more practical solution than heat pumps for the majority of domestic properties.
Electrification of heating to achieve net zero
The UK Government’s Heat and Buildings strategy published in October 2021 set out the roadmap to achieve net zero buildings by 2050. The cornerstone of the strategy is to phase out gas boilers by 2035 and a future in which the electrification of heating is a mix of low carbon technologies: heat pumps, heat networks and potentially hydrogen.
“Fabric first” (upgrading the heat retention performance of buildings) is identified for increasing energy efficiency and then the target is to deploy at least 600,000 heat pumps per annum by 2028 and 1.7 million by mid-2030. That’s a 4,800% increase compared to the 35,000 heat pumps installed in 2021.
Before you rush out and replace your gas boiler or install a heat pump in your new build property, you might want to consider Herschel Infrared.
Find out moreEfficiency of heat pumps versus infrared heating
For the purposes of the UK’s building regulations (SAP) and energy performance, Infrared heaters are classed as “Direct Acting Electric Heaters” and are assumed to be 100% efficient, meaning that 100% of the electricity used converts to heat, ie. 1kW in = 1kW out. Air Source heat pumps are assumed to be 250% efficient (often referred to as the “COP”). So in theory for 1kW of electricity 2.5kW of heat is produced.
However, the efficiency of heat pumps falls as outside ambient air temperatures fall. This means that they become less efficient the colder it is, which of course is exactly when you need the heating.
So heat pumps are not as efficient as advertised in colder months and they only heat the water in the radiators to 40-50°C, meaning on colder days the system will need to run 24/7 to keep the property warm.
A correctly sized Infrared heating system is less efficient, but on the other hand runs at higher temperatures and will easily cope on the colder days by reaching the required comfort temperatures with less running time.
1°C lower air temperature
When looking at heat pumps compared with Herschel infrared heating, it’s important to consider comfort levels. Independent testing at a leading University has shown that Herschel Infrared panels can run at around 1°C lower air temperature to give the same sense of comfort as convection heaters set to higher air temperatures. This is due to the direct heating of the room and objects by the infrared radiation which then begin to radiate warmth themselves.
Ask Herschel for a survey and quote for your heating here.
Annual servicing costs of heat pumps compared to infrared heating?
Energy costs are only one factor in the total cost of ownership of a heating system. A heat pump system requires an annual service, this is a requirement of the manufacturer and for government grants. There is no requirement for an annual service on infrared heaters.
Do air source heat pumps have practical disadvantages compared with infrared heating?
- As a retrofit solution they are highly disruptive to install;
- 90-95% of existing houses in the UK require replacement of radiators to larger sizes;
- Electricity supply may need upgrading;
- Planning permission may be required;
- They take up valuable outside and inside space;
- For many properties (e.g. apartments) it is not possible to retrofit them;
- They are unsightly and noisy;
- Annual and ongoing maintenance is required. No other household appliances require annual servicing and labour and parts costs will only go one way (up). Skills shortages and complexity of installation;
- They often need to run 24/7 and often fail to reach the desired heating level. Do you want your bedrooms constantly heated?
- Wet systems are prone to leakages and pipework heat losses;
- Central point of failure – if the heat pump malfunctions you lose the heat for the entire property;
- For heating just one room the heat pump needs to be running.
In comparison Herschel infrared has none of these issues and is very easy to install. Calculate the cost to purchase Herschel Infrared for your whole house, here.
Fabric First Approach to Building Design
We agree with the government’s approach about “fabric first”. The better the property is able to retain heat, the lower the energy requirement for heating is. The closer to passive house standards you build to, Herschel’s advice is to invest your budget in the construction and/or insulation of the property, not on expensive heat pump systems.
Is it a good idea to combine a heat pump and infrared heating system?
If you do want a heat pump, it is well worth considering a hybrid system, so maybe using a heat pump with underfloor heating for the living and kitchen areas downstairs to provide a base level of heat. For bathrooms and bedrooms infrared works much better – providing faster warm up times during the heating cycle and avoiding the need to “oversize” the heat pump and potentially have to upgrade the electricity supply. In addition, there is no noise from Herschel panels in bedrooms and people love the feeling of the radiated warmth in bedroom and bathroom areas. Take a look at this case study which shows a hybrid system in use.
Simple Installation by Electricians
For many people, installing a heat pump as a retrofit could be a highly disruptive process and may not deliver the assumed energy efficiencies or comfort levels they hoped for. We advise our customers to invest in making the fabric of the property as energy efficient as possible and then install Herschel Infrared. Comfort levels will be higher with the additional benefit of full room by room control and App control.
You will have a zero maintenance, zero noise, discreet heating system with options to link to solar and battery storage and no concerns about leaks or a central point of failure. The installation of the heaters is straight forward and can be carried out by any qualified electrician. It is even possible to just plug and play with the Select XLS range. Many of our customers have also found that the lower capital cost of purchase alongside installation of an infrared heating system, has meant that they have been able to install solar with battery storage. This allows them to use the electricity towards powering their infrared system, helping to future proof the property against rising energy prices.
Ask Herschel for a Survey and Quote for your heating
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