SWITCHING TO EFFICIENT ELECTRIC HEATING CAN BENEFIT HOMES IN FUEL POVERTY

Whilst many look forward to the winter months and cosy dark nights, the harsh truth for a lot of people is that it’s a time of the year that causes anxiety as fuel poverty continues to affect a huge amount of households across the UK.

In a recent government survey, it was revealed that more than 2.5 million households in England in 2017 were in the bracket of fuel poverty. That is more than one in 10 households in England and around 3.5 million in the UK as a whole.

Another government report stated that in 2016 those 2.5 million homes were unable to pay the costs associated with heating their properties without falling below the poverty line – an increase of 69,000 on the previous year.

There are lots of factors that play a part in causing fuel poverty. Insulation, glazing and building fabric all contribute to how much it costs to heat a property, but incorrect, inefficient or inadequate heating systems remain the biggest cause of financial concern in fuel poor households. This is particularly evident in homes using traditional electric heating, something experts Tansun wants to change.

Around 2.2 million households in the UK are electrically heated, which accounts for 8.5% of all homes. This includes storage heating (1.7million), direct acting heating systems (0.5million) and heat pumps (less than 0.1million).

For those living with outdated electric heating, such as storage heaters, then upgrading to a more efficient solution like radiant heating is the best way to start saving money. Upgrading to panel heaters like Tansun’s new infrared radiant panels will help transform the way people heat their homes and commercial buildings. Stylish, discrete and unobtrusive to blend into any environment, Tansun infrared radiant panels are the ideal indoor heating solution for both commercial and domestic applications. The radiant panels are developed to provide even heat distribution to gently warm people and objects before targeting the surrounding air. Each panel uses advanced heating technology designed to be environmentally friendly and remarkably energy efficient, resulting in energy conversion rates of around 98%.

In 2017, 16% of electrically heated homes in England and 748,000 Scottish households were living in fuel poverty, with 203,000 Scottish homes categorised as living in ‘extreme fuel poverty’. This means more than 20% of the occupants’ income is required to heat the property.

By improving the efficiency of electrically heated homes with new technology, it is possible to reduce a combined £160 million fuel poverty gap for more than 450,000 households in England and Wales. Due to their reliability, 1.7m properties in the UK are using storage heaters, mainly in the privately-rented and social housing sectors. The average storage heater is more than 20 years old and operates at less than 38% efficiency, compared to infrared heating which is 100% efficient. Around 70% of these are manually-controlled and old models, dating back decades.

For those with traditional storage heaters that are in need of replacement, infrared heating should be considered not only because it is smaller and more aesthetically pleasing than a storage heater but more importantly it is the cheaper and more efficient option to use going forward. It is important that homes should be future-proofed for low-carbon heating going forward, and by installing a reliable and virtually maintenance-free system like radiant heating panels residents are making the first step in making substantial savings.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and are designed using premium components. The company has been established for 35 years and pioneered the concept of radiant electric heaters alongside Philips technology. Tansun has the largest range of commercial, industrial and domestic radiant heaters in the world, providing maintenance-free, safe and healthy radiant heaters for many heating applications.

Tansun heaters are available with a full range of energy-saving controllers which further enhance the efficiency of the products.

Further information is available from Tansun on 0121 580 6200, by emailing sales@tansun.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.tansun.com .

INFRARED HEATING FACTS VS FICTION – WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Infrared heating is growing in popularity, and is fast becoming one of the top choices for home heating in the UK. Developed to be 100% efficient, many people are taking an interest in this new form of technology, especially since the release of a report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) earlier this year on the creation of low carbon and sustainable homes.

As with anything new, many people have misconceptions about using infrared heating in the places they are in every day, especially as a replacement for something like central heating. So to ease some of the worries, infrared heating experts Tansun have answered some of the most common questions as well as talking about the truth behind some of the myths.

Is infrared heating safe and is it comfortable?

Infrared is actually the oldest and most natural type of heat as it’s what the sun emits but without any harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. Infrared heat is a lot healthier than traditional convection heat as it transmits natural heat in an efficient and safe way, eliminating the unhealthy emissions and smells that come with gas heaters and oil burners, and guarantees clear air with zero emissions and no odour.

Infrared heating is so safe in fact that far infrared, the gentlest form of infrared, is often used in incubators for babies to keep them warm.

Can infrared panels burn?

Like any traditional heater, infrared heaters will get hot when they’re in use. The heat levels are similar to that of a gas radiator to the touch, but have the advantage of not having to be installed at floor level and can be fitted on walls and ceilings.

Are infrared panels difficult to install?

Infrared heating panels are highly cost-effective to install as they don’t require pipework to function and simply plug into the wall like a regular appliance. Because of their versatility, it’s also possible to gradually introduce infrared heaters as they can be quickly and easily installed by an electrician, making it cheaper than other forms of heating. This includes gas heating, where extra pipework may have to be brought in.

The average home installation of infrared heating panels would cost around £800, compared to up to £3000 for gas central heating. Additionally, disruption is also minimal as panels can be installed in less than a day, making it much more desirable than other forms of heating that could be inconvenient and would involve the moving of carpets and floorboards.

Does infrared heat lead to a suntan?

While infrared heat is designed to be similar to what is generated by the sun, it’s the sun’s UV component that enables people to tan and not infrared. Infrared heat does not tan the skin but instead stimulates circulation and eases muscle pain and is widely used as a source of heating in yoga studios and health facilities.

Will it damage the wall or ceiling?

Infrared heating panels only contain a few components, with one of the most important being insulation to ensure walls and ceilings are protected from any heat generated, and is designed to push the infrared energy outwards in order to heat the room more effectively.

Is infrared heating reliable?

Because the heaters contain so few components and no moving parts, infrared heaters require little to no maintenance and can last for many years. Developed to be highly energy efficient, Tansun’s radiant panels are cost effective and can save approximately 30-70% in heating costs and come with a full five-year warranty.

Do infrared devices interfere with each other?

If every radio used the same frequency, everyone listening would be able to hear multiple stations at once, which is why each station has their own frequency. Infrared works in the same way by using different frequencies to others to avoid any interference.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and are designed using premium components. The company has been established for 35 years and pioneered the concept of radiant electric heaters alongside Philips technology. Tansun has the largest range of commercial, industrial and domestic radiant heaters in the world, providing maintenance-free, safe and healthy radiant heaters for many different types of heating applications.

Tansun heaters are available with a full range of energy-saving controllers which further enhance the efficiency of the products.

Further information is available from Tansun on 0121 580 6200, by emailing sales@tansun.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.tansun.com

TANSUN’S RADIANT HEATING PANELS ARE THE FUTURE OF INDOOR HEATING

Tansun, Stand C60, Housing 2019, 25-27 June 2019, Manchester Central

Infrared heating manufacturers and experts Tansun will be attending the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual event and Europe’s largest housing festival, at Manchester Central next month to introduce its innovative products to the market.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the electrical heating market, Tansun is exhibiting its new radiant panels, which are designed to transform the way people heat their homes and commercial buildings. Stylish, discrete and unobtrusive to blend into any environment, Tansun radiant panels are the ideal indoor heating solution for both commercial and domestic applications.

Tansun radiant heating panels provide even heat distribution to gently warm people and objects before targeting the surrounding air. The panels boast advanced heating technology which is designed to be environmentally friendly and remarkably energy efficient and where energy conversion rates are around 98%.

Tansun radiant panels produce heat that is similar to the sun and instead of warming the air like conventional heaters they heat the people and objects directly in their paths. The rays emitted are easily absorbed by the items and as cool surfaces heat up, the panels raise the ambient temperature of the room.

Tansun radiant panels are designed with a number of benefits which include providing instant, healthy, comfortable and gentle heat, ensuring safety and reliability, and are silent making them perfect for noise-sensitive environments. Developed to be highly energy efficient, the panels are cost effective and can save approximately 30-70% in heating costs. They come with a full five-year warranty.

Designed at IP55, the heating panels can be used in bathrooms and offer an unobtrusive design that easily blends into any environment. Each heater is easy to install as there is no pipework and can be wall or ceiling mounted to save floor space. No regular maintenance is required.

Many rooms around the home will benefit from radiant panel heating including living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, garages and conservatories. There are many commercial applications for the new panel heaters too such as restaurants, offices, salons, hotels, retail, education and healthcare.

Three panel heaters have been developed by Tansun in different sizes to cater for numerous areas. The Iridium Series 600 (300W), 900 (610W) and 1200 (785W), are lightweight and extra slim radiant heating panels and combine advanced heating technology and a neutral design of white or black finish to blend in with any decor.

Tansun can create the panels in most RAL colour options to suit all environments. This simple feature can be important for the specification sector to help blend in with particular environments and colour schemes.

The Tansun Digital Thermostat helps to control the radiant heating panels easily to maximise their potential and save energy and money. Temperature levels can be adjusted based on heating requirements to heat each individual room separately. Designed to a high standard, the Tansun Thermostat will ensure a cosy atmosphere wherever a heater is installed.

The launch of the new radiant panels ties in with a recent document released by the Committee on Climate Change on the creation of low carbon and sustainable homes. Existing homes can help meet the challenges of climate change by switching to highly energy efficient appliances so the country can meet its target of a 15% reduction in the energy used for heating existing buildings by 2030. The installation of timers and thermostats is also recommended.

New build homes will need to meet even more ambitious standards in some areas, including being fitted with low carbon heating. No new homes will be built on the gas grid from 2025 so housebuilders will need to install more efficient heating systems that are both effective and aesthetically pleasing.

All of Tansun’s products are made in the UK and are designed using premium components. The company has been established for 35 years and pioneered the concept of radiant electric heaters alongside Philips technology. Tansun has the largest range of commercial, industrial and domestic radiant heaters in the world, providing maintenance-free, safe and healthy radiant heaters for many different types of heating applications.

Further information is available from Tansun on 0121 580 6200, by emailing sales@tansun.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.tansun.com .