Electric Heating 38 High rise heat: the low carbon way forward

The challenges of heating tower blocks in a modern and efficient way can be overcome with low carbon heat panels, says Oliver Baker from Ambion, who argues for a futureproof solution.

As with many property types in the UK, tower blocks have seen a major rise in the cost of energy over the past 18 months. This is largely due to the fact that most of these high-rise multi-occupancy buildings use uncontrollable electric storage heaters, which are expensive to run and don’t provide sufficient temperature control. In addition, in many cases residents are unprotected by the government’s price cap and are unable to switch energy suppliers.

As a result, local authorities, housing associations, landlords and installers are considering new ways to help residents – particularly those who are vulnerable to fuel poverty – to reduce bills while also reducing carbon emissions.

At the heart of the challenge is heating – how to replace often decades-old systems with an affordable low carbon technology that keeps residents out of fuel poverty. Conventional electric heating systems don’t address the high cost of energy, while convection systems - including heat pumps - are not as effective in combating mould and damp issues. In addition, lack of space for a large system means some technologies are both cost and convenience prohibitive.

Property challenge

With the government’s net zero plans focusing on electrification for heating homes, many properties are turning to heat pumps. However, this technology is often unsuitable for smaller homes and multioccupancy buildings. With a high upfront cost and a lengthy, complicated and often disruptive installation process, these systems require space that is often not available in properties of this size. Requiring pipework, radiators and external condenser units, heat pumps can also be costly to service and maintain.

In addition, convection systems, including heat pumps, don’t help combat the mould and damp that tower blocks are prone to. In fact, the warm air they produce, when coming into contact with cold walls, can cause further mould and condensation.

With traditional systems failing to ensure the whole home is adequately and efficiently heated, many housing providers are turning to low carbon heat panels as a solution.

Futureproof solution

Low carbon heat panels can be fitted in a new home or building, or retrofitted to replace an existing gas or electric heating system using the electrical mains wiring.

The technology has a unique control system which uses constant dynamic pulsing –rather than a ‘zoning’ on/off approach used by other systems – to dramatically reduce energy usage and maintain a room’s temperature within 0.1°C of its target, 24 hours a day.

Discreet infrared heat panels are then used because building materials absorb and store infrared, releasing it between pulses, making it the perfect partner for the pulsing approach.

The results of using dynamic pulsing plus the infrared panels are significant – users can expect to use 63% less electricity when compared to conventional systems – which also equates to a 63% reduction in carbon emissions.

The system also reduces the unit cost of electricity because it works best across 24 hours. This flat demand profile – there are no morning or evening energy spikes in usage – means that if a homeowner is on a flexi tariff, the system can achieve around a 25% saving in the unit cost of their energy.

Carbon cutters

 Infrared panels offer a quick and easy way to install a low carbon heating option

Low carbon heat panels can also reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% in flats when compared with conventional heating systems, and are fully futureproofed to partner with solar and battery solutions. Running costs are also slashed by 80% in these properties when compared to traditional heating systems, safeguarding residents from fuel poverty.

Some buildings and residents are already seeing the positive effects of using low carbon heat panels. For example, in an 8-storey social housing block from 1956, which contains 47 dwellings, the switch to Ambion’s solution saw energy usage drop by 80%, energy costs fall by 74%, and carbon emissions cut by 80%.

Opportunity to improve

Living in a warm and safe environment is critical to our health and wellbeing. Britain’s tower blocks often get bad press, but there’s an incredible opportunity to intelligently renovate this housing stock and extend the life of these buildings as warm, comfortable and low carbon homes.

To meet the UK’s legally binding target of achieving net zero by 2050, whatever heating solution is chosen to replace electric storage heaters needs to be built for the future, radically reducing carbon emissions and the associated impact on the environment.

Tower blocks may pose unique heating challenges, but with the right technology, they can be future-proofed and converted into the affordable, sustainable and safe housing they were originally designed to be.

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Cut To The Chase

 Tower blocks present the challenge of delivering electric heating in a low carbon way

 Infrared panels offer a more efficient alternative to storage heaters

 The technology uses efficient dynamic pulsing rather than an on/off approach to deliver heat

 They partner well with solar and battery storage solutions