Why Do You Need an Alternative for Your Gas Central Heating?

Gas heating systems and gas boilers are destroying the environment with their carbon emissions. Around 80% of the households in the UK use gas central systems for warming up, which contributes to about a quarter of the country’s total carbon emissions.

Considering the recent report that climate change is brought on by humans, we need to do more to mitigate the risks. Besides, the UK government aims at phasing out gas boilers installation by 2035, although there is no legally binding decision made. With these boilers potentially becoming obsolete, we must quickly fill the gap. Read on to have a look at the low-carbon solutions as alternatives to gas central heating.

Electric radiators

Electric radiators are powerful, energy-efficient, and are available in stylish and sleek designs to complement the aesthetic of your house. It can save costs, can heat even the largest room, and is completely silent. Moreover, an electric radiator is one of the best gas boiler alternatives with a lower carbon footprint. All radiators at Best Electric Radiators, Haverland and Dimplex are not only ultra-energy efficient but also easy to install. Before buying, think about output and size because they are rated by their output in watts. The higher the output, the larger it will be. However, the radiator must match your room’s size to make sense.

Biomass boilers

A biomass boiler heats water, circulates the radiator, serves the taps, and is run on carbon-neutral renewable fuel. The good news about a biomass boiler is that the species used as biomass fuels grow back at the same speed as we consume them. So, their growth keeps up with our consumption.

Burning wood emits only carbon that is absorbed by the trees and nothing else during their lifetime. Thus, these boilers are a perfect alternative to a gas heating system. The greatest advantage of a biomass boiler is that it runs on a clean and cheap fuel source. Log and wood chip boilers are even cheaper to operate.

Heat pumps

Keeping in line with the UK government’s ongoing net-zero campaign, heat pumps have been touted as the country’s way forward to a fossil-fuel-free future. The heat pump makes the cut for a viable, clean gas boiler replacement. There are three types of heat pumps. They are air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and water-source heat pumps.

The cost of each would depend on the efficiency of the pump, the heating needs of your home, and the insulation of your windows and walls. The air-source heat pumps are the cheapest, and the ground-source heat pumps are the costliest. The water-source heat pumps take the least effort to install.

Solar heating

Even in the cloudy UK, solar heating is quickly gaining steam as a boiler alternative. Around a million households in the UK already have solar panels installed. With falling panel prices and increasing electricity rates, the trend will persist. With correct orientation and pitch, the photovoltaic panel of the solar heating absorbs the sun rays under any weather condition. The power thus generated can heat water and supplement your electricity needs.

The PV panels of the solar heating system can reduce your overall costs. The cost of solar heating in the UK varies depending on the model, placement, and system size. On colder and shorter winter days, this heating system generates less heat, but you can use it as a secondary source of heat for those months.

Hybrid heating system

This heating system combines the sustainability and efficiency of heat pumps but with the gas boiler’s reliability. They automatically alternate between boiler and heat pump modes, depending on the efficiency at that time.

The boiler will operate when there is a substantial drop in the mercury, letting the heat pump take over in warmer weather. This system balances comfort, sustainability, and cost. You can be assured that the boiler system is there if the heat pump gives up. A hybrid system can be expensive, but it is worth it because the mechanism alternates between a boiler and a heat pump.

Benefits of renewable energy