BACKWinters are a tough time of year when it comes to energy bills. We’ve all felt the unease that comes when receiving a bill that was a little (or a lot) higher than expected. We want to make warming Australian homes and community spaces easier than ever. So, to combat this, we’ve compiled a list of energy efficiency tips for heating your home, office, or community space during the colder months.
Underfloor heating knows no limits to its versatility. Whether it is installed in carpeted, tiled, floorboarded, or polished concrete areas, underfloor heating ticks all the right boxes for contributing to a cosy and energy-efficient space. When combining efficient underfloor heating habits with environmentally friendly sources of electricity, you can significantly reduce energy bills throughout the winter months. Saving money while not losing out on the comfort and warmth floor heating brings to your spaces sounds pretty good to us – so how do you achieve this?
Get the most out of your Underfloor Heating System
Underfloor heating is one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat your spaces. Optimising the way you run your underfloor heating system can be essential in creating energy savings.
No matter which heating system you choose, heating an entire home can be expensive. A real advantage to underfloor heating is its ability to be zoned. Many traditional forms of heating either can not be zoned or utilise drafty air-pushing methods of heating that don’t encompass the whole room. With underfloor heating, being able to zone your heating to only the rooms you are occupying with a consistent and full-coverage warmth is a great way of avoiding wasted energy use.
See for yourself what running underfloor heating might look like for your energy bills with our running cost calculator:
Smart Thermostats
We provide two variations of thermostats at Speedheat. The OJ Microline MCD5 and MWD5-VC thermostats are designed to make the programming of underfloor heating easier and more efficient than ever. You can zone your underfloor heating by strategically placing the heaters in the most frequently used areas of your home and programming them with separate thermostats.
This system creates minimal energy wastage as the heat only forms in the areas that are being utilized. This gives you complete freedom to adjust the desired temperature based on your routine across different rooms or areas. Many traditional forms of heating cannot be zoned to one specific area, creating cold spots and leading to wasted energy consumption over time.
You can take efficiency a step further with our MWD5-VC thermostats. They can be controlled via an app and are compatible with home automation systems such as Alexa and Google Home. Being able to control your heating remotely gives you flexibility and peace of mind, as “accidentally leaving the heating on” is an issue of the past.
Energy Efficient Scheduling
Consider how your desired heating schedule impacts energy usage. As the degree you set your heating to increases, so does your energy use. If you lead a busy life and prefer warm floors quickly, keeping your underfloor heating system on a low setting consistently will avoid wait periods and energy used to heat the room to the desired temperature.
Alternatively, if you have a set routine, you can ensure your heating will run on max efficiency with the MCD5 and MWD5-VC thermostat’s programmable heating schedule. Their programmable heating schedule allows you to customise your underfloor heating to your daily routine, so you don’t even have to think about turning your heat on and off. Simply just set & forget!
Compared to hydronic heating, our heating sits closer to the floor coverings and our thin electrical cables are able to heat up at a much quicker rate than large pipes. Because of this, it is more adaptable to your needs and gives you more choice when deciding how to run your heating.
Complement Speedheat’s Efficiency With Other Energy-Saving Practices:
Up to 40% of the room’s heat can escape through windows. Investing in double glazing or quality curtains can make quite the difference when it comes to energy consumption. Curtain fabrics that insulate well or curtains with thermal linings are an ideal interior design choice. Similarly, closing doors to open spaces you aren’t using (such as bedrooms during the day) can further prevent heat from escaping.
Another advantage of underfloor heating is the fact that it does not incur ongoing maintenance costs. Once your underfloor heating has been successfully installed and the flooring has been placed down, the floor heating system should continue to perform at its best with no need for hefty cleaning or unit replacement costs after installation, further creating savings while heating your spaces.
Make The Most Of Natural Heat Resources
Opening curtains and blinds during sunnier winter days can help bring natural warmth to your spaces. Additionally, closing them at night can also trap the heat that was generated throughout the day.
Electric underfloor heating is easily paired with renewable energy sources, helping to reduce your energy bills and environmental impact. Pairing electric underfloor heating with solar power systems creates a low maintenance heating system while increasing the value of your home.
Households have been known to save approximately 15% on heating and cooling bills if the walls are properly insulated. To maximise energy efficiency, ensure that your floors, walls, and ceilings are all insulated. This will prevent heat loss through gaps in windows, ceilings, and doorways. Additionally, this will make it easier to reach your desired temperature while using less energy consumption.
Rugs, particularly in spaces with tiles or wooden floorboards, are a great extra layer of insulation while also adding a pop of colour or texture to your décor. Our Speedheat rug heaters are a great installation alternative to keeping your spaces warm. They can also be paired with a felt underlay, which acts as an anti-slip precaution and reduces any potential heat loss through the floor, creating further energy efficiency.
Electric underfloor heating is the perfect solution for reducing your energy bills while not compromising on having a toasty warm home, office, or communal space. When pairing floor heating with other energy-saving practices, you can get the most out of your heating system in Australia’s colder months. If you are looking to prepare your space for next winter, consider electric underfloor heating and its energy-efficient nature.