A government drive to improve the energy efficiency of households is set to provide a sales boost to the inventors of a skirting board heating system. DiscreteHeat is the company behind ThermaSkirt, which is seen as a greener alternative to radiators.
The product works in combination with renewable technologies such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps, which use underground pipes to extract heat from the earth. Such systems heat water to lower temperatures compared to conventional boilers, meaning households would typically have to have larger radiators fitted to make sure their rooms are warm enough.
But ThermaSkirt offers an ideal solution, as it covers a larger surface area by covering the entire skirting area of a room. When asked to summarise the benefits of ThermaSkirt, DiscreteHeat managing director Martin Wadsworth had this to say:
"ThermaSkirt is 13 per cent more energy-efficient than conventional radiators and up to 25 per cent more energy-efficient when used with right heat source."
The company, which has a turnover of over 1m, currently employs 15 people but is expected to grow rapidly as demand for its products increases with the arrival of the Government's Green Deal scheme. It will enable suppliers to offer customers energy-efficient improvements to their homes and businesses at no upfront cost.
The supplier will then recoup payment in instalments through a charge which is added to the customers' energy bills. Under the scheme, the charge must not exceed the efficiency savings generated by the work done, so customers' bills do not rise. Discrete Heat, which is based in Atherton, Greater Manchester, is now working with two approved Green Deal providers.
Mr Wadsworth said: "ThermaSkirt will help ensure green technologies such as solar are more widely adopted."
"Solar and other green heating systems work better at lower temperatures. When the temperature of the water in the heating system is lower, you have to increase the size of the radiator to compensate.
That normally means installing even bigger radiators, in some cases up to twice the size, or underfloor heating.
The disruption and cost associated with that makes it not practical. ThermaSkirt is a much more cost-effective solution."
DiscreteHeat is also beginning to win orders from overseas, with a contract to supply a development of 1,000 apartments in Turkey and orders from the US and Uruguay.
Mr Wadsworth went on to say:
"ThermaSkirt is appealing to people who want to cut their green house gas emissions, save money and also have a heating system which doesn't intrude into their homes."
Source:
Manchester Evening News - 22nd Aug 2012
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