Given that residential and commercial heating and cooling often consumes the most energy in Australian households and business developments, selecting the most energy efficient option is vital for budgets and the environment. While energy efficiency and electricity aren’t commonly paired terms, given the hike in energy prices, if teamed with renewable energy source, electricity can certainly be a viable source for efficient heating and cooling.
This is where electric hydronic heating systems come into play, offering a powerful blend of efficiency and sustainability. In the long term the electric hydronic heating cost can also be more effective.
Efficiency of hydronic heating – at a glance
Hydronic heating systems circulate hot water through a network of pipes to wall mounted or freestanding radiators, heated towel rails or underfloor heating loops. This method is inherently energy efficient, as water is a better conductor of heat than air, which leads to less loss of heat in the distribution process.
Integrating an energy efficient boiler with a professionally selected and installed hydronic heating set up can result in heavily reduced operational costs, with hydronic systems running at up to 40% greater efficiency than mainstream ducted options. Hydronic is an attractive heating solution for those working on residential dwellings, or larger scale developments where minimising energy usage is paramount. Hydronic systems can be retrofitted too, with flexible product options for all spaces.
Hydronic product solutions include:
Electric hydronic heating cost and effectiveness
When compared to other heating and cooling options, it will typically cost more to setup an electric hydronic system, but the ongoing running costs can be reduced drastically when you integrate the solar – whether you opt for boiler or heat pump, or combination of the two.
The case for electric hydronic boilers
Electricity generally costs three times more to run than gas – yet the energy used by electric is around half that of a gas model, making it an energy efficient boiler. You are also looking at needing to invest more upfront to purchase and install an electric boiler, compared to a gas boiler. The saving grace, as previously mentioned, is renewable energy sources such as solar, which you can team with your electric boiler for maximum efficiency and offsetting costs.
With residential properties, a single electric boiler can be teamed with a hydronic heating system to meet demands, yet for higher usage in a commercial development you can cascade electric boilers so there’s enough power to match the system requirements.
For those in rural locations running on LPG bottles, electric boilers are a safer option and run at a similar price. Whether we’re talking residential or commercial rural development, an electric boiler with solar pairing can improve safety, efficiency and provide big savings longer term.
Whichever the property or development you’re planning or upgrading, the initial investment to set heating and cooling systems up that are integrating renewable energy may seem steep. Yet looking ahead at the longer game, it will pay for itself in drastically reduced, or even eliminated, running costs with solar energy creating an offset. With the increase in electricity prices, this is an aspect that cannot be ignored.
Heat pumps: a sustainable choice with limitations
For initial purchase, a heat pump can cost considerably more than an electric boiler. On the efficiency front, heat pumps are known to produce 4.5 times more useful energy than what it consumes and as they too run on electricity can result in close to zero running costs if solar power is also part of the system.
In addition to higher purchase and installation costs, heat pumps have typically lower maximum operating temperatures when compared to boilers and so are best suited for underfloor heating if you want to truly realise the efficiency benefits of heat pump technology.
For locations where the colder temps are extreme, heat pumps can struggle to run effectively, but you can pair them with a boiler or electric booster elements for those moments when back up is required. However, even in Australia’s coldest climates, heat pumps are a popular option for sustainable heating in residential and commercial buildings.
Combining electric hydronic boilers with heat pumps
Looking at boilers versus heat pumps, ultimately an energy efficient electric boiler will be able to hit higher temperatures a lot faster than a heat pump, in spite of them both being powered by electricity. It is possible for the heat pump to hit 75 degrees, however going to this temperature level will impact on the pump efficiency considerably.
One approach to consider is using a product such as Baxi heat pumps as the energy source for underfloor heating as you don’t need the temperature to be as high as you would for hot water or radiator heating. You could then use an electric boiler as a booster back up if the heat pump needs additional support and for the rest of your heating needs, such as hot water and general heating.
Maximise electric energy efficiency with solar
The clear solution for the highest energy efficiency is combining electric hydronic heating products with solar panels and battery as required. At Hydro Heat we support commercial and residential clients in selecting the best products to meet their heating and cooling requirements.
Contact the team today to discuss your latest project.
