Cheaper heating need not cost the Earth, especially with the world’s first fully interactive touch-technology, energy-saving thermostat, the Warmup 3iE.

The proposition for switching to electric underfloor heating snowballs in strength as one after another, UK energy providers announced plans to raise their tariffs, with at least three suppliers hitting gas users nearly twice as much as consumers of electricity.

Lower rates of increment for electricity
Hot on the heels of its UK competitors Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, British Gas and E.ON, NPower is the latest energy supplier to increase its utility tariffs. Come 1st October 2011, gas rates will rise by 15.7% while electricity prices will be up 7.2%.  Then there is renewable energy supplier Good Energy, who will raise gas prices but hold off increasing its electricity tariffs until 2012.

As observed in the recent spate of skyrocketing utility prices, the rise of electricity tariffs has, across the board, consistently remained lower than that of gas.  This is comforting news for consumers who already rely on electric forms of heating for warmth as they will be less adversely affected by the changes.  Gas users, on the other hand, will likely face a less cosy season ahead.

Last winter, there were already reports of households so desperate to keep utility bills down due to the tough economic climate, they turned off their gas-fuelled radiators even during the coldest periods of the season.  Now with even higher tariffs looming, more households will be driven to taking similar action when the cold weather sets in again.  “Hundreds of thousands of people will be pushed into fuel poverty” said Watchdog Consumer Focus.

There is, however, hope for curbing the growth of these statistics and one strong contender is to switch to electric underfloor heating.  The technology of underfloor heating is widely viewed as a viable solution and helps end users adhere to renewable energy guidelines, a characteristic which boosts its eco cred by being far more sustainable than conventional gas-reliant central heating.  In short, the future is electric, literally.

The abundance of supply also suggests that prices will remain more stable and affordable in contrast to frequent hikes in gas prices.  Coupled with the fact that electrical floor heating is superbly economical thanks to its capacity for precise, targeted usage, we can expect underfloor heating to continue rising in popularity.

Installed in ‘zones’ that are individually operated, electric underfloor heating systems such as Warmup promote targeted usage.  With Warmup, it is even possible to achieve an energy saving of 10-15% using insulated electric underfloor heating compared to conventional electric heating.

Smart heating controls boost efficiency

Advanced thermostatic controls also facilitate this trend by allowing users to specify exactly where and when heating is required.  Award-winning underfloor heating manufacturer and market leader Warmup recently launched a thermostat that can shave as much as 10% off your heating bills.  Tipping the scales both in function and aesthetics, the new Warmup 3iE thermostat is the world’s first heating control to feature fully interactive touch-technology and is an energy-saving gem.

This programmable thermostat has been developed in response to the changing needs of consumers who are increasingly accustomed to, and rightfully demand, affordable quality goods that do not compromise on looks.  “Warmup expends extensively on product development but also keep a keen

eye on market trends,” explains Marketing Director Spencer Sheen.  “There is a rising need for energy efficiency and we wanted to highlight that heating controls can help make that difference, with minimal hassle for the user too.  Unfortunately most heating controls are uninspiring little boxes with limited functionality.  Recognising that mobile phones have greatly shaped the consumer’s experience of gadget usage and given the proliferation of care taken towards home interiors and improvement, we felt that the way forward is to create a stylish thermostatic control that is highly intelligent yet easy to use.  In fact, our thermostat has been so well received that in addition to the original glossy black version, we have, as requested by our customers, just released the 3iE in Classic Cream to fit even more colour schemes.”

The Warmup 3iE is designed to be used in conjunction with electric underfloor heating and together, it takes heating efficiency to new heights, thanks to the thermostat’s advanced features.

Active Energy Management™
Exclusive to the Warmup 3iE, this feature can save you up to 10% of your energy bill by actively prompting you to test lower energy consumption levels.  

Graphical Display
Real-time graphical displays shows you exactly how much energy you are using and when.  Graphical display of your programme also enables quick and easy adjustment and you can in fact, view actual graphs of your recorded energy consumption against costs.  To add an element of fun, the thermostat even offers a wide choice of themes to suit personal visual preferences.

Self-learning Proportional Adaptive Function
To achieve optimal start-up times thus cutting wastage, the Warmup 3iE thermostat automatically adjusts to changing conditions in your room, your home and even the seasons.

The 3iE carries the CE mark, is ASTA-BEAB safety-approved and comes with a 3-year warranty for extra peace of mind.  Packed with so many helpful features, it is a clear choice for those seeking to regulate their heating usage.

Best of both worlds
It is possible to balance a reduced impact on the environment and our individual finances without forsaking basic comfort (in this case, warmth), and this is where the efficiency of electric underfloor heating comes into its own.  

So, consider this.  Between multiplying your heating expenses to devastate what little fossil fuels we have left in our natural environment and taking advantage of relatively lower charges in favour of renewable energy such as electricity, which switch would you flick?

Energy providers are already being urged to help improve energy efficiency, but big changes stem from small ones, and home is a good place to start.

For an idea of how much electric underfloor heating could cost you based on your personal usage, try the Warmup underfloor heating running cost calculator, available from their website www.warmup.co.uk.

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