Housing association

• Once installed like wallpaper, hi-tech infrared fabric emits heat in a similar way to the sun’s rays.
• This could be a logical way to add low-carbon heat into existing homes that need retrofitting to improve energy efficiency.
• However, infrared fabric technology could be much better suited as a low-carbon heating solution for our existing housing stock, and here’s why.

1. Instant heat

• Unlike heat pumps, which are a slow response heating system, infrared fabric emits radiant heat that can be felt within minutes.
• Gas boilers heat up our rooms quickly so we don’t have to leave the heating on when we’re out, but heat pumps don’t work like that.
• Instead, they deliver a continuous low level of heat, so homes need to be well-insulated to retain that heat and airtight to stop draughts.

2. Simple to install

• It’s essentially a graphene sandwich, a thin film of carbon between two sheets of paper that conducts low voltage electricity and emits infrared heat, like the sun, but without the light or harmful ultraviolet.
• A room’s ceiling area emits the right amount of heat for a room, making installation very simple in any property, irrespective of its construction, shape or size.

3. Affordable heat

• Heat pumps are known to generate more energy than they use, up to three times as much, by taking low grade heat out of the air and compressing it.
• Infrared fabric can’t match that, but because radiant heat is instant, it’s only being emitted when needed in the rooms that you’re in, so even allowing for a hot water system the total energy use can be up to 20% less than from a heat pump.

4. Radiant heat is healthy and safe

• Once the infrared heat warms the people, objects and surfaces that it touches, they in turn give off secondary heat through the process of convection.
• Radiant heat also means the air carries fewer allergens due to reduced air movement – it’s the convection currents from traditional heating systems that stir up the dust and allergens.
• Radiators reach 60 – 70˚C, whereas infrared fabric emits a low-level heat (45˚C) over the whole area.

5. Our homegrown future

• That’s a long and expensive process, but the all important SAP Appendix Q certification is due in 2025 if not before.
• It already has BSEN (British Standard) approval as a large area low temperature emitter and it’s class A fire rated.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 30,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.
Michael Siebert does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.