There Is Such A Thing As A Free Gas Fire

The government is on a mission to improve the UK's energy security and reduce carbon emissions. Almost 40% of the UK's energy is used in the heating, lighting and operation of our homes. With 25 million homes in the UK, even small improvements across the market can have a significant overall impact.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading a number of energy and cost saving initiatives to make homes more efficient. One of its main tools to improve home efficiency is home energy ratings.

In April 2006, Part L of the Building Regulations was revised to include compulsory energy rating of new homes as well as increasing the minimum efficiency standards significantly above previous levels. The new energy rating system is based on the total carbon emissions from estimated heating and lighting use, and is officially called the Dwelling Carbon Emission Rate (DCER). The consequence is that builders must now somehow construct more efficient homes. This could be achieved by fitting extra insulation or more efficient glazing, but there is one very cost effective option that is often overlooked - fitting a high efficiency gas fire.

The home energy ratings are calculated using method called the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). This calculation assumes that all homes have a proportion of secondary heating. Secondary heating is the occasional extra heating required in addition to the central heating system, for example on cold spring and autumn nights.

It is usually focussed in a single room such as the living room, which the occupants want at a slightly higher temperature to the rest of the house in order to feel comfortable. If an alternative is not installed, the SAP calculation assumes that the secondary heating is provided by electric heaters. Electric heating is very efficient at point of use, but considerable energy is wasted in its generation and distribution.

The fuel is burned in a power station, where the heat is then converted to electricity. The electricity then has to be transmitted through the National Grid to the home where it is converted back into heat. This is a very inefficient process. To provide heat, it is much more efficient to burn the fuel directly in the home. High Efficiency gas fires are therefore a very efficient method of providing secondary heating and consequently they increase the overall home energy rating. Most glass fronted gas fires will provide an increase to the home energy rating because they reduce the amount of warm air that can be lost up the chimney.

Similarly, flueless gas fires are highly efficient because there is no heat loss from the chimney but they do require the installation of a permanent air vent in the room, which reduces the overall efficiency of the building.

All of these factors are considered in the SAP calculation, with the result that Balanced Flue gas fires will in most cases give the best home energy rating. This is because they are both highly efficient at generating heat in the room and are entirely sealed from the room, preventing any additional heat losses. In a typical detached house, an 80% efficient balanced flue fire gains a significant 0.8 point improvement in the home energy rating (DCER) compared with electric secondary heating. To put this into perspective, alternative methods of achieving a 0.8 point improvement would be to: 1. Double the wall insulation throughout the building (Reduce the U-Value from 0.25 W/m2 to 0.13 W/m2) 2. Reduce the heat loss through the windows by approximately 60%. (Reduce U-Value from 1.5 W/m2 to 0.86W/m2). 3. Install 4.6m2 of solar water heating panels. Fitting a balanced flue gas fire therefore saves the builder from doing one of the above options and some of the new products on the market such as the 87% efficient Matchless Heat Machine provide even greater benefit.

The resulting cost savings mean that builders can effectively install a decorative focal point that adds value to the home, at little or no additional cost. This currently only applies to new homes, but on 1st June 2007 the government will introduce Home Information Packs for all homes being sold.

The Home Information Pack will require all homes on the market to be issued with an Energy Performance Certificate, calculated using the SAP method. This of course means that just as with new homes, high efficiency gas fires and particularly balanced flue gas fires will help to improve the homes overall rating.

There are currently no plans to set minimum efficiency standards for existing homes, but it is anticipated that high efficiency ratings will increase property value. When the increase in property value is considered, it is likely that fitting a high efficiency gas fire will effectively pay for itself. Combined with the fact that high efficiency gas have very low running costs, low carbon emissions and produce an attractive living flame effect, the increase in home energy ratings provides installers with a very powerful sales message:

Fitting a high efficiency gas fire doesn't cost the earth. In fact, it might not cost anything at all. Charlton and Jenrick Ltd have for many years been at the forefront of high efficiency gas fire technology and support the government in its goal of making homes more energy efficient and reducing carbon emissions.

Charlton and Jenrick's Matchless and Paragon brands offer a wide range of high efficiency products including balanced flue and conventionally flued glass fronted fires up to 89% efficient.

For more information or to request a brochure please email sales@paragonfires.co.uk or telephone 01952 278020.

- Tom Greenwood

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