4 Surprising Facts About Heating You May Not Know
Here at Blauberg UK, we’ve got the hots for heating (excuse the pun!) and we’ve been looking into some fascinating heating-related factoids for or fans. Read on and find out more about how heating has revolutionised the world from Roman times to the present day.
1. The Ancient Greeks Were the First to Heat Their Homes
The Ancient Greeks were the first civilisation to equip their homes with any form of heating and they did so as far back as 2500BC with the use of a central hearth (a sort of fireplace) vented through the roof of the house. Unlike fireplaces in modern homes, the hearth in an Ancient Greek household would have been located in the centre of the room and would have been used for cooking, heating and providing light for the home.
2. The Romans Were the First to Use Underfloor Heating
During the Roman period, not all homes were heated but for those who could afford the luxury of heating, the only way to go was underfloor. They used a system called a Hypocaust which worked by channelling hot air from a fire through a series of hollow bricks and underfloor voids which allowed the house to stay warm without choking its occupants with smoke.
3. How Much Energy Does the UK use Heating Homes in a Year?
The UK certainly doesn’t exactly provide one of the most hospitable of climates and it’s pretty much a necessity to have year-round heating in our homes. With that being said, it might still come as a surprise to find out that the average UK household consumes around 3700 kWh/year. What’s more, on average, homes in the UK are responsible for emitting around 5 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere! In the next few years, if the UK is to achieve its 2050 carbon-neutral agreement, homes will need to be fitted with low carbon heating systems, find out more here from the BBC.
4. How Much do We Spend Heating Our Homes?
The UK consumes a huge amount of resources in pursuit of keeping warm. In 2012 “total household spending on energy was £643 million per week” and a vast proportion of this budget is spent on gas to heat our homes. This is a huge sum of money and it’s no surprise that UK homeowners are looking for more efficient, affordable and friendly ways to keep their homes warm during the winter. Find out more about our Domestic MVHR systems and discover just how much you could be saving on your heating bills.
Thanks for taking the time to read our surprising facts about heating, and we hope you’ve found them both entertaining and eye-opening. If you’re looking for any more information on any of our heating and ventilation products then don’t hesitate to get in touch and speak to one of our experts today.
