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• Households
• Insulation
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• Domestic water heating
• Domestic space heating
• Boiler and central heating

Space heating

There are various ways in which a house or workplace can be kept warm. The traditional method is to heat water in a boiler of some kind and pump the hot water through pipes and radiators.

A modern house in the UK will have insulated cavity walls, an insulated loft space and large double-glazed windows to let in the light. These modern houses retain heat within them. Although they are easier and cheaper to maintain a comfortable temperature for the inhabitants, it still makes sense to reduce the electricity and gas bills as much as possible.

What is a comfortable temperature? That obviously depends upon those in the house. The lower the thermostat is set the less energy is used to maintain the required temperature.

Of course in a hot summer in the UK the problem is to keep the temperature within the house low enough to be comfortable. This may also be necessary at night to allow people to sleep.

Radiators Hot water through radiators in the rooms. Thermostats can be used to regulate the temperatures in the different rooms.

Underfloor heating These systems pump hot water through pipes under the floor.

Electric fires These radiate heat throughout the rooms. Electric fires are usually more expensive than gas fires to use.