Herschel Comfort panels chosen to heat beautiful self build
Background
Sophie Arnold was embarking on a huge self build project that involved knocking down the ‘tin shed’ that was on the land they acquired, and starting from scratch with a new design and building project.
“[W]e wanted it to be as eco-friendly as we could. We weren’t going to go the full passive house route, but we wanted it to get as close as we possibly could to that. So, the obvious choices were either ground source or air source.”
“I’ve lived with both and found them really uncontrollable and the heat quite cloying. I’ve travelled quite extensively in Scandinavia and just walking into those spaces heated by infrared; they just have a completely different feel. You’re warm, but it’s not oppressive heat. So, I was really keen to go down that route because it’s controllable, you feel more alive in it. And because, well, it’s a fraction of the cost”.
Hear Sophie speak about the Herschel Comfort panels installed in their eco home and how they were chosen for ease of fitting, comfort, aesthetic, and cost. Sophie describes how the controllability of infrared is extraordinary and how they prefer the feeling of comfort to other heating solutions.
Solution
After a long renovation project, the final result is a beautifully designed and decorated Scandi-style home heated by infrared panels throughout, which perfectly complement the stunning interior. Sophie did get a quote for an air source heat pump, but ultimately found that the infrared heating solution cost less than 25% of the heat pump quote.
“When we first started this project the comfort range wasn’t available. This is a very new product. But it was three years between the initial investigation and actually having it fitted by which time it was. The efficiency is better, the controllability was better and particularly important to us was that actually it’s made in the UK. It was in line with the principles that we were trying to build on. By the time we got there, it was an absolute no-brainer”.
Sophie also installed Select XLS Mirror panels in her bathrooms, a dual-purpose mirror heater, with the additional benefit that it does not steam up.
“The heaters are the mirrors, which give the most incredible heat off. You’ve got the added bonus of the mirrors don’t steam up. You can have the most fantastic shower and you come out to an absolutely clear mirror”.
To complete the new system, Sophie uses MD2 thermostats to control her heaters, delivering consistent, efficient comfort across her home.
Alongside the infrared heating technology, Sophie wanted the house to be entirely electric. The fully electric home is equipped with 55 solar panels with plans to install a battery system at a later date.
“Solar panels are very important as part of that integration, which obviously means that our heating is effectively, we’re as close to being able to be off the grid as it’s possible. We are attached to the grid, but we’ve been positive in our usage throughout the winter.”
Sophie outlined the ease with which the electrician installed the infrared panels, with the wiring being set up as part of the second fix. The entire house was fitted within two and a half days.
“If I was ever going to do a project like this again, I absolutely would choose this system again…. for ease of fitting, for the comfort, for the aesthetic, for the cost”.
