From Guest Blogger Izzie: How Home Heating Got More Efficient

Our modern home heating systems are incredibly effective and efficient, having been modernised and developed over thousands, potentially a million years. The history of home heating is not only fascinating, but understanding it greatly helps us to continue this development to improve upon our heating efficiency going forward. Here you will see a breakdown of the history and an analysis of the efficiency of home heating over time.

• 1.2 million years ago evidence was found of the first man-made fire pit in a cave, fire is an excellent source of heat, though it is not highly efficient.
• 42,000 BC: hearths made from mammoth bones started to be used in Neanderthal buildings in the Ukraine. Hearths marginally improved the efficiency of home heating.
• 3000 BC: in Romania Braziers started to be used.
• 1000 BC: North Korea developed the first underfloor heating system by using a wood burning furnace at one end of the home and then pumping hot air through channels under the home. Again, this was an improvement in the efficiency of home heating, allowing more of the home to be heated and more quickly.
• 6th century: after the fall of Rome under floor heating was replaced by hearths.
• 12th century: chimneys start to become used.
• 16th century: chimneys are extremely common now, with coal being used to fuel multiple flues ad fireplaces.  Though coal is still inefficient, given it is not a renewable energy, much less of it was required to provide much more heat, thus improving the efficiency of home heating.
• 1741: with the invention of the Franklin stove comes much more efficient home heating, as this stove burns fuel at a much higher efficiency.
• 1855: Russians invent the modern day radiator.
• 1883: the first electric heater is invented by Thomas Edison, a massive breakthrough in improving the efficiency of home heating as this does not use a renewable energy like wood or coal to power.
• 1896: America develops the first solar water heater, using the power of the sun to heat the water for homes, thus greatly increasing the efficiency of home heating.
• 1990: solar air heating is invented, another way of increasing home heating efficiency by using the power of the wind.  At the same time, in Germany, the first ultra-low energy building, otherwise known as the ‘passive house’, was developed.
• 2000:  the first micro-CHP (combined heat and power) system became available on the market.

As you can see, we have come a very long way from the primitive days of building a fire in a cave and all cuddling around it to absorb some kind of heat.  Now we have made much advancement in the improvement of the efficiency of home heating, we are no longer reliant on coals and wood to produce a fire, sources of power that will eventually run out.  Instead we are now able to harvest power from natural sources such as the sun and wind, power sources that will never run out. By installing a solar water heater the CO2 emissions of your home could be reduced by up to 10%, whereas implementing a micro-CHP system can reduce carbon emissions between 15 and 20%. This reduction in carbon emissions is extremely beneficial in protecting the environment, furthermore, it greatly reduces your energy bills saving you a considerable amount over the year.