Eco-friendly heating materials 'set to see significant growth'

24/08/2010 15:30:55

Heating materials capable of producing renewable energy in the home are likely to grow in demand significantly in the coming years, it is predicted.

Building materials analyst AMA Research forecasts that eco-friendly heating materials could benefit in particular from government efforts to raise the proportion of the nation's power that is derived from renewable resources.

Among the technologies expected to grow in demand as a result are ground source heat pumps.

These draw thermal energy from out of the ground, using it to heat the interior of a dwelling without the consumption of mains gas or electricity.

'The government's target of 15 per cent of energy to be derived from renewables by 2020 assumes significant growth of ground and air source heat pumps in order to meet this commitment,' the analyst suggests.

Meanwhile, biomass boilers are also predicted to see an increase in usage in terms of volume.

AMA Research notes that the technology is not new, having been in use for two decades or more on the continent, but adds that large-scale biomass use has not yet emerged across Europe.

Posted by Rachel King

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