Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Just thought I would see how many have central heating in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Do you mean aussie central heating - as in reverse cycle air con or UK heating as in radiators? I know lots with reverse cycle but only been in one house with radiators - Poms who live in a 4 million dollar house and spent $30,000 importing and installing an agar as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Do you mean aussie central heating - as in reverse cycle air con or UK heating as in radiators? I know lots with reverse cycle but only been in one house with radiators - Poms who live in a 4 million dollar house and spent $30,000 importing and installing an agar as well. Sorry I meant the proper radiator style, we had ducted heating in Melbourne it was rubbish and cost a fortune to run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I would be surprised if any do tbh, generally they use heaters, cost a fortune to run but keep you warm also electric blankets for the night.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I would love an inglenook fireplace, although I'd probably only use it 2 months a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I would be surprised if any do tbh, generally they use heaters, cost a fortune to run but keep you warm also electric blankets for the night.. Is that just the electric heaters? When we first moved up here I notice the house we bought didn't have heating, the first 18 months I didn't need any kind but these last few month I've really felt the cold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Yeah electric, the only oz i know to have a super duper heating system, which transforms to air con in the summer is a pom living in adelaide! Family and aussie friends just use plug in heaters.. There expensive to run though.. I had never seen radiators till i came over here, im not sure you can even buy them over there? Could be a niche market there !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Sorry I meant the proper radiator style I DID have it - in a house we bought in Tassie in 1979. Left the wonderful heating along with the not-so-wonderful husband 6 years later.:wink: I'm hoping to have it installed in my present house - if the money doesn't run out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 im not sure you can even buy them over there? Could be a niche market there !! Yes, you can buy them over here. We bought some in the early 1980s to add to the system in our house and I have some current brochures for installation in this house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 only been in one house with radiators - Poms who live in a 4 million dollar house and spent $30,000 importing and installing an agar as well. Crikey! You can buy Agas in Oz for half that price. Unless there is a Rolls Royce Aga which is not available here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleW Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 No we don't have it and it is not something we would want either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest26012 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Couldn't stand the fuel bills! :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Yes, you can buy them over here. We bought some in the early 1980s to add to the system in our house and I have some current brochures for installation in this house. Didnt know that.. and my father built all our houses.. the suffering we had to endure as kids all camped out around the 1 heater he turned on for about an hour every evening Im smiling but its the truth! Saying that I dont think qld is as cold as down south..could be wrong again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 No we done have it, and i dont think id have it if it had been an option.. My wood fire is just as affective and costs next to nothing compared to what Radiators would cost, electricity wise.. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So nobody has solar fed underfloor heating out there either - the logical choice, free heat from the sun that can warm the floors, ideal for high ceilings. Just a tiny bit of electric for the pump and controls. I've seen a great retrofit system in the UK, it responds quickly unlike traditional screed embedded underfloor heating, so ideal for the Aussie climate. Maybe I'll shove a few in the container and sell it (with a healthy profit) to the whinging Poms ! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So nobody has solar fed underfloor heating out there either - the logical choice, free heat from the sun that can warm the floors, ideal for high ceilings. Just a tiny bit of electric for the pump and controls.I've seen a great retrofit system in the UK, it responds quickly unlike traditional screed embedded underfloor heating, so ideal for the Aussie climate. Maybe I'll shove a few in the container and sell it (with a healthy profit) to the whinging Poms ! :laugh: I would love it, but we can't get the solar system we wanted (6.5) due to the shape of the roof we can only get a 2kw system so I don't think it would power anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 We have ducted gas and under floor heating in our Canberra house. The only place I have seen the heaters I think you are talking about is on Escape to the Country. While I am sure they work really well I have to say they look fairly ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I would love it, but we can't get the solar system we wanted (6.5) due to the shape of the roof we can only get a 2kw system so I don't think it would power anything I think you're talking PV panels to generate electricity, I meant solar hot water panels which can considerably smaller but heat a lot of stored hot water which when used with a split storage tank can provide your domestic hot water AND feed underfloor heating circuits due to the lower temps underfloor runs at (typically around 30-40 deg c as opposed to 60-70deg c for traditional radiators). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I would love it, but we can't get the solar system we wanted (6.5) due to the shape of the roof we can only get a 2kw system so I don't think it would power anything Have you any land they could sit on ? Not sure how it works but a house up the road from us has a few really tall ones in the paddock next to his house,, i didnt actually notice if he had any on his roof as well, but i wonder how these 'free standing' type work in comparrison to roof panels. I think Solar is the way to go and we wouldve got it when the offers where on if we werent thinking of moving. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So nobody has solar fed underfloor heating out there either - the logical choice, free heat from the sun that can warm the floors, ideal for high ceilings. Just a tiny bit of electric for the pump and controls.I've seen a great retrofit system in the UK, it responds quickly unlike traditional screed embedded underfloor heating, so ideal for the Aussie climate. Maybe I'll shove a few in the container and sell it (with a healthy profit) to the whinging Poms ! :laugh: what about pipe fed underfloor heating - comes of the boiler? You need it to be sat in screed so floor levels have to be taken into account.. but its effective and very cheap to run.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I think you're talking PV panels to generate electricity, I meant solar hot water panels which can considerably smaller but heat a lot of stored hot water which when used with a split storage tank can provide your domestic hot water AND feed underfloor heating circuits due to the lower temps underfloor runs at (typically around 30-40 deg c as opposed to 60-70deg c for traditional radiators). Didnt see this before I replied to your first post ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Didnt see this before I replied to your first post ... No worries. Our underfloor here in the UK is boiler fed (couldn't afford solar at the time) pipes in the screed (I know because I laid the pipes down !) but the retrofit system I've seen only raises the floor by about 20-30mm depending on the floor finish so perfect as an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shell15 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 my oh keeps brainstorming various items he cant take from the UK in the container (not that we can fit anything else in) to make a few bucks in Oz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 We have reverse-cycle ducted aircon throughout but I don't like using it as it costs a packet to run and the inefficiency and waste of it offends me (I know that's a bit stupid but I've had 20 years of ever-increasing emphasis on energy efficiency in my professional life so it really goes against the grain) I think gas fired wet c/h is a good solution for the UK where you want it on for a fair chunk of the year and houses are generally smaller so warming the whole house makes sense from an economic and efficiency point of view. I don't find rads ugly as I've grown up with them (they're a sight less ugly than the typical Aussie winter house with convector heaters and portable gas heaters lying around!) but they do take up a lot of wall space Currently house-hunting here and we're a bit torn between buying a cheaper property we can knock down and build new, or do such a major extension/reno on we're effectively doing the same thing - or just buying a house. It will depend on what's offering best value and location in the market tbh. I won't be considering anything that doesn't have some form of gas heating in it though. I'm not massive on gas fired ducted warm air but it's (much) better than reverse-cycle aircon. If we build new or do a mega-reno then it will definitely be with some major energy efficiency in mind - airtight construction with a heat recovery ventilation system (these things are ace, right Chardy?), very high insulation values, solar panels (probably will go PV if we have the roof space and aspect, it usually makes sense in Sydney) but also consider solar water collectors. Not entirely sure about heating/cooling as yet, it will depend on the site and house to some extent. You do need both inputs at some points in a NSW year even with a super-insulated house. I like heat pumps because they can go either way but the geology of this part of Sydney is against it, although I'm thinking a swimming pool could make a mighty good heat sink if you could work it properly :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackinabox Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So nobody has solar fed underfloor heating out there either - the logical choice, free heat from the sun that can warm the floors, ideal for high ceilings. Just a tiny bit of electric for the pump and controls.I've seen a great retrofit system in the UK, it responds quickly unlike traditional screed embedded underfloor heating, so ideal for the Aussie climate. Maybe I'll shove a few in the container and sell it (with a healthy profit) to the whinging Poms ! :laugh: Agree. Mixed with SP and PV it certainly seems the most logical and economical thing to do in a country that has plenty of free energy source. All comes down to the cost of materials, installation costs and most importantly.........mindset. I have been involved in construction in one form or other most of my working life and most recently, for the past two years, involved heavily in energy performance through the introduction of new materials, the domestic energy assessments and green deal in the UK. Soon enough, and due to a European directive instigated by the Kyoto agreement on world emmissions, the UK will see a return of the likes we saw when double glazing hit the news. We will see more and more SP and PV sytems. Laughable that a country with a climate such as the UK can pick up on something yet Australia cant. The only reason for a slow take up in the UK so far is down to public perception and the set up costs against the pay back through savings made on fuel bills. Doublke glazing had the same issues and look where we are now with that. Only listed buildings are free from it and we are over subscribed with manufacturers selling their UPVC wears. The governments green deal offers to pay for supply/installation to those eligible but this will take some time to role out. As usual, China and its labour force will get involved and the costly set up costs for SP & PV materials/products will come down over time. Australia relies heavily on its coal and to China for it but convincing the general public that money can be saved through using the sun is the way to go longer term. If ya have the funds and the balls to sit it out for a few years then cramming your container with the stuff isnt a bad idea at all. Aussies should take full advantage of what is above them all year round. SP & PV & grouns source pump systems can be installed to compliment the property these days so 'looking ugly' or 'wont fit' will become a thing of the past and become a norm. For the shrewd businessman I see a great future business opportunity in this area in Australia. Chinese manufacturing links are already in place for it. Europe is picking it up fast, particularly the hotter zones. Feed in tarrifs are also becoming better known so that the energy you produce and dont use is passed back into the national grid and you get paid for it, often meaning that all you energy is free and some. Not sure how any of this works in OZ but will be finding out very soon. Or ya could just close those windows, put a jumper on and block any draughts with a blanket in the winter as my nan did and buy a few more fans and moskito screens for the summer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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