GAIA CLIMATE SOLUTIONS LTD
Suppliers of: Electric Underfloor Heating, wet underfloor heating, frost protection, commercial underfloor heating, domestic underfloor heating
Here at Gaia, we’re a company with over 30 years’ experience offering total underfloor heating systems in commercial and residential properties across the UK and Ireland. We specialise in the design, supply and installation of both wet and electric systems as well as frost protection. Offering a wide range of underfloor heating solutions, our teams can advise and design the most suitable system for you, whether it’s a new build or refurbishment project; providing a professional service from initial project stage through to project completion.
We cover all projects from self-build, residential and commercial new builds, multiple apartment buildings, care and educational facilities.
We pride ourselves in building lasting relationships with customers who we continue to serve and celebrate in the success of the projects we deliver for them.
Our Systems: Electric Underfloor Heating / Wet Underfloor Heating / Frost Protection
Heat Pump Compatible: Please contact us for further information on how we can design the right system for you.
In an electric underfloor heating system, a series of wires are installed beneath or within your flooring as a means of heating the room.
The electric system you install will depend on the size of the room and how well insulated it is. What the flooring below is like, whether it’s insulated and the type of flooring you’ll have on top. Options include loose-fit wiring, flexible enough to fit into small or awkward spaces, electric cable systems, or heating mats you roll out to cover larger areas.
Electric floor heating can be added without breaking up the old floor when a property is renovated. It’s quick and easy to install, making a new build project quicker to complete.
With a wet underfloor heating system, a series of pipes connected to your boiler circulate warm water throughout the floor to heat the space, similar to radiators. Alternatively, you can connect the underfloor water pipes to a solar hydronic heating system, air-source or ground-source heat pump. The pipes will be connected to your heat source using a manifold (essentially a central system allowing all the pipes to work together). The bigger the system, the more pipes it will have and the more complex the manifold will be. The system will also be fitted to a thermostat (or thermostats, if you’re having more than one zone) so that you can regulate the temperature.
We have various systems for you to choose from depending on your projects needs. We offer the full Gaia system which fits perfectly into screed, aluminium plates or grooved overlay; and we also systems from top brands Polypipe, Emmeti, Omnie and Myson. As a result, whatever your project requirements, we have a system to suit your needs.
We offer a wide range of frost protection and ice and snow melting systems for your project. From providing safe walking areas and driving during winter times through to protecting buildings and pipes from frost damage – we have the solution. If you want to install a system with the peace of mind that it will last through harsh winter conditions, our frost protection systems are fit for the job.
Our frost protection and snow melting systems are used throughout the world regularly protecting to temperatures of -30 deg Celsius.
Training professionals on how to specify and install underfloor heating systems is an essential part of the service we provide.
We offer a variety of CPD material on Electric underfloor heating, Wet underfloor heating and Frost Protection systems, designed to improve your professional knowledge and skills. It’s a platform for us to share our expertise on each heating system.
Our systems are fitted in new developments and renovations all across the UK and Ireland.
Further information and product advice is available on the Gaia Climate Solutions Website.
Gaia installs low-carbon underfloor heating in Taylor Wimpey development
Underfloor heating specialists Gaia are designing, supplying and installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in over 250 houses within Taylor Wimpey’s new development in Barham, Suffolk.
Taylor Wimpey is a national residential construction company, building more than 15,000 homes across the UK each year. Their new residential development – Churchfields – is located in the Suffolk village of Barham and will provide 257 homes.
Suffolk-based underfloor heating experts Gaia are delivering wet underfloor heating systems for the new-build homes, after Taylor Wimpey opted to fit low-carbon and future-proof heating solutions in the development.
“Gaia HQ is local to the Churchfields site, so once we heard Taylor Wimpey were looking for low-carbon heating, we approached their team to provide a full design and quotation. Not only are our wet underfloor heating systems low-carbon, but they’re future-proof too – which is ideal for meeting new regulations!” says Steven Rooney, Director at Gaia Underfloor Heating.
The new regulations implemented by the UK government mean that carbon intensive gas boilers will soon be unsuitable for future homes and should be replaced with low-carbon alternatives.
To adhere to the new legislation, Taylor Wimpey have chosen air source heat pumps which are known as the ideal pairing for wet underfloor heating – to create a low-carbon heating system.
When used together, underfloor heating and heat pumps can be 40% more efficient than a gas boiler and radiator system. Plus, underfloor heating runs at a lower temperature than radiators, so consumes significantly less energy for the same warmth.
“The energy efficiency of combining underfloor heating with heat pumps is a significant benefit for the future residents of the Churchfields development. It’s more cost-effective and produces a more comfortable, even warmth too” adds Steven.
Gaia are delivering the design, supply and installation of wet underfloor heating systems on the ground floor of the residential units, as well as their expert guidance from the concept stage through to delivery and aftercare.
“We have extensive experience working with housing developments across the UK and are proud to be providing underfloor heating for this project. It’s great to work with another significant national developer like Taylor Wimpey and we’re looking forward to seeing the completed site” concludes Steven.
The Churchfields development features two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes which are surrounded by green open space and convenient amenities. Construction began in September 2023 and is due to be completed in 2028.
Gaia specialise in the design, supply and installation of underfloor heating for residential, commercial and industrial projects across the UK and Ireland.
Trusted by architects, contractors, M&E consultants, builders and developers, they have worked with some of the UK’s leading housing developers.
Get in touch to find out more.
Gaia - How underfloor heating can help with rising energy costs
Since mid-2021, the UK has faced fluctuating energy costs.
Due to unstable post-pandemic economies and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, wholesale energy prices across Europe have hit unprecedented highs – which in turn significantly increased average annual gas and electricity bills in the UK.
As a result, businesses and homeowners alike have been looking for ways to reduce their energy bills.
Here at Gaia, we understand how important it is to have a cost-effective heating system which keeps a building warm whilst helping to save on energy costs.
So, we’ve taken a look at how underfloor heating can help tackle rising energy bills for residential and commercial buildings in the UK.
Why have energy prices been rising?
The UK and the rest of Europe have been in an ‘energy crisis.’
Political and economic instability – including the opening up of economies post-lockdown and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – have caused severe supply disruptions, which in turn increased the cost of wholesale gas and electricity.
Prices spiked in 2022 and while we’ve seen some fall since then, costs have still not returned to their previous levels.
In fact, the price cap in the UK increased by 5% to £1,928 in the first quarter of 2024. While it is expected to fall slightly to around £1,800 for the rest of this year, it’s still around 55% higher than winter 2021/22.
According to Ofgem, the unit rate will be 29p/kWh for electricity and 7p/kWh for gas, for a typical user paying by direct debit from 1st January 2024. The average daily standing charge will be 53p/day for electricity and 30p/day for gas.
As a result of these increased energy prices, businesses and homeowners across the UK have been looking for ways to keep their energy bills down.
How can underfloor heating help?
There’s a number of ways underfloor heating can help to keep energy bills down.
But first, it’s worth understanding how underfloor heating works…
How does underfloor heating work?
Unlike traditional radiators which heat the air closest to them, underfloor heating warms the entire room by gently radiating heat from the floor upward. This creates a more even distribution of warmth – and a cosy living environment.
There are two main underfloor heating systems: wet (hydronic) systems and electric (dry) systems.
Wet (hydronic) underfloor heating features flexible pipes which are installed beneath the floor. Hot water is circulated through the pipes to warm the room. The pipes are connected to an existing boiler – or a heat pump – via a manifold which controls the temperature.
Electric (dry) underfloor heating consists of electrical heating elements – heating mats or loose lay heating cables – which are installed beneath or within flooring. When the electricity is turned on, the heating elements warm up to heat the room.
So, how do these systems help keep energy prices down?
Lower operating temperatures
Underfloor heating systems operate at lower temperatures than traditional radiators.
While a traditional boiler and radiator system may run at around 70°C, underfloor heating can run at approximately 35°C.
This lower running temperature means underfloor heating takes less time to heat up, using much less energy as a result – and therefore lower energy bills.
Higher energy efficiency
Radiator systems often warm the area closest to them, with heat eventually rising to the ceiling and leaving the lower part of the room cooler.
Underfloor heating eliminates this issue by warming the whole floor. This warmth then radiates upwards, ensuring a more uniform temperature throughout the room.
This means that more of the energy consumed by the system – and therefore paid for – is efficiently used.
Compatibility with heat pumps
The popularity of heat pumps has risen significantly in the last few years.
Air-source and ground-source heat pumps move thermal energy from an external source into a building. This warmth is then transferred to the systems within a building to provide heating and hot water.
Heat pumps have been identified as a suitable low-carbon and energy-efficient heating solution for future buildings – and pair particularly well with wet underfloor heating!
Both heat pumps and wet underfloor heating systems are known for being less carbon intensive due to their lower operating temperatures, and therefore – when used together – they consume less energy than a radiator system.
Plus, heat pumps can deliver around three to four times more heat energy than the electrical energy they use.
This low running cost and energy efficiency makes a heat pump and underfloor heating heating pairing ideal for reducing energy bills.
How can Gaia help?
Here at Gaia, we have 35 years’ experience designing, supplying and installing both wet and electric underfloor heating systems in the UK and Ireland.
Whether it’s residential or commercial, we help our clients choose the best heating solution for their project.
Our expert team are always on hand to help homeowners, architects, contractors, M&E consultants, builders and developers with their underfloor heating needs.
Get in touch today to find out more.