In The Netherlands, underfloor heating systems have been trending as house improvement projects since the Dutch government has made its installation mandatory. The great news is that the government is providing low and middle income homeowners a zero-percent financing package to cover the underfloor heating installation costs. Moreover, since the main objective of the mandate is to eliminate the use of coal-fueled boilers, a subsidy of up to 30% of the cost of a heat pump is available to qualified cash-strapped homeowners.

Although the government wants to fast track completion of all warmtepomp vloerverwarming (heat pump underfloor heating) projects by 2026, Hugo de Jonge, the Dutch Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning reminded members of the parliament, the importance of codifying standards that manufacturers, suppliers and installers must observe and follow.

Minister de Jonge, clarified that where the house or building is too old and not suitable for underfloor heating technology and heat pump, there’s no need to force the issue. Not unless the building or house will undergo major renovations.

How Does the Underfloor Heating Technology Work?

An underfloor heating technology consists mainly of water-heating pipes installed underneath floors and connected to a gas boiler or a hybrid heat pump

An underfloor water heating system consists of pipeworks installed directly beneath the floor and connected to a heat pump. Installing underfloor heating systems is a lot easier in a new building when compared to installations carried out as a renovation project.

Through the circuit of underfloor pipeworks, the heat of the warm water produced by the heat pump is distributed and provided as low temperature heating beneath finished floors in specific zones. Additionally, an AI-supported thermostat monitors and controls the heat distribution process throughout individual zones.

Basically the Artificial Intelligence running the thermostat will make sure that the heat pump produces radiant heat in the most energy efficient manner. This is why the Dutch government specifically mandates hooking up the underfloor heating technology to a hybrid heat pump. Mainly because a hybrid heat pump alternately draws warm air between outside air and the boiler of the heat pump, whichever provides the most energy efficient and consistent warm temperatures in specific indoor spaces.

A Close Look at How a Hybrid Heat Pump Works?

The hybrid heat pump is regarded as the most ideal heating device to complete the underfloor heating system that will replace fossil-fueled water boilers. It actually works as the central provider of heat, while its hybrid nature is due to the gas boiler that poses as an integral component of the heat pump. The gas boiler is the cost-efficient producer and provider of hot water demanded by household members.

A hybrid heat pump can draw and furnish warmth either from surrounding external air or from the heated water produced by the boiler. The technology is configured to decide which of the two sources has the higher temperature to supply as heat in a particular space.