Funded by the UK Government's Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Radfan has been extensively trialed and tested in labs and real world homes to make sure that the Radfan helps you feel warmer and reduce your energy bill.
Field Trials
9 Housing Associations, 99 Homes
Testing devices in real homes is vital and so we teamed up with DECC and 9 housing associations to better understand how people respond to the Radfan.
Each home lived with the Radfan for 2 months and was asked a set of questions before and after the trial.
Pre Radfan Installation:
43% noted that can't afford their energy bill
47% do not feel warm enough at home
42% use secondary heating
Post-Radfan Installation:
86% felt increase in thermal comfort
45% reduced heating use
53% reduced use of secondary heating
Average Expected Energy Savings:
2565 kWh reduction in heating energy use
£267 saved per year
The Radfan works best in homes that are already insulated with 2 or 3 bedrooms. One of the key takeaways from participants is that they like the effect of feeling warm air coming from the unit.
People love the Radfan as they not only feel an increase in their comfort but it also gives them an extra layer of control to help keep warm and tackle ever increasing fuel bills.
Lab Testing
Salford University Energy House
The Energy House at Salford University is a fully instrumented house built in an environmental chamber used by the likes of Saint Goban and B&Q to test energy-saving product.
Testing:
We installed a Radfan in the living room of the Energy House and monitored the home, with and with out the Radfan running, over two 48 hour periods. The house's heating was set to run 24 hours a day, with the water set to 82°C, thermostat set to 21°C and the curtains opened at 9 AM and closed at 4 PM.
Results:
1.02°C warmer at sofa height
35% reduction in heat lost through the window
25% reduction in thermal stratification
Annual Energy Saving:
720 kWh reduction in heating energy use
£31 saved per year
Total Expected Energy Savings:
2595 kWh reduction in heating energy use
£106 saved per year
Total savings for the Radfan of around £106 per year come from people feeling warmer and using their heating less, combined with the thermostat turning off sooner as demonstrated by the testing at Salford University.
"Made a big, big difference. A hell of a difference."
- A happy Gentoo tenant
The tenants who turned their thermostats down will save between 5 and 10% on their heating bill for every 1°C reduction, or between £50 and £100 per year.