Heating has been an essential part of human civilisation for thousands of years. Our own unique history of off-grid heating reflects this fascinating evolution. From the first campfires through to advanced and sustainable technologies, our quest for everyday heating has helped shape how we live today. We’re going to be taking a closer look at key challenges, milestones and innovations.
From campfires to chimneys
The very first form of off-grid heating was fire created by burning first wood, then coal. In England, the earliest conclusive proof of using fire has been found at the site of Beeches Pit, Suffolk, dating back 415,000 years.
Fast forward to 2,500 BC and neolithic farmers are living in Britain. These early Britons are living in huts and have moved their fire inside using open hearths in the centre of the structure. Any smoke would simply filter through the thatched roof.
In AD 43, the Romans invaded. With the eventual creation of Roman provinces there came what at the time was revolutionary heating technology – the central heating system, called a hypocaust. Using a fire at the end of a building, hot air was fed through gaps in the walls and under the floors. Perfect for Romans living in cold, wet Britannia. Though it’s worth noting that this form of heating wasn’t enjoyed in all Roman homes. It was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and for public buildings like communal baths.
400 years later in AD 410, virtually the whole Roman army left Britannia to defend the Roman Empire from barbarians trying to take over the western half of the empire. Town life quickly dwindled, and by 450 AD was essentially non-existent as Anglo-Saxon Britain was born and the Dark Ages began.
It wasn’t until the 11th century that the people of Britain returned to fireplaces in walls, thanks to the Normans, who rather than live in wooden homes, built stone castles. The earliest surviving example of an English chimney can be found at the keep of Conisbrough Castle in South Yorkshire, which dates from 1185 AD. These were wider than modern chimneys and started higher above the fire. This allowed more heat to flow into the room. It also meant that the chimney itself didn’t need to be fireproofed as less heat was going up it.
The chimney, as we know it today, began in the 16th century as wood was slowly replaced by coal. In the 1700's the foundations were laid for indoor heating to once again return. This was thanks to the Scottish investor, James Watt, famed for making the steam engine more efficient and in doing so, he helped kickstart the industrial revolution. He developed what’s credited as the world’s first steam heating system which used a central boiler and was apparently heating his office with steam running through pipes as early as 1784.
Into the Victorian age and coal power
As the Industrial Revolution took over the world in the 18th and 19th centuries, urban centres grew across the UK. Coal became a dominant fuel, not just powering heavy machinery, but also burning in stoves and furnaces in the newly built homes housing factory workers. This created better heating capabilities, but at the expense of health and the environment due to pollution.
It was during this period that Derby mill owner, William Strut, built a furnace that took cold air through a stove which then heated his mill by pumping the hot air produced into rooms through ducts. Later in 1819 he incorporated this revolutionary system into his design of Derby Infirmary which allowed patients to breathe free warm air, while old air was channelled out of the building through a glass and iron dome at its centre.
The Age of Electricity and Oil
In 1879, Thomas Eddsion invented the electric light bulb. It was 12 years later in 1891 that renowned engineer Herbert John Dowsing unveiled an all-electric cooking method at the Crystal Palace Electrical Exhibition. It was during this time that his business was making some of the earliest electric heaters. Though basic, they did look like a heater we’d recognise today, having a copper backing which helped radiate heat out.
As we moved into the early 1900's, Charles Reginald Belling began producing electric heaters in his shed. His company, Belling and Co, became a huge success, going on to make heaters and ovens. And, if you’re wondering why you recognise the name, it’s because they are still going to this day.
Into the 20th century
Throughout the 20th century, electric heaters, radiators and storage heaters grew in popularity thanks to the fact they provided more controllable heating that was also cleaner. The only problem was that until 1950, electric heaters were unsafe due to their elements becoming too hot with no adequate safety device in front of them. The invention of the bar heater changed all this, but they were not very efficient, and from the 60's electricity prices soared during the day. The answer was storage heaters. These were fitted with thermal bricks which were heated at night when prices were lower, and then slowly released heat during the day.
It was during the mid-20th century that oil-fired heating systems began to make inroads into off-grid properties. Heating oil boilers and storage tanks offered a convenient alternative to the conventional coal-based systems. On a personal historic note, it was the 50's when Northern Energy first began supplying agricultural oil, also known as tractor diesel and gas oil, to farms, starting our journey as an off-grid fuel supplier.
This turned out to be shrewd move as the discovery of North Sea oil reserves in the 1970s further promoted the use of heating oil in remote and rural areas.
The renewable energy evolution
In the late 20th century, awareness of environmental issues finally grew. This is now leading to a shift towards renewable energy sources. The UK government began by offering incentives for adopting renewable heating systems such as solar power, biomass heating, and ground-source heat pumps.
As well as these ‘new’ options requiring the installation of new heating equipment, eco-friendly versions of oil and gas have also been developed that work in existing boilers. The main successes (so far) are HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) which can cut carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 90%, and rDME and BioLPG, both renewable gases which also reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90%, while at the same time having the same low SOx, NOx and PM as traditional LPG.
In addition, companies such as ourselves began offering carbon offsetting to help customers reduce their carbon footprint and help create a greener, brighter future.
The Future of Off-Grid Heating
Today, there are approximately four million homes in the UK that are not connected to the mains gas grid. Which means millions of families across the country relying on alternative fuels such as domestic heating oil and LPG for home heating, cooking and hot water.
Looking ahead, the future of off-grid heating in the UK is promising. As renewable energy options such as HVO and renewable gases continue to evolve, they are likely to become more cost-effective as popularity grows. At Northern Energy, we’re excited about offering our customers greener, more efficient ways to heat their homes as they become affordable, viable options.
With technology evolving faster than ever in the history of mankind, it is certain that the future will witness even more breakthroughs, empowering homeowners to achieve energy autonomy while contributing to a greener and cleaner environment.