UK bans sale of underfloor heating and towel rail models

The UK government has announced new energy efficiency regulations that will effectively ban the sale of a significant portion of underfloor heating systems, electric towel rails, gas space heaters, and storage heaters currently on the market. The rules, part of the government's net zero policy drive, are scheduled to take effect next year.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, is introducing the measures to reduce energy waste and carbon emissions. Officials stated the regulations will set minimum energy performance standards so high that many existing models will no longer be legal for sale. The government estimates that nearly half of electric underfloor heating models and just over half of electric towel rails currently available will be affected. For gas space heaters and storage heaters, between 17 and 27 percent of models are expected to be banned from sale.

The new requirements will mandate that new models include features such as temperature controls, power-saving modes, and, for some products like towel rails, timing controls that could limit operation to a set period, such as six hours per day. The government said these...