Marble Heating

FOLLOWING NATURE'S MODEL

Thermal radiation is an infrared radiation which, when in contact with a solid body (i.e. the human body), is perceived as heat. For million years, the Earth is heated by the beneficial radiation of the Sun. The energy of the Sun, which reaches the Earth through this radiation, is , in the same way, carried away from the surface of the Earth at a rate of 84%. From the remaining 16%, the air and the ground absorb for heating purposes only 2%. The surfaces of both the ground and the sea reflect as well, through atmosphere, an infrared radiation, which depends mainly on their temperature that is the heat, which they have previously accumulated under the influence of the sun's radiation. The total solar spectrum, as well as the infrared radiation, is electromagnetic waves.

Nature, therefore, constitutes the model for our company, Elith. Like the sun radiates heat unvaryingly, so does the Elith marble heating system. Every living organism, animal or plant, is predisposed for this natural way of heating. That is the reason why we created a heating system, which conveys heat mainly through infrared radiation, exactly like Nature does. Palaeolithic people enjoyed thermal radiation through incandescent (glowing) rocks. The principle of climatic conditioning of a space with thermal radiation (Tepidarium) is traced from the 5 century BC. It was put into practice by many ancient civilizations such as the Greek and Chinese civilizations. Even the Romans were aware of the beneficial potentiality of the thermal radiation.

• STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF ELECTRIC MARBLE HEATING SYSTEM
  • Advantages of radiation heating
  • Disadvantages of conventional heating systems
  • Example of conventional heating systems
  • Installation advantages of the electric marble heating system
  • Installation in old dwellings
  • Installation in new dwellings
  • Installation in country houses (privately owned or rented)
• FUNCTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION ADVANTAGES OF THE MARBLE HEATING SYSTEM
  • Health reasons
  • Ecological reasons
  • An outlook to the energy future

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF ELECTRIC MARBLE HEATING SYSTEM

1. It is the most hygiene heating system. The Crystalloid structure of the surface of the marble and granite reflects heat unvaryingly in the space, through thermal radiation (like the Sun over Nature).
2. It does not just heat the air, like conventional heaters, but it heats directly the objects (walls, floors, furniture etc.) as well as the living organisms in the surrounding space. Heat is stored for hours and so, via thermostats, low electricity consumption is achieved.
3. In the heated surfaces of marble or granite, an electric reactance is incorporated, which in even its biggest size, consumes a maximum of 1,5 kW/h, heating an area of approximately 20 m².
4. In combination with other natural sources of energy (i.e. hydroelectric, aeolian, photovoltaic), it gives absolutely ecological solutions to the problem of heating. Governments in Northern European countries subsidize it's installation since it does not create environmental pollution.

Advantages of radiation heating

• All solid bodies (walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, plants, animals and humans) are directly heated.
• Heat is stored and in turn reflects itself in the space.
• The distribution of temperature in air is unvaried.
• The air in the space remains unaffected so the molecules of dust are in stillness (ideal for people suffering from allergies).
• The wall temperature rises higher than air temperature, so air does not liquefy on the wall.
• The room maintains its temperature even when airing it.
• Damp walls dry out, so formation of mould is impossible.
• Dry walls are much effectively insulated.
• A positive effect on biological organisms is noticed (i.e. blood-pressure drops; it is calming, revitalizing and growth favouring).

Although Nature teaches us of healthier ways for heating, people still prefer conventional heating, which is heating through the recycling of air in closed places.

Disadvantages of conventional heating systems

• Hot air rises carrying dust and germs (completely unhealthy for people suffering from allergies).
• Dissimilar allocation to temperature in the space. Floor temperature to 17° C free space temperatures to 21° C, ceiling temperature to 26° C.
• Air transfers with difficulty heat to solid bodies and as a result, walls remain cold.
• Heated air stored more humidity, which liquefies and settles on cold walls creating visible dampness on their surface.
• Damp walls are badly insulated and that increases the consumption of energy.
• After airing, the place becomes cold.
• Possible formation of mould.
• Negative effects on biological organisms

Example of conventional heating systems

• Water or oil circulation heaters (conventionally heated by the combustion of petroleum or gas).
• Electric heaters such as air-conditioners and fans.

Installation advantages of the electric marble heating system

• Installation is simple and easy, since all needed is the laying of electric wires.
• The placing of heaters is equally easy (two metal braces screwed in the wall). The up-to-now known conventional elements of installation (i.e. pipes, boilers, burners, chimney, fuel tanks and the space they occupy for their placement and crude metal heaters) are completely unnecessary.
• Due to the limited thickness of the slabs, saving of space is achieved and heaters can be installed even in the most unusual places.
• Marble heaters can be used both as central heating and as complementary heating for the already existing heating system.
• No maintenance costs.
• Spaces can be heated individually, without the functioning of a central heating unit.

Installation in old dwellings

• Extra heaters can be simply installed at any time. The procedure for every heater is to drill and screw the two braces in the wall. The connection with electricity supply can either be done directly to an intermediary space thermostat, or the existing sockets.
• For a rented house or office, no extra installation costs are needed and since the slabs are movable, they can be easily moved to another place.

Installation in new dwellings

• The cost of installation is very low due to its simplicity. Space that otherwise would be needed for the installation of petroleum or gas heating systems, can now be used either for living in or for storage purposes. Thus, economy on living space is achieved.

Installation in country houses (privately owned or rented)

• If the house is in regular use, no maintenance is needed.
• Marble heating system can be easily adjusted to the needs of the owner or the tenant, at any time.
• In case of moving or the selling of the house, heaters can be moved as well.

In their natural marble elegance, these heaters can very comfortably decorate any place. Natural marble or granite, with their many varieties in colour and patterns, can very well match with the colour tiles and walls as with the style of furniture. There are more than 30 colours of marble or granite to choose from.

FUNCTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION ADVANTAGES OF THE MARBLE HEATING SYSTEM

In comparison to conventional heating, the marble heating system uses the consumed energy more efficiently (energy output 100%). Infrared radiation when encountering a solid body, transforms into heat without mobilizing air. Comparison tests have proved that electric marble heating systems Elith converts energy to heat more efficiently and more economically for the consumer. The reasons for that are summed up in the following three points:

1. Wall liquefaction is completely avoided
   Due to the increased temperature of the wall, liquefaction point shifts towards the external part of the wall at approximately 1/3. This gives more space for insulation. A great plus is that the formation of humidity on the wall is totally blocked out. A dry wall is much better insulated than a damp one. Especially in cases of old buildings and mould appearance and/or in areas with an increased percentage of humidity (i.e. near the sea), the electric marble heating system is the ideal way of heating. Also, it is the ideal for places where paintings and/or frescos exist, since it does not cause the fading to them, or smudge on the walls, as happens with the conventional heating or the fireplace.
   
2. Lower air temperature at 21° C (perceivable heat)
   From 18° C, the addition of energy to room temperature flows linearly, that is the same quantity of energy is required to increase the temperature by 1° C. Again, from 18° C and for every 1° C, 6% of more energy is required. So if a 22° C room temperature is chosen, 4° C over the 18° C is needed. That leads to a 4x6%=24% over in the consumption of energy. On the contrary, heating through radiation gives a 3° C lower air temperature from the perceivable heat (i.e. at 18° C air temperature, we have a corresponding 21° C room temperature), which leads to significant saving of precious energy.
   
3. Airing factor
   During the airing of a place, when conventional heaters heat this, the total amount of heat is moved out by air. After airing, the total mass of room air must be re-heated. On the other hand, when the (electric marble heating system) heats a place, the air refreshes during airing, but the solid bodies continue to carry and store the heat, returning it to the refreshed space. The thermal capacity of these heaters is so big that, in combination with the thermal insulation of a building, can bridge approximately a 3-5 hours period of a steady room temperature (without any perceivable decrease). In result, a very small quantity of energy is required to give back the initial temperature of the place after the airing. The pleasant feeling of warmth is perceivable immediately after the closing of the windows, because the marble heater radiates and so heats the place regardless of the air temperature, just like the Sun heats the Earth.
   
   The above three factors prove that with marble heating system precious energy is saved in total.

Health reasons
Nowadays, the number of people suffering from allergies is calculated to the 20% of the total population. On that number, more and more children as well as people allergic to domestic dust are added. These people mainly suffer from the unhealthy consequences that conventional heaters create, as they recycle dust and germs, and dry out the air of the space.

Ecological reasons
For Elith system Nature is a model, not only for its heating methods, which are achieved through reflection of thermal rays, but for the selection of the heating material as well. Marble and granite are natural, self-same minerals. Through the crystalloid structure of natural stone, heat is reflected and spread unvaryingly to all directions in the space. There is no pollution to the environment. The combination of electricity supply system with revival sources of energy establishes our system as totally ecological.
With conventional heating systems, no matter if they are petroleum, gas or solid fuels, huge quantities of petroleum are needed for the manufacturing of the heating devices (i.e. heaters, boilers, pipes etc.). In addition, raw materials have to be moved to and from long distances (environmental disasters) in order to be modified to combustible materials, consuming vast amounts of energy again. Natural gas must primarily be purified from its useless substances and then be channelled through earth conduits for its further transfer to the final consumer. Petroleum follows a perplexed elaboration procedure that causes several environmental consequences, as well. Crude oil is modified to ether light or heavy fuel after it reaches distilleries, then, through gas stations, it reaches the final consumer. The new combustion technology succeeds in giving a 90% output, but still, the heaters are located in our living room. So, the boiler must be heated in order to heat the water, which in its turn, through the circulation system (electric power) reaches the heaters, with quite a few losses during the run. Heaters, in their turn, heat the air with all the negative consequences that were mentioned above. One more- although noticeable but not mentioned- thing is that heat also escapes from the chimney creating more loss in room temperature.
Contrary to this, thermal heaters of Elith are heated through embodied electric reactance. This results in the immediate spreading of the heat into the marble, which in its turn reflects the heat to all directions and onto the solid bodies of the space in the form of infrared rays, just like the Sun does.

An outlook to the energy future
In the Federal Republic of Germany, the 90% of electricity is produced massively by the combustion of lignite, coal, uranium, centrally connected hydroelectric projects and revival forms of energy. That is, energy forms that can be used for the mass production of electricity. This fact also contributes in the saving of energy, since petroleum and gas are already overused for the manufacturing of many products and inevitably are becoming scarce. As science and technology progress, the study for the perfection in the use of alternative revival energy sources grows. In Greece, the number of revival energy source units increased day by day. In contradiction to the limited supplies petroleum and natural gas, the pre-mentioned energy sources for future electricity saving are unlimited. Mass production of electricity from the use of alternative natural sources plays a very significant role for the present, as well as for the future. Whoever decides on the use of electric marble heating system contributes in the protection of precious natural alternative energy sources.