Affluence and icy weather make warm floors a rage

As cold air sweeps China, market demand for underfloor heating installations is growing in certain parts, especially southern and eastern regions that do not have central heating systems.

Yang Jiaxiang, production manager of Wuxi-based Hanse Heat Tech Co Ltd, which manufactures gas boilers used in underfloor heating, said: "The company produced nearly 10,000 sets of gas boilers by the end of December, most of which were bought quickly."

In the 1950s, when energy resources were scarce, it was decided that the central heating system would be provided only in the northern, northeastern and northwestern parts of the country.

That decision was taken to ensure indoor temperatures stayed between 16 C and 18 C during freezing winters, when extreme sub-zero weather conditions are common and unrelenting in those regions.

Given that historically South China has always been slightly warmer than North China during winters, the decision seemed reasonable.

In recent years, however, climate change has led to a rise in the number of days when temperatures plummet in the south.

During the same period, many people have also become affluent on the back of economic progress made by dint of China's reform and opening-up policy.

Many households in East China are now looking to install underfloor heating equipment, which was once regarded a luxury.

"My home in a commercial residential building (in Shanghai) is equipped with a heating radiator. I chose to install underfloor heating equipment for my parents living in the countryside to help them enjoy a warm winter," said Shen Weifeng, adding that most of his friends have already had underfloor heating systems installed at their homes.

"The cost of installing underfloor heating equipment is about 200 yuan ($15.5) per square meter. Our company has installed more than 10,000 sets last year, an up to 30 percent increase over the previous year," said Yang Renyi, general manager of Shanghai Shunqi Architectural Decoration Co Ltd, which specializes in the installation of underfloor heating equipment.

Industry experts said that with consumption upgrade, underfloor heating systems have now become common consumption items.

They also noted that currently, the household heating ratio in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was less than 5 percent, demonstrating tremendous room for growth. Judging from the current situation, the household underfloor heating sector in South China is expected to reach 10 billion yuan in the coming years.

Even cities that are already equipped with central heating systems may go in for upgraded replacements.

Wei Chen, a 25-year-old office clerk in Qingdao, Shandong province, chose to install one of the latest models of underfloor heating equipment even though his house is equipped with radiators of the central heating system.

"I dismantled the radiators. The underfloor heating device does not take up any space, and heats evenly. I feel warm and comfortable when walking on the floor."

The heating fee of underfloor heating is the same as that of heating radiators, which, in Qingdao's case, is around 30 yuan per sq m, he said.

Given improved living standards and the nationwide consumption upgrade, young people pay more attention to the quality of life, said Yang of Shunqi Architectural, who expects a similar proportional increase in underfloor heating equipment installations this year.

Cai Jingwen contributed to the story.

Contact the writers at zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn