The majority of UK residents heat their homes with a central heating system that consists of a boiler, and radiators installed throughout the home. Even in colder countries, this system is not always present. We’ll look at some of the interesting ways people keep warm around the globe.
You’d expect to find traditional heating in the majority of homes, given that Russia is known for its freezing temperatures. You will find this type of heating in urban areas, but most rural people still use ‘pechkas.’ It is an oven, but it is also used as a heater because it remains warm for hours after being used. In the cold Siberian winter, people sleep on them. Check your boiler now before winter arrives. For Boiler Service Cheltenham, visit HPR Services
Iceland’s volcanic landscape is a great asset for geothermal power. The energy is derived from the heat generated by the planet, with water and heat being brought to the surface via underground reservoirs. Iceland is supplied with geothermal water via pipes, and even the pavements and parking lots are kept ice-free.
The winters in Japan can be brutal, but homes do not have central heating. Also, they don’t invest in double-glazing or insulation very often! What do they do when temperatures can drop to a bone-chilling 30 degrees? Kotatsu, a method that involves covering a low-level table with a blanket while placing a heater underneath it, is employed. Many people and their pets sleep under the kotatsu, which creates a cosy, warm atmosphere.
Netherlands – although most modern homes have central heating similar to that found in the UK, a Dutch foot oven was traditionally used. The Dutch foot stove was made of a wooden box that had an opening on one end and a slab on top. The slab would have hot coals or charcoal inside and your feet could rest on it.
Greenland: The Inuit tribes built igloos. While most live in houses now, they still build them to shelter themselves on hunting trips. It was a dome made of ice and slush that acted as a barrier against the harsh climate. The snow also acted to insulate the body heat within the thick walls.
China’s ‘kang beds’ are what get the people in northeast China used to through the cold winter nights. The bed is made of clay bricks and has a space for a small fireplace underneath. The bricks radiate heat through the bed, and throughout the room.
