CASE STUDIES Reference projects with individual, tailored heat solutions.

Case Studies

Selected ETHERMA reference projects with individual, tailored heat solutions.

CASE STUDIES - CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

CO2-free heating in the ZERO EMISSION HOME Case Study private house | Baden-Wuerttemberg

THE STARTING POINT

The ZERO EMISSION HOME is reality. It is located in the middle of Germany in Baden-Württemberg, is heated exclusively by infrared heaters and still produces more electricity than is consumed. In 2017, a young family from Gammertingen fulfilled their dream of owning their own home - since then they have proudly called 221m² their own. Sustainability and self-sufficiency in the energy supply played a major role in the planning for the young family.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

Modern buildings have an extremely low heating requirement, classic heating solutions are often oversized here. The ideal combination was worked on together with the ETHERMA technical team, which has over 40 years of experience. The own electricity is produced by a PV system on the roof and used for heating, among other things - because the entire house is heated with infrared heating from ETHERMA. Combined with battery storage and the smart home solution, all the building blocks of the ZERO EMISSION HOME are combined.

CASE STUDIES - UNDERFLOOR HEATING

INGENIOUS WARMTH IN RENOVATIONS A modern, comfortable heating solution for home expansions.

THE INITIAL SITUATION

A young family wanted to create more living space and expand their home. They also wanted to fulfil their dream of a small wellness oasis, which required comfortable, reliable heating.  

DIE ETHERMA LÖSUNG

This modern reconstruction incorporated a technically perfect and visually appealing solution, which was also energy-saving and environmentally friendly. ETHERMA electric underfloor heating system with specialised netted heating mats with a low 24 V voltage for protected areas were used to ensure warm tiles, even in the disabled-access shower. The steps into the bathtub were fitted with free-laid heating cables.

INGENIOUS WARMTH FOR A YOUNG FAMILY COST-EFFECTIVE, CLEAN, COMFORTABLE AND INTELLIGENT – THIS IS THE WAY TO HEAT TODAY

THE INITIAL SITUATION

A young family wanted to set up the home of their dreams in a modern new-build in Salzburg. For this, they needed a clean, comfortable and cost-effective heating solution.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

Independence from oil and gas was very important to the family, and they also wanted a healthy room climate as free from dust as possible, as well as a maintenance-free heating system. The ideal place for ETHERMA screed heating in combination with a PV system and modern home automation.

INGENIOUS WARMTH AT THE PRATER. A HEATING SOLUTION FOR THE BIG WHEEL - PRATER, VIENNA.

THE INITIAL SITUATION

Everybody knows it! With its candle-lit cabins, Vienna's landmark Riesenrad big wheel provides the perfect location for special moments. The romance is often interrupted by the chilling cold, however. During the process of replacing the old gondolas with modern units, a heating system was integrated for greater visitor comfort. Although the design remained unaffected, the technology was now state of the art - thanks to ETHERMA.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

ETHERMA is the right partner when it comes to tricky heating solutions, as our broad product range covers every requirement: in this case, a particularly lightweight heating solution was required, to provide rapid warmth while also sparing the traditional design. Tailor-made underfloor heating was installed in all 15 cabins. The short heating time helps dry out damp footwear, ensuring that no moisture remains in the cabins. A wall heating system was also installed to give reliable, rapid warmth.

CASE STUDIES - INFRARED HEATING

INGENIOUS WARMTH FOR YOUR KITCHEN Converted Barn Kitchen Extension | Great Britain

THE INITIAL SITUATION

When considering the heating for a new 40 m2 kitchen extension the owners of the converted barn looked at both wet underfloor and infrared heating. The new walls and roof were to be well insulated with the floor to ceiling windows and large French doors, consisting of double-glazed units.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

It was decided that LAVA® FRAME flush-mounted ceiling panels would be ideal as they proved to be cost-effective and easy to install. The infrared heating also provides a cosier feel as the occupants are directly warmed without the need to heat-up the air - just like sitting in the sun. By directly warming the occupants, the 'warm-up' time of an infrared system is much quicker compared to traditional heating systems (e.g. radiators) or wet underfloor heating - making infrared panels a more responsive, controllable
and energy efficient option. Absorbing the infrared into the skin is also particularly relaxing and comforting.

Three LAVA® FRAME 750 W units were installed in the ceiling at a height of 2.9 m evenly spaced along the length of the kitchen. Flush mounting the infrared panels provided a discreet installation whilst ensuring optimum distribution of infrared throughout the kitchen preventing any cold spots.
As a thermal mass, the floor absorbs the infrared and warms to approx. 16°C removing the chill and making it a pleasant surface to walk on with bare feet.
The LAVA® infrared panels have no moving parts and are therefore completely silent with a particularly long operational life (>20 years). They also require no ongoing maintenance or annual servicing. These benefits make a LAVA® infrared heating system one of the most cost effective on the
market when whole-life costs are taken into consideration.

INGENIOUS WARMTH FOR YOUR LIVING SPACE Refurbishing city apartments | Great Britain

THE INITIAL SITUATION

A large property developer has an on-going programme of acquiring, renovating and letting apartment blocks in London. Whilst the outside of their buildings show the elegant era in which they were built, the apartments within need to be completely refurbished to a high standard with a contemporary design to meet the demands of modern living.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

With an extensive range of quality models and various heat outputs, ETHERMA's infrared heating panels were the ideal choice addressing all the challenges set by the developer. The decision to use wireless controls simplified the installation process making the infrared heating system a cost-effective option. Central control of the communal area heating with ETHERMA's home automation system (eNEXHO) means the heating is efficiently used and can be adjusted without the need for staff to attend site.
The flexibility to install the infrared panels either landscape or portrait ensures space within the apartments is fully optimised and that the infrared heaters become an integral part of the interior design.

AN ENERGY AND TECHNICAL RENOVATION CASE STUDY: HOME RENOVATION

THE INITIAL SITUATION

A 80 m² home was brought up-to-date in energy terms by installing new windows. This was exactly the right time to also bring the heating system up to date.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

During this technical renovation - i.e. replacing the heating system to comply with the latest conditions - the night storage furnaces were replaced with 6 LAVA® GLAS 2.0 design infrared heating.

The replacement achieved the following results:

  • Connected load reduced from 14 kW to 5 kW

  • New electricity tariff "Day/Night power = 8+14"

  • Consumption reduced by 1500 kWh - compared to an average of 4800 kWh for the six preceding heating periods. This resulted in a sensational 31% reduction in power consumption.

 "I am very pleased with the result! In addition, the reduction in consumption came with a clear increase in comfort - cozy warmth throughout the entire house. A further positive side-effect was the air quality - additional air humidification is no longer necessary", explained the enthusiastic customer.

Electric infrared heating units comprise an economical alternative, as they combine a lower investment cost with a reduced heat load.

YOGA STUDIO, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Ingenious warmth for yoga

THE INITIAL SITUATION

In Melbourne, the plan was to create a modern yoga studio with an extraordinary atmosphere - while at the same time being environmentally friendly, and saving energy. The major challenge was to heat the high rooms to a constant 27°C - without generating drafts from the heating ventilation.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

LAVA® GLAS ceiling infrared heating panels provided the perfect heating solution for ceiling installation. Radiated infrared warmth warms people, walls and objects directly - thus avoiding air circulation of the kind necessary for convection heating. Suspending the heaters from the ceiling provides loss-less warmth to the yoga students, and their elegant black design contributes to the studio's stylish ambience.

Ingenious warmth with an advertising impact

Ingenious warmth with an advertising impact BIG BAMBOO bar-restaurant | Austria

THE INITIAL SITUATION

In the Big Bamboo scenario, it is often hot - but heating is essential. The bar area of the conservatory was often unpleasantly cool, and needed efficient area heating. In addition, the drinks caterer wanted to advertise himself in an elegant manner. 

 THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

 LAVA® GLAS 2.0 infrared heaters are perfectly suited to the heating of individual areas - as they warm the target areas directly and loss-lessly. Here the heating panels in the bar area were suspended from the ceiling to spread their gentle warmth. As the drinks caterer wanted to emphasise his commercial presence, the units also incorporated his logo. Not a problem with Design Your LAVA - There are no limits to your customised designs.

OFFICE | CENTRAL LONDON Ingenious Infrared Office Heating

THE INITIAL SITUATION

The office is located in a converted Georgian town house situated in central London.  The building is connected to the mains gas supply and heated by a gas boiler and a 'wet' central heating system. The boiler is located in the basement at the front of the building whilst the main office (with two partitioned smaller offices) is situated at the rear. The loss of heat from the hot water as it travels from the boiler to the office, was such that the radiator temperature was not enough to effectively heat the office space.
The business tried to overcome the inefficient heating by installing four wall-mounted 4kW combined heating and air conditioning units. However, these turned out to be noisy and created a very stuffy environment making the occupants feel lethargic after a short time. The electric heaters also created convection currents which sucked-in cold air through the old sash windows at the end of the main office, making the adjacent desks unusable on cold days.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

The ETHERMA LAVA® BASIC-DM infrared heating panels ticked all the boxes. They provide flexible mounting options which allows the infrared heating panels to be installed on the ceiling or high-up on the wall in either landscape or portrait orientation. Mounting the infrared panels on the ceiling keeps the wall space free for filing cabinets and ensures an even distribution of heating throughout the office, eliminating cold spots.

ELECTRIC LOVE FESTIVAL SALZBURG Ingenious warmth in the VIP area

THE INITIAL SITUATION

There is not much that you can rely on - Salzburg's summer weather is a perfect example. It can feel quite chilly, even in the heights of summer. Particularly in the evening hours. In order to offer VIP area guests with a suitable level of comfort, the Electric Love Festival placed great emphasis on appropriate temperature control. In addition, employees in the open-air entrance area also had to be provided with a simple source of warmth.

 THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

Mild summer evenings are rare, since SOLAMAGIC® infrared radiant heaters provide fast, reliable warmth at the touch of a button. In the VIP area at the Electric Love Festival, approximately 20 SOLAMAGIC® infrared radiant heaters were installed in order to control the temperature of the entire VIP area at a pleasantly warm level. Temperatures in the open-air entrance area, where the employees once froze, are rapidly and easily controlled with the SOLAMAGIC® heat table.

INGENIOUS WARMTH ON THE FAMOUS 'WIESN' Oktoberfest | Munich

THE INITIAL SITUATION

At the end of September every year, it is time to "O'zapft is", and head off to the Wiesn! This poses a challenge every year for the Heide family, hosts of the traditional Festhalle Bräurosl. With 6,200 indoor and 2,200 outdoor seats, all of their guests want to fully enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere - and in any weather. In the outdoor area in particular, autumn temperatures can be rather uncomfortable. To ensure that this does not impede the enjoyment of their guests, the hosts at the Bräurosl needed an efficient heating solution, to provide reliable, cosy warmth across the entire guest area on the terrace.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

As most German cities prohibit the use of gas-bottle heating in gardens, ETHERMASOLAMAGIC® infrared heaters were the ideal solution here. These do not warm the surrounding air, but have a direct effect. Heat is generated immediately once the infrared radiation reaches the human body. 20 SOLAMAGIC® infrared heaters were installed in the outdoor area of the pavilion, fitting perfectly into the scenery and providing fast, targeted heat. This increased the length of visitor stays, and thus helped increase sales.

INGENIOUS WARMTH IN THE CASTLE. Hohensalzburg | Salzburg | Austria

THE INITIAL SITUATION

Hohensalzburg Castle forms a unique and integral part of Salzburg's breath-taking scenery. Inside the museum, it is possible to immerse yourself in the Middle Ages, but there is one thing that the museum unintentionally also recreates - the icy cold. An efficient and cost-effective heating system was needed as part of the renovation process - one which would keep the museum's rooms at a pleasant temperature. On the other hand, the acute problem of mould build-up on the walls also had to be tackled, the result of crumbling, ageing and barely insulated brickwork.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

Together with the museum operator, ETHERMA developed an ideal solution, which was economically viable while also being simple and easy to install. To be specific, ETHERMA WST heating mats were installed beneath a layer of clay plaster, thus providing invisible but cosy radiant warmth. ETHERMA wall heating thus acted as a fully-fledged heating system, while also working to dry out the walls as a preventive measure against mould.

CASE STUDIES - DIRECT HEATING UNITS

MICHAELSKIRCHE, SALZBURG INGENIOUS WARMTH IN A CHURCH

THE INITIAL SITUATION

Heating churches poses a significant challenge. These are usually very high interior spaces with arched roofs, and their poor insulation makes heating the entire space utterly impossible. Conventional heating systems which operate using convection warmth, are not suitable because of the air circulation and the resulting heat accumulation in the ceiling. This is not only inefficient, but a warm ceiling does not solve the problem of freezing parishioners. Heating with infrared warmth on the other hand works in seconds, and directly.


THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

ETHERMA KST infrared-dark radiators were installed beneath the pews of the Michaelskirche. These provide localised heating in the immediate seating area and radiate warmth almost exclusively outward. They also provide a shield from the cold stone floor. Bank heating was combined with ETHERMA wall heating, to create a pleasant overall room climate. The poorly insulated walls mostly radiated cold - wall heating now helps to shut this out. The heating mats, only a few millimetres thick, were laid under plaster and are thus invisible.

CASE STUDIES - FROST PROTECTION

MOUNTAIN RESORT FEUERBERG ROOF AREA AND ROOF GUTTER HEATING

THE INITIAL SITUATION

Snow is a blessing for ski tourism - but too much snow often puts hotel owners in a sticky situation. The Ski-Hotel Feuerberg in Carinthia, at a height of 1766 m, was looking for a solution to protect itself from snow accumulation on the roof. Large roof areas are prone to snow accumulation, which lead to localised static overloads. With sloped roofs, snow masses can rapidly slip off and pose a hazard to hotel guests. ETHERMA cleared the snow with bespoke roof surface heating and thus also solved the problem.


THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

The ETHERMA planning team delivered the perfect construction solution. The tailor-made DSN heating mats helped to prevent localised accumulations of snow and are particularly robust and extremely weather-resistant, thus ensuring uniform defrosting. Efficient use is guaranteed thanks to fully-automated control. Thus, roof surface heating is only switched on once a sufficiently low exterior temperature and certain humidity level have been reached.

PRIVATE HOUSE ENTRANCE - LOWER AUSTRIA OPEN-AIR HEATING

THE INITIAL SITUATION

The first snowfall is awaited with eager anticipation. As beautiful as a white winter landscape can be, you could do without having to clear the snow from your entrance way in the early morning. But this is now a thing of the past - thanks to ETHERMA open-air heating. One family in Lower Austria was rapidly convinced of its advantages and can now roll over in their warm, cosy bed with a clear conscience. Open-air heating provides reliably ice- and snow-free access to their home.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

The open-air heating in the entrance way required the use of a special plastic overlay, which can be driven on but which is still thin enough to ensure fast, efficient heat transfer. An overlay a mere 8 mm thick was developed together with plastics technology company Westwood. NST netted heating mats from ETHERMA are ideally suited for renovations, as the only 3.3 mm thick mats take up barely any structural height. The core of the unit is the humidity and temperature-dependent control, which guarantees safe operation while also saving operating costs.

ALPENSTRASSE SHOPPING CENTER, CAR PARK, SALZBURG OPEN-AIR HEATING, NEW-BUILD

THE INITIAL SITUATION

This new-build shopping centre required an open-air heating system to keep the entrance and exit routes safe and free from snow and ice. The angle of incline of the entrance and exit routes posed a major challenge. A traditional installation - laying the mats on a concrete base - was therefore not possible. A specialised solution was required. 

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

A bespoke specialised lining was developed together with the construction company, and laid on the concrete. This made it possible to ensure that the ETHERMA heating mats would not slip and float when laid onto the mastic asphalt. A core component of the overall solution was its humidity and temperature-dependent control system, which guarantees its safe operation and helps to cut operating costs.

MODERN HEATING A modern, comfortable heating solution in a new-build

THE INITIAL SITUATION

A young family wanted to set up the home of their dreams in a modern new-build in Salzburg. For this, they needed a clean, comfortable and cost-effective heating solution. And open-air heating in particular.

THE ETHERMA SOLUTION

Independence from oil and gas was very important to the family, and they also wanted a healthy room climate as free from dust as possible, as well as a maintenance-free heating system. The ideal place for ETHERMA screed heating in indoor and outdoor areas in combination with a PV system and modern home automation.