EVALUATE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR HEATING

12/02/2022

Unequivocally, in order to choose the best heating system, various factors must be taken into consideration, including the type of home, i.e. whether it is a single house or an apartment, the area in which it is located, the annual temperature range , the energy sources available or usable, the structure of the house, for example regarding its thermal insulation, and finally the need to use the system.

Let us therefore analyze and compare the different types of heating systems proposed by the market today.

The boiler: condensation or biomass

The classic boiler combined with traditional radiators, as an alternative to a heating system, is certainly the most widespread in our homes. However, there are two different types of boiler systems most common today: condensing and biomass.

The condensing boiler is powered by gas and possibly accompanied by photovoltaic and radiant panels, which are renewable energies that allow you to save large percentages on the costs of the water heating bill. This heating system recovers energy from the condensation of the combustion fumes, guaranteeing excellent energy efficiency and low pollution.

Instead, the biomass boiler exploits the combustion of pellets, wood or wood chips, and turns out to be very interesting since it is able to heat the water that is circulated in the radiators and, therefore, that for sanitary use.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

Fireplace and stoves

The stove, the traditional fireplace and the fireplace stove are excellent allies in the home, as they heat, remove humidity from the environment and allow, if desired, to cook some dishes in the traditional way. However, these solutions can only be an addition to the main heating supply, thus proving not to be excessively convenient either in terms of savings, much less in terms of practicality, especially with reference to wood, which requires great work and large spaces.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

LPG cylinder and methane line

Most of the external tanks for heating homes are powered by methane and LPG, a gas obtained from a mixture of hydrocarbons. The heat yield of LPG and methane is almost the same; in economic terms, perhaps, methane proves to be more convenient, since it benefits from a distribution infrastructure.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

The underfloor system and the heat pump

The underfloor heating system is based on a system of radiant panels, placed under the cladding, which distribute the heat evenly over the entire surface of the house, guaranteeing greater maintenance of temperatures. The radiant floor therefore proves to be a valid solution to eliminate waste and integrates very well with the heat pump: installing one means making an important ecological and energy saving choice. The heat pump uses the thermal energy present in nature and, moreover, can be connected to a photovoltaic system, so as to produce electricity at no cost. The application of the heat pump, sees its savings from 40% to 60% more, compared to the consumption of the classic boiler.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

The ceiling heating system

The ceiling heating system, like the underfloor one, is based on a radiant system, placed on the ceiling, i.e. the system is placed in a high percentage of the space in the house, thus having the advantage of spreading the heat evenly . Thanks to this system, surfaces absorb 90% of thermal radiation and radiate almost 100% of it!

The wall heating system

Like the two systems discussed above, the wall heating system is also a heat radiation system: the pipes pass behind the walls ensuring uniform heat and also a great aesthetic result.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

The solar thermal system

Solar thermal heating is by far one of the best state-of-the-art heating systems. Thermal solar panels, to date, are increasingly replacing traditional boilers, both in terms of heating and hot water production.

evaluate_the_best_solution_for_heating_IDW-Italia-Prague-Biella

Cristiano Castaldi IDW Italia
Cristiano Castaldi

Interior Designer since 1985

CEO & Founder, Italian Design in the World

Related Articles

  • The Anti-Algorithm Home: Spaces That Aren’t Instagrammable (But Truly Livable)
    2/13/2026 The Anti-Algorithm Home: Spaces That Aren’t Instagrammable (But Truly Livable)

    For years, we designed homes as if they had to pass a constant visual exam: perfect light, perfect white, the right chair, the right vase. Interiors built to be photographed more than lived in.
Digital aesthetics — polished, minimal, hyper-ordered — entered interior design like an unspoken rule: if it isn’t “clean,” it isn’t beautiful; if it isn’t coherent, it isn’t successful; if it can’t be shown, it isn’t desirable.In 2026, this narrative is losing its power. Not because beauty matters less, but because beauty alone is no longer enough.
A new need is emerging: anti-algorithm interiors, spaces not designed for the shot, but for everyday life. Less performative homes, more real ones. Environments that don’t seek approval — they restore energy.This is not a return to chaos. It’s a return to meaning.

  • The End of the Open Space: The Return of Thresholds
    1/30/2026 The End of the Open Space: The Return of Thresholds

    For years, open-plan living symbolized contemporary domestic design: fluid, bright, without barriers.
A response to the desire for freedom, openness, and visual continuity.Today, that promise is being reconsidered.
In 2026, many projects mark a shift — not a rejection of open space, but its critical evolution. The return of thresholds.

  • Interiors That Age Well: Designing Spaces Beyond Trends
    1/23/2026 Interiors That Age Well: Designing Spaces Beyond Trends

    One of the most underestimated challenges in contemporary design is time.
Not the time required to design a space, but the time the space must endure: years of daily life, change, wear, and transformation.

  • Living as a Cultural Act: When the Home Becomes a Position
    1/09/2026 Living as a Cultural Act: When the Home Becomes a Position

    In recent years, the home has stopped being a simple functional container.
It has become an extension of how we think, how we experience time, and how we relate to the world. Living today is a cultural act — a conscious choice that reflects values, priorities, and pace of life. It’s no longer just about aesthetics. It’s about position.

  • The Aesthetics of Ritual: How Design Shapes Everyday Habits
    1/02/2026 The Aesthetics of Ritual: How Design Shapes Everyday Habits

    Homes have become more than places — they have become temporal landscapes.
Design is shifting from objects to gestures, from furniture to the choreography of daily life.

  • The Material of the Future: Ultra-Thin Surfaces and Advanced Finishes
    12/19/2025 The Material of the Future: Ultra-Thin Surfaces and Advanced Finishes

    Material innovation is reshaping interiors more deeply than any aesthetic trend.
The new frontier is not in bold colors or complex textures — it lies in technical surfaces that are thin yet strong, discreet yet expressive, silent yet high-performing.