Dimplex Heating on TVs Grand Designs

In one property in France, DuoHeat radiators are helping to ensure that fuel bills are 75% lower than those in similar buildings.

Dimplex DuoHeat radiators are an international hot favourite when it comes to energy savings.

And in one property in France, DuoHeat radiators are helping to ensure that fuel bills are 75% lower than those in similar buildings.

Chez Jallot, one of the most popular and ambitious properties shown on the popular Channel 4 series, Grand Designs Abroad, has a large living space to heat - 500m2 (approx 5,400 square feet) spread over five storeys.

Set in the 'department' of Creuse in central France, which has relatively cold winters but also hot summers, the flexibility of the heating system and its running costs were of high importance to English owners, Deni and Doug Ibbs.

They set themselves 12 months and a total budget of just GBP140,000 to achieve a working bandb.

After careful research into the short and long term practical and cost implications, they opted for Dimplex electric heating and the results have been better than expected, explains Deni.

"We were working to a tight programme in more ways than one and the Dimplex system met our criteria for flexibility and ease of installation".

"The running costs in the longer term were a slight concern, but I have to say that now, after two winters, the heating system is proving to be fantastic," she says.

The heating system uses a combination of the latest Dimplex DuoHeat radiator and electronic slimline panel heaters, and the running costs have been dramatically lower than similar properties using oil or gas.

"We can't compare our running costs to the norms in the UK, but compared to other large properties, our heating bill is tiny".

"People with similar size houses here are paying 6,000 Euros in the winter alone for oil or gas but our winter bill was just over 1,400 Euros and that includes lighting too," adds Deni.

Furnished with antiques, the five individual guest rooms and the house now attract visitors year-round and so the heating had to be efficient and achieve the sensitive balance between economy and comfort for the guests".

"The winter temperature in the house is wonderful, obviously the insulation was a must but we find that after the first couple of days, the direct heating hardly comes on at all and the attic landing and top floor gym are warmed form the heat rising from downstairs," adds Deni.

Chez Jallot's rapid transformation from roofless crumbling wreck to a top-graded French countryside guest house and family home was first featured on Grand Designs in 2004.

And it was one of only six projects picked by the production team for a revisit, once again attracting high levels of consumer attention.

Deni and Doug Ibbs reported receiving over 1,000 emails directly after the show, while their website - which contains Dimplex details - took some 11,000 'hits'.

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