Churches can be cold in all seasons, especially during winter. Sitting on cold benches during chilly weather is not comfortable, especially for the elderly attendees who are prone to catching colds. Heating the entire church is nearly impossible due to its large and tall space where heat tends to rise. Underfloor heating could somewhat solve the problem, but churches often have beautiful floors that should not be damaged for installing underfloor heating. Moreover, underfloor heating would only be effective if it is constantly on, which is not practical as church services and events typically last for only an hour or two. Therefore, it is not economical to keep underfloor heating constantly running. The best solution is to heat the benches.
The existing upholstery is removed from the benches, if present. Insulation, heaters, protection, and new upholstery are installed. Typically, a softer carpet is used, which can be chosen according to preference in terms of color and design. Meanwhile, cables are installed to connect the benches. The heating needs to be turned on 15 minutes before use. There is no need to worry about turning it off as the automation system handles that. Benches are divided into sectors so that not all of them need to be turned on. Energy consumption is thus minimized.
One meter of bench takes 60 watts to heat. For example, if there are 20 benches, each 3 meters long, the total consumption would be 3600 watts, i.e., 3.6 kW. The price of electricity is currently around 8 dinars/kWh. If the heating is on for 1.5 hours, the total cost is around 43 dinars. For the blue zone, it's 65 dinars. It may seem unrealistic, but it is true!
The heater is certified and never exceeds 80°C. There's no risk of fire. Additionally, it automatically turns off after 1.5 hours. The heater, which is already insulated, is covered with moisture insulation, and then a metal insulation layer is applied over it, which is resistant to mechanical damage. The entire system is grounded, and the system is powered through a circuit breaker.
The price of bench heating is around 50-60 euros/meter + VAT. For the example given, the total cost would be 3000-3600 euros + VAT. Central heating for a single house would cost more. Travel expenses for installation are not included in the price if the installation is far from Novi Sad.
