Installation of undertile heating has risen in recent years to around 5 per cent of the total UK heating market. Energy consumption is between 15 - 40 per cent less than traditional heating systems, and it's not surprising that with both the current economy forcing up heating costs and the long term goal of reaching the UK's emission reduction targets, that this form of heating is on the increase.Consequently, there has also been a significant rise in the the requirement for competent, experienced installers who have trained and qualified on key underfloor heating courses, tiling courses and renewable energy courses. The ability to correctly design and install a properly functioning underfloor heating system is crucially dependent on possessing the key knowledge and skills to carry out vital loop configuration and balancing, pipe size, pitch and depth, calculated water temperature and required flow rate values.At AbleSkills Renewable Technologies centre, a 2 day underfloor heating installer course, which has been developed by BPEC in association with the Under-floor Heating Manufacturers Association (UFHMA) and recognised by IDHEE (Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers) can be undertaken. In addition, the AbleSkills tiling centre offers a carefully coordinated tiling course curriculum of specific skill units, from a 5 day introductory tiling course to professional NVQ tiling courses of varying duration.For the householder, the two most important rooms in their home first thing in the morning are the bathroom and kitchen. With underfloor heating on timers, these two areas only can be entirely heated, where wall space for radiators is traditionally limited. Underfloor heating is particularly efficient in hallways where previously heat was lost at the opposite end of the heat source due to the ingress of cold air. And of course, tiling is the ideal floor covering for all of the above areas.Increasingly, underfloor heating systems are also being installed beneath slip-resistant and frost resistant tiles in exterior areas of commercial premises, and under patios in residential properties.Undertile heating is more energy efficient because the heat is spread evenly across a defined space and extremely quick and easy to install. Underfloor heating is particularly suited to being installed with tiled floors at the same time as tiles are being laid, as tiles are excellent at storing and conducting heat, and only add a few millimetres to floor height.Whereas 20-30 years ago, underfloor heating was likely to be installed in poorly insulated buildings, usually resulting in long pre-heat times and slow response, as energy consumption reduced by an average of at least 50 per cent and the use of improved insulation standards became more widespread, today, heating systems do not expend as much power to overcome standing heat losses and a greater proportion of the available power is used to actually increase the space temperature.Modern well insulated buildings do not any longer change dramatically in temperature with changes in the external climate. Underfloor heating is clean, creating low velocity air convection and distributing heat evenly across an entire floor area of a property, eliminating unwanted hot and cold spots.By being able to steadily reduce the operating water temperatures of underfloor heating systems and, thereby, the floor/tile surface temperatures, warm water underfloor heating is now considered both a cost and energy efficient heating system of choice for today's living spaces.