Needs power
One of 3 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
A table people already sit at, and a socket. Works in a rented flat, since nothing is fixed to the building
A heat source under a table with a blanket over it, trapping warmth around the legs of whoever sits there. The Japanese kotatsu, the Middle Eastern korsi and the Spanish brasero de picon are all versions of it. A modern build uses heating foil and a thermostat under the table top, insulation beneath, and a carpet and blankets to hold the heat in.
Compare building and maintaining complexity, as well as efficiency where possible.
| Solution | Build skill | Upkeep burden | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot water bottle | None | 2 | N/A |
| Electrically heated table (kotatsu) | Basic | 4 | N/A |
| Solar-powered foot stove (heat cube) | Intermediate | 3 | N/A |
Build skill and upkeep burden are proxies (lower burden = simpler to maintain); the efficiency column is this sub-function’s ranking, 1 = best. “N/A” where an axis isn’t rated here.
No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.