Energy Efficient Space Heaters
From LoveToKnow GreenLiving
Using old and inefficient heaters to keep warm in colder weather can be a costly drain on resources, which is why energy efficient space heaters are an attractive alternative.
What is a Space Heater?
Central heating is the term used to describe the heating of a whole house and a space heater is the term used to describe a heating device that heats a smaller space. A space heater is often considered a complementary heat source and is used in addition to central heating or other background heating to bring additional warmth when and where required.
The benefits of space heaters is that they can provide focused heat, for instance giving additional heat to a room with a sick or immobile person in it. Space heaters are often portable and can be sited in different rooms as required. Space heaters might also be used to bring additional heat to living space and leaving unused rooms with just enough heat to keep them above freezing. This has the benefit of ensuring that extra heat can be provided where required without the need to increase the heating of the whole house. This saves energy and therefore also saves money and is an important part of an energy efficient home.
Space heaters convert energy to heat and although heaters used within the home are typically electric, they can also burn gas, oil or solid fuels. Electric is most commonly used as electric heaters do not need venting or produce fumes or dangerous gasses. Gas, oil and solid fuel space heaters are often used for heating non-residential space such as greenhouses, as additional ventilation or venting is not always required. For all its benefits, electric heaters are also the most costly to run.
Buying Energy Efficient Space Heaters
Electric is often considered the most efficient energy to use for space heating. It does not generate carbon or other fumes and emissions.
As with most electrical appliances, older equipment is less efficient than new equipment. Over recent years the improvement in technologies and increased awareness over the need for energy efficiency has resulted in many energy saving features being built into space heaters.
Thermostat
Old electric space heaters did not include a thermostat, this means that they were often inefficient to use. Without a thermostat, a heater will continue to heat a room beyond the required temperature. The use of a thermostat has the dual benefits of ensuring that the room will stay at a constant heat and also ensure that electricity is not wasted.
Timers
Timers are a useful feature on space heaters as they give a greater degree of control over the warmth of a room. The timer can be used to come on in the morning, for instance, ensuring that the heater does not need to be left on over night.
Size
Space heaters are now available in a variety of sizes and guidance is given as to what sized room an individual heater will heat. This is useful as too large a heater will be inefficient to run.
Suppliers of Space Heaters
Energy efficient space heaters can be purchased from most domestic appliance retailers. Good retailers will be pleased to advise prospective purchasers about the energy efficiency of a device and provide information about effective usage. Eco friendly stores may also be able to offer advice on local alternatives.
Online retailers also sell heaters and some websites include:
Alternative Energy Sources
Alternative energy sources can be used to generate heat. Modern solar power systems will supply enough energy to power a space heater even during the short winter days. Eco friendly or green houses in the future will make more use of alternative energy supplies.
Health and Safety
As space heaters are often portable and not permanently fixed, there are health and safety issues. The heaters, by their very nature, are hot and can cause injury or fire if knocked over. It is important to site a heater carefully and ensure that the cable is plugged directly into a wall plug. Care needs to be taken so people do not trip over the cable. The CPSC has more information about the health and safety aspect of space heaters on their website.
A space heater can be a useful complement to a central heating system and used wisely can provide additional heat where required. While they do use energy, careful use can keep this to a minimum.
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Comments
Hi Brian, thank you for sharing your experience about space heaters. Kate
-- Contributed by: K PullenI disagree with the statement above about a $25 heater doing the same thing as a more expensive model. I owned a cheap Holmes heater that would heat up the small area in front of it to a very high temperature, but would have no impact most of the room. I upgraded to a Vornado DVTH model heater and found that the high power fan that this company puts in the system distributes the heat around the room much more effectively, ie efficiently. On their site, Vornado calls them "whole room heaters" and in my experience, that's exactly what they are. They are more expensive, but I'd rather spend the money once on something that works well vs. blowing it on something that couldn't heat my closet. I was skeptical, but it's working well for me.
-- Contributed by: B StevensHi Kim, thank you for the tip, that is good information to know. Kate
-- Contributed by: K PullenThis page has been accessed 4,601 times. This page was last modified 00:22, 14 December 2007.
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