Energy Efficient Heating Buying Guide

Choosing the most energy efficient Heater

There are many things to consider when purchasing a new heater. Heaters are known to use a lot of energy in a home, so it's worth upgrading to an energy efficient model to help save on running costs.

Energy rating

Energy ratings for heaters are a great way to determine how effectively a heater converts energy into heat. Check out the Energy Rating label on heating products - the more stars, the more energy efficient.

Size

Choose a heater that is the right size for your space - oversized heaters may heat the room too quickly, leading to uneven temperatures and wasted energy. Undersized heaters will struggle to keep up, consuming more power and leaving you cold.

Suits the space

Space heaters are usually used in bedrooms and main living areas and for bathrooms, as for big, draughty rooms, radiant heating is the best option. If your home has large spaces and high ceilings a combination of convective and radiant heating works well.

Controls

With controls for the thermostat and/or a timer you can create and maintain the optimum temperature for energy savings and home comfort. Some heaters automatically measure the temperature of the room then switch the heating off when necessary to save energy.

Considerations when choosing an energy efficient Heater

Electric Heaters

- Portable: cheap to buy but running costs can be expensive. - Radiant Ceramic and Quartz: gives you instant radiant heat. - Fan: heats the air and can quickly warm smaller rooms. - Oil column: heats up slowly and creates a combination of convective and radiant heat. - Convector: not suitable for rooms with high ceilings or poor insulation because it heats the air which then rises. - Fixed: must be installed into the wall. - Storage heaters: heat is produced during the night using off-peak electricity then stored in bricks. - Wall panel heaters: expensive to run so compare with energy efficient heaters that cost more to buy but are cheaper to run. - Reverse cycle split system air conditioners (A.K.A heat pumps): the most energy efficient electric heater. 5 and 6 star reverse cycle units can be even cheaper to run than gas heaters, producing just one-fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions that a standard electric heater creates. They are quieter to run because the compressor is outside, and provide low cost heating in winter and cooling in summer.Most products are given between 1 and 6 stars. Technology keeps getting better as does energy efficiency! This is why nowadays you’ll see some super-efficient models in shops and online with an extra row for stars that go up to 10. For more information on how to estimate your running costs, go to the Energy Rating Website.

Gas Heaters

Gas heaters are cheaper to run but do require ventilation. The different types of gas heaters include: - Flued: externally flued for outside ventilation, which is not always possible, especially for tenants. - Fixed: wall installed and most are flued, with fans to circulate hot air and provide convective and/or radiant heat. - Portable unflued: run on natural gas or LGP and give radiant or convective heat – need room ventilation for good air quality. - Flame effect: radiant and convection heaters vary in efficiency from purely decorative flames to highly efficient heat generating flames. Keep in mind that decorative gas heaters can use more gas than a space heater and not effectively heat the space.

Electric Fireplaces

- Electric fireplaces mimic the appearance of open fireplaces by using technology and electricity to generate heat. - Electric fireplaces are generally more energy-efficient than gas or open fireplaces as the heat is converted from electric energy.

What is a star rating?

The star rating is about energy efficiency – that is, how much energy a product uses compared to similar products. More stars means more efficient, when compared to other models of a similar size and features. The more stars shown on the Energy Rating Label, the less energy the product will use and the more money you will save on your energy bills. Non-ducted household air conditioners must carry a Zoned Energy Rating Label. The previous Energy Rating Label is being phased out, so some appliances may still display it.

Most products are given between 1 and 6 stars. Technology keeps getting better as does energy efficiency! This is why nowadays you’ll see some super-efficient models in shops and online with an extra row for stars that go up to 10. For more information on how to estimate your running costs, go to the Energy Rating Website.

How to read the zoned energy efficiency rating

There are four parts to the Zoned Energy Rating label.

1. There are three climate zones - hot, average and cold. This energy rating calculator will help find your climate zone so you can select and appliance that performs best in your location.

2. The red star rating shows the heating energy efficiency, the blue star rating shows the cooling energy efficiency. The more stars, the more energy efficient.

3. Estimated annual energy use in kilowatt hours (kWh) is displayed on the right of the label for both heating and cooling.

4. Noise indicators at the bottom show the volume in decibels (dB (A)) of the air conditioner.

For more information, go to the Energy Rating Website.