Energy Efficient Space Heaters Can Offer Significant Savings
While the United States Department of energy currently does not classify any energy efficient space heaters as energy star, there are many on the market that can be used without sending the electric bill through the roof with the heat. However, before looking to buy and use energy efficient space heaters, make sure you have done everything to make the whole house as efficient as possible at retaining the heat.
Space heaters are only designed to heat a small amount of space and even the larger baseboard heaters are designed to provide limited heating capability. The use of energy efficient space heaters should be kept for use in small areas and not be used in an attempt to heat an entire building. Adding more portable space heaters will warm the house, but will also make you a favorite customer of the electric company.
the more energy efficient space heaters will be equipped with a thermostat that allows you to set the temperature and the unit will only operate if the room temperature falls below the setting. However, if the heater is stationed near an open door or window, it will constantly run as though it is trying to heat the outdoors.
Safety Should Be Main Concern Of Portable Heaters
Many space heaters are designed to be moved from one area to another and they should all be equipped with a mechanism that shuts it off if the unit is tipped over. There should also be a shield in place to prevent flammable materials from coming into contact with the heating element. Even on energy efficient space heaters there should be safety features to prevent fires and injury to the user.
If your feet get cold while working in your home or business office, it will be cheaper, if more inconvenient, to put on another pair of socks that it will be to use even the most energy efficient space heaters to warm them up. A 1500-watt space heater will use 1500-watt hours every 60 minutes it operates, which translates into one kilowatt of electricity. Check your electric bill to see how much they charge for a kilowatt of power to see how much energy efficient space heaters cost to warm up your toes throughout the day.
Newer models of energy efficient space heaters can provide the heat of a 1500-watt heater while using far less power and can help offset the electrical cost. However, making sure the home and office is heated by an efficient whole-house system may remove the need for using one at all.
