Are Electric Space Heaters Efficient?
- Space heaters can be used for temporary heating of small spaces. When utilized in this way, electric space heaters are an efficient source of heat as they require less energy use than traditional heaters heating a larger area -- for example, heating a room as opposed to an entire house.
- Electric space heaters do not waste heat. No heat is lost through combustion or forced air, so 100 percent of the heat created is utilized; therefore, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, they are 100 percent efficient. While technically an efficient way to heat your home, keeping a space heater running for a significant amount of time will use more energy than a forced heating or central heating system.
- Electric space heaters are generally more expensive to operate for extended periods of time. If used in heavy rotation, the energy bill for heating one room will be quite high. According to Green Living, "if you leave your 1,500-watt heater running for an hour, you've used 1.5 Kwh. Let's say you are paying 15 cents per Kwh; that's 22.5 cents an hour, or $5.40 a day. Leave that heater running for a month, and you'll burn through 1,116 Kwh at a cost of $167.40 --- for a single heater."