Heating options, like installing reverse cycle air conditioning and underfloor heating require significant investment and might not be appropriate if you are renting or strapped for cash. We have researched your heating options to help you keep warm and maximize the efficiency of your heater.
Air conditioning
Reverse cycle air conditioning (or heat pumps) are electric heating systems that can also provide cooling. To heat these systems extract heat from the outside air, which is then released into the home. The cost of running reverse cycle air conditioning for heating can be as low as a third of the cost of direct element heaters. This is considered a medium efficiency system.
Ceiling fans can improve the efficiency of your heating system by recirculating warm air. Fans use as much power as a 10 watt light bulb. Energy Star ceiling fans are the best as they can circulate an average of 15% more air than other fans.
Portable heaters.
There are two types of portable heater:
- Radiant which emits heat from a hot surface (e.g. glowing red bars in a radiator), most appropriate in rooms with large open spaces, high ceilings or draughty areas, or;
- Convection heaters which best heat small to medium draught free rooms by filling them with warm air.
Portable heaters range in size from about 1KW up to 2.4KW and gas heaters up to the equivalent of 6KW.
Electric heaters are cheap buy (compared to permanent fixed heaters) but expensive to run. Gas heaters are available with much larger heat outputs, are more expensive to buy but the running costs are lower.
Electric heaters emit 3-4 times more greenhouse gases than gas (although the impacts are less if you are using Green Power). Compare the energy ratings of gas heaters here.
The efficiency of all portable electric heaters is about the same. The impacts and costs of operating portable heaters can be reduced if only used for short periods of time
In bar heaters the in-built surface reflects the heat towards you, ensuring this is kept clean maximizes the efficiency.
Oil heaters
Oil filled columns use electricity to heat oil within an upright radiator. These take a while to heat up, but they emit heat for some time after they are turned off. LPG heaters area also available and the running costs are similar to that of portable electric heaters.
Fireplace
Wood fired heaters and stove are considered to be carbon neutral as they release the carbon dioxide absorbed by the tree when burnt.
The most eco-friendly and energy efficient type of wood heaters used pellets made from waste materials. Check out our article for more info.
Hot water radiators
Not used much here, but a regular feature of homes in the UK and Europe are wall mounted hot water radiators. Water is heated with gas (most efficient) or electric boilers and piped around the house. Using solar hot water heating for these would increase the efficiency further, however, hot water from a standard solar hot water tank will not be enough to heat the whole house.
Ground source heat pumps
Again not used much in Australia these systems pump air or water from underground where temperatures remain pretty constant, either into your home or into a heat pump to heat it further.
Increase your heating efficiency
Reduce the amount of time you need to keep the heater running by:
- Insulating the roof, walls and using double glazing to reduce overall heat loss.
- Passive design to maximise heat from winter sun.
- Close internal doors and only heat a room or two at a time
- Seal draughts. Put snakes under doors.
- Heavy curtains can be closed to keep in the warmth.
- Consider the materials used. Cork floor tiles feel warmer under foot than ceramic.
- Only heat the rooms you are using.
- Invest in a hot water bottle or an electric blanket and switch on just before you go to bed.
- Buy a heater that best suits the conditions of your home/room. If immediate heat is required a bar heater may be a better choice, or if you are using for long periods a thermostatically controlled heater would have lower emissions overall.
- Choose a heater with a range of heat settings.
Choosing the right heater
The following table outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the different heaters discussed.
| Heater type | Type of heat | Suitable for | Advantages | Disadvantage |
| Gas | convection | Small or large living areas | Efficient to run. | Professionally installed gas fittings required and should not be used in poorly ventilated areas. |
| Strip heater/bar radiator | radiant | Direct personal heating, e.g study, bathroom, bedroom, draughty areas, high ceilings. | Quick intense direct heat | Difficult to heat entire room, little control or flexibility over heat output, no thermostat |
| Electric radiant panel heaters | radiant | Study, bathroom, bedroom, draughty area | Cheaper to run due to lower wattages, good personal heaters | No thermostat, difficult to heat entire room |
| Fan heater with thermostat | convection | Bedroom, study, small living room | Thermostat to control heat output, heats air quickly | Dries out air, expensive over long periods of use |
| Oil filled column with thermostat | Radiant, slow convective | Bedroom, study, nursery, small living room | Thermostat to control heat output, quiet | Slow to heat up, relatively expensive to buy |
| LPG heaters | Radiant convective | Small or large living areas | Instant heat, cheaper than equivalent portable electric heaters | Flueless, requires ventilation to exhause fumes and water vapour. Extra cost for LPG delivery |
Adapted from information provided by Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria 2004
Greetings,
I live in a community housing flat (so renting not owning) it is an old building with 15ft ceilings, apparently it was a private girls school in the 19thC. My lounge room is very large (long rectangle with large windows at the narrower end) We have had the batts put in under the federal scheme but it gets very cold in winter. I want an ecologically sustainable but not expensive heating option. I already use warm clothing and blankets when I sit to watch telly – any other options? I thought that an oil filled column with a thermostat might be the best option as they may take time to heat up but then can be left on so the flat stays warm. You, however only recommend it for smaller rooms. Dividing the room would be difficult and I couldnt do it and I am not sure if I could afford to pay someone to do it. Sorry to be so negative? but I am trying to give you a true picture of the situation.
thanks
Lynn
Hi Lyn, we’re currently trying to work out the best heating option ourselves. We’ve come from the UK where central heating kept us warm and are now finding our Sydney house very chilly. We’ve always used oil filled heaters as additional warmers but apparently they’re really expensive to run. We then bought an unflued gas heater in the weekend which warmed our large living room beautifully however we kept smelling gas. I started researching heating and my husband and I aren’t happy with what we’ve read, especially since we have small children. There’s been a bit in the press about unflued heaters in schools and I put that to the back of my mind when we bought the heater but it’s now going back after reading info on some reputable websites. Take a look at: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/publications/documents/Health%20Concerns%20of%20Unflued%20Gas%20Heaters.pdf
http://www.unfluedheaters.com.au/unfluedheaters/docs/factsheet2.pdf
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/unflued-gas-heaters-may05
http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/airquality/publications/report9/index.html
and
http://cough.org.au/
I’m sure the gas companies have some info too.
It concerns me that government information advises caution because I believe they often play things down.
We’ve decided that we’ll have to pay more for warmth if it means it’s a healthier option.
All the best,
Rebecca