Infrared Heater Comparison with other Heater types

The UK needs to lower its carbon emissions as part of its commitment to a more sustainable future.

The popularity of infrared heating in the UK has grown significantly over the last decade, already being very well known on the continent through their much earlier adoption of this low carbon technology.

Life Cycle Assessment of Comfort Infrared heating panels

Proven Radiant Efficiency and Carbon Footprint of Infrared

We are working with independent agencies and bodies, both in the UK and the EU, to test the performance of our heaters (specifically our UK manufactured Comfort infrared heating panels). This testing includes verifying the radiant efficiency performance of our heaters, in accordance with IEC 60675, and assessing the embodied carbon within the manufacturing process through a carbon footprint focused Life Cycle Assessment. With high radiant efficiency performance and low embodied carbon, infrared offers an immense opportunity within heating to make a large-scale difference.

Testing of Herschel Comfort

Eco heating options including infrared heater comparison

Friends of the Earth explore Eco Heating options

Friends of the Earth, Independent Report Oct 2018, on Eco Heating Options. Take a read to understand the findings from their review on what’s hot and what’s not in terms of how heating can make a difference to carbon emissions. Includes a review of heat pumps, electric radiators and infrared heaters as part of the infrared heater comparison.

Air source heat pump costs include annual maintenance fees, unlike infrared systems

Exploring the pros and cons of Infrared versus Heat Pumps

The UK government is strongly promoting heat pumps as the solution to net zero for domestic properties. Infrared heating however offers a practical, affordable and efficient solution that is simple to install and can be quickly deployed at scale. With the poor take up of heat pumps by the market and the increasing number of our customers concerned that the government is not promoting a technology agnostic route to deliver net zero, incorporating all low carbon technologies, this article explores the pros and cons of infrared versus heat pumps.

Cheapest heaters for a 3 bedroom house

Research shows that apart from A or B rated Gas Central Heating, Herschel Infrared has the lowest Total Cost of Ownership of any other major heating system – even beating new, low energy ‘eco’ solutions such as air source heat pumps by up to 20%, efficient digital electrical radiators by up to 40% and a staggering 50-60% on underfloor and electric night storage heaters

Infrared heater comparison against traditional forms of electric heating

Building regulations and popular understanding treat all forms of electrical heating as a single category that is already 100 percent efficient. This article reviews 4 types of traditional electric heating against Herschel Far Infrared in a scenario heating a 60m3 room. The results show the huge power, comfort and cost differences implied by the different types of heater, showing the absurdity of the current categorisation.

Storage heaters Versus Herschel Infrared

This article compares electric Storage Heaters efficiency against Herschel Infrared heating. It concludes that storage heaters are too wasteful of energy – inadequately offset by the cheaper rate overnight tariff. They also produce less comfortable, less controllable heat during the day which you can neither adequately turn off, nor can you adequately top it up should the previous night’s charge prove less than needed.

Electric Underfloor heating (UFH) Versus Herschel Infrared heaters

Underfloor heating (UFH) is a modern heating solution designed to warm your house economically and effectively, whilst also dispensing with bulky, unsightly central heating radiators. However systems can be expensive and proper installation requires additional insulation and thermal layers that also inflate the cost.

Heat Wattages are higher than Herschel Infrared for the same room area, so running costs are consequently higher. Many people complain they find UFH too stuffy and difficult to control.

Biomass boiler schematic (Wood pellet-type)

Biomass Boilers compared with Herschel Infrared heating

Biomass boilers offer a cost-effective heating solution if you live outside a smoke-free zone and have room to install the boiler and the fuel store and don’t mind a bit of manual work moving fuel and ash. Biomass Fuel prices per kW are low while demand remains low and subject to RHI incentive, but the practicalities and costs of installation are likely to keep biomass a niche solution.

Infrared Energy-savings in family 4 room house formerly using gas heating

Herschel Infrared comparison against fossil fuel boilers

This article compares fossil fuel central heating boilers against Herschel Infrared heating. Anything below a band B boiler, there is no argument that Infrared saves energy. Band A gas boilers will be marginally cheaper per kilowatt, but because the heat produced is not radiant, you also have to run them longer.