What follows is a list of articles comparing Infrared heaters with other common heater types found in the UK to help customers with their decision making process as they look to move to low carbon heating technologies. This includes our new research that directly compares Herschel Infrared to an air source heat pump indicating:

– that the heat pump could cost more than 50% more to own and run than an equivalent Herschel system.

The UK needs to lower its carbon emissions as part of its commitment to a more sustainable future and there is an immense opportunity within heating to make a large-scale difference. 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.

In the UK there are few reliable market reviews on different types of heating that compare running costs and lifetime costs. Our independent testing, at the Salford Energy House, is the first of its kind to carry out a comprehensive analysis between an air source heat pump, electric convection heaters and Herschel Infrared panels.

Infrared Heat Pump Comparison

Heat Pumps compared with Herschel Infrared heating

Our research indicates that an air source heat pump could cost you 50% more to own and run than an equivalent Herschel Infrared System.

In direct comparison tests carried out at Salford Energy House, by the UK’s leading University heating lab, the heat pump used less energy than Herschel infrared heaters, but servicing and upfront purchase costs far outweigh the energy savings.

For the two bed house tested, our figures show that over the lifetime of the heating system, the heat pump would cost over £7,000 more than Herschel. This equates to almost £500 per annum.

Our analysis shows that the costs of servicing a heat pump almost outweighs the lower electricity used and a heat pump costs around 3 times more than the Herschel infrared heating to purchase and install.

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Eco heating options

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.

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Heating Comparison

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

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Oil filled electric radiator

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.

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Storage heaters

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.

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Electric underfloor heating schematic

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.

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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.

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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.

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