Water, energy and environment

There are many options for heating your home - different types of heat and heating appliances are best in different circumstances. The most efficient and cheapest way to heat your home is making the most of free heat from the sun. Remember, heating can use a lot of energy and increase your bills significantly, so make sure you select the best heating and cooling option for your situation. Also, consider options to reduce your need for heating so your heater doesn't need to work as hard.

On this page:

Energy efficient heating video
Types of heating
Choosing a heater
Using your heater efficiently
Running costs of heating appliances 

Energy efficient heating video

Find out how to choose the most energy efficient heater for your home. 

Types of heating

There are three main types of heating:

1. radiant 
2. convection 
3. conductive.

Radiant heating

A radiant heater will heat people and objects in front of the heater using infrared radiation. Radiant heaters often have a visible source of heat that glows bright red.

Radiant forms of heating are appropriate for areas such as poorly insulated or draughty rooms, or rooms with high ceilings. They work best in situations where you are relatively near the heater and sitting still - eg watching television or reading.

Convection heating

Convection heaters are designed to evenly heat the air in a room. This is done by passing cool air across a heating element.

The heated air tends to rise to ceiling level so natural convection heaters will heat a room slowly from the top down unless a ceiling fan is used to circulate the air.

Fan forced convection heaters assist in the circulation of air and are generally more effective than natural convection heaters.

Convection heaters are best used for heating well insulated rooms or open plan areas that are not draughty, have relatively low ceilings and where people are moving about or spread throughout an area.

Conductive heating

Installing underfloor heating

Conductive heating is the transfer of heat from one object to another. Examples of conductive heating include hot water bottles and underfloor heating.

Off-peak electric cables or hot water pipes are set into the concrete slab in underfloor heating. Heat is transferred into the slab and emitted into the home as a combination of radiant, convective and conductive heat.

Choosing a heater

Before you select a heater, you should make sure you do not waste valuable heat and energy in your home as this could add to your energy bills.

There are many ways to both reduce your need for heating and minimise the energy use of the heater, including:

• making the most of natural heating from the sun
• installing insulation and draught proofing - see the size of the area you want to heat for a table showing how insulation influences the size of the heater needed
• zoning your home.

The most energy efficient heater for your home is one that can provide you with a comfortable environment at the lowest cost.

There are five main considerations for selecting the right heater for your needs:

1. available fuel sources 
2. what you want to heat
3. the size of the area you want to heat
4. how your choice in heating complements your existing and future cooling needs 
5. purchase, installation and running costs.

1. Available fuel sources

There are three main energy sources used in household heating:

1. electricity
2. gas
3. wood.

The availability, cost and greenhouse gas emissions for each of these energy sources should be considered before choosing a heating appliance.

2. What do you want to heat? Heating a person, room or whole house

Heating the smallest possible area is more energy efficient than heating multiple rooms or the whole home.

If heating a person or small room consider a:

• portable electric radiant heater
• portable electric convection heater.

Portable electric heaters work best in smaller areas - eg bedrooms or small living areas. The maximum heating capacity of a portable heater is generally 2,400 W. Use the size chart in step 3 to see if the capacity of the heater is adequate for the room you want to heat.

If heating a large room or open plan area that is insulated and draught proofed consider a:

• reverse cycle air conditioner
• off-peak electric storage heater
• flued or unflued gas heater
• slow combustion wood heater.

If heating the whole house consider:

• ducted reverse cycle air conditioner
• ducted gas central heating
• slow combustion stove with heat shifters.

3. Choosing the right size heater for the area you want to heat

You should have the areas you want heated sized by a heating specialist to ensure the most efficient heater is installed in your home.

A system that is too small will not be able to achieve comfortable temperatures and will lead to large heating bills.

The size of a heater refers to its output power and is the amount of heat energy an appliance can produce in watts (W). The input energy is also given in watts and can be used to determine the maximum hourly running costs. Energy efficient heaters provide the same level of heat for a lower input wattage.

The following table can be used as a guide to work out the heat output required per square metre of your home:

The figures are based on rooms with 2.4 metre ceilings. A heating specialist will be able to provide more accurate sizing information for your particular situation.

4. How your choice in heating complements your existing and future cooling needs

Heating can be used for a period of six months while cooling can be as little as ten to fifteen days a year. This means your choice of heater should be a greater priority.

Installing heating and cooling systems that complement each other can help to reduce:

• running costs
• installation costs
• greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, an evaporative cooling system paired with a gas space heater or a reverse cycle air conditioner for both heating and cooling.

5. Purchase, installation and running costs

Your choice in heater will also be affected by purchase, installation and running costs.

When shopping for a heater, obtain three quotes and compare prices. Keep in mind the cost of installation.

When comparing two equally sized appliances, choose the heater with the highest star rating - it will be cheaper to run.

Ask about running costs and any ongoing maintenance costs. Maintaining your heater is important to keep it safe and efficient.

Using your heater efficiently

The following tips will help you to use your heater efficiently and assist in reducing your heating related costs.

• Set heating thermostats as low as you feel comfortable with. 18°C to 21°C is comfortable for most people. Every 1°C higher adds 10% to the running costs of your heater.
• Adjust louvres towards the floor as hot air rises.
• Maintain efficient performance of your heater by following the manufacturer's instructions. Keep reflectors dust free and clean air filters regularly.
• Reduce your need for heating appliances.

Running costs of heating appliances

Running costs for radiant heaters can be calculated using the input wattage or megajoules of the appliance.

For convective heaters, calculating running costs based on input wattage or megajoules can give you a rough guide to the maximum hourly running costs. The actual running cost depends on:

• the size and efficiency of the appliance
• the size of the area you're trying to heat
• the temperature set on the thermostat
• if your home is insulated and draught proof.

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More information

Other websites
Heating and cooling - Your Home Technical Manual, Australian Government