Energy Efficient Heaters Comparison Table
Out of 7 heaters reviewed at qlabe, below are our top 5 picks.
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| Model: | Lasko 6405 Designer Energy Efficient Heater | DeLonghi HMP1500 Energy Efficient Heater | Dr. Infrared Portable And Energy Efficient Heater | Lifesmart Infrared Energy Efficient Heater | Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Energy Efficient Heater |
Editor's Choice |  |  |  |  | |
| Qlabe Rating: | |||||
| Energy Usage: | 1500 watts | 1500 watts | 1500 watts | 1500 watts | 1500 watts |
| Dimensions Size/Height: | 8.25"L x 3"W x 16.05"H | 27 x 10 x 22 inches | 13 x 11 x 16 inches | 16 x 13 x 16.5 inches | 9 x 6.5 x 10.2 inches |
| Weight: | 7.9 pounds | 15.43 pounds | 24 pounds | 21 pounds | 3.8 pounds |
| Safety Feature: | Automatic overheat protection. | Automatic overheat protection | Tip-over & overheat protection. | Tip-over Cut Off Switch | Automatic overheating shut off |
| Adjustments: | 2 settings | 2 settings | 3 settings | 3 settings | 2 settings |
| Check on Amazon! | Check on Amazon! | Check on Amazon! | Check on Amazon! | Check on Amazon! |
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When the temperature plummets during the cold months, it is very likely that you turn to your space heater to keep you warm and comfortable whether at home or in your office.
However, most people inevitably have to spend more during the cold winter months since the utility bills go up as a result of the added load on their power source.
While these expenses are mostly inevitable, you can still keep it to a minimum.
Getting a space heater is a smart move to help you solve this problem. This way, you use your central heating unit less often and consequently spend less on energy costs.
But even portable space heaters have varying energy efficiency. Because this all-important property varies from one heater to the other, you must know how to pick the most energy-efficient options among the many options out there.
We have reviewed some of the best energy efficient space heaters in this article. We also included a buyer’s guide that will help you in making the best decision.
Let’s begin with some crucial factors to consider before making a purchase.
Before You Buy; Important Energy Saving Factors To Consider
Before you step out to make a purchase, you must be familiar with the various features that promote energy efficiency in your space heater. Here are some features to consider
Programmable Thermostat: A thermostat is one of the most critical characteristics that determine how your heater generates and manages heat.
A heater with a programmable thermostat will remain at the room temperature that you have programmed it to maintain.
Once that temperature is attained, the unit will go on or off on its own to maintain your room at a comfortable temperature while saving energy in the process.
Auto Or Eco-Mode: not every heater comes with these features, but finding a heater that begins with an Eco-mode can help you utilize energy the best way possible.
With just a push of a button, your heater will select between high or low fan speed and operate at an appropriate heating level to maintain an optimum set temperature.
In some cases, an eco-mode helps your heater reach optimum temperature faster and will kick off the moment this designated temperature is attained.
Multiple Heat Settings: when saving energy is the goal, and it is crucial that you find a heater that allows you to vary heat settings.
Usually, most heaters for bigger rooms either come with multiple heat setting or a programmable thermostat.
But some heaters have both features and going for an option like that will be a great choice.
Programmable timer: what happens if you happen to sleep off while the heater is on or you forget to turn off your unit when you leave home for work? An automatic timer that shuts off the group will come I handy in this situation.
It allows you to specify how long you want the heater to stay on. In some cases, you can also set the timer, so come on by itself at a particular time.
This way you can set it up to come on right before you arrive from back home from work or any other way you prefer it.
Product Reviews; Best Energy Efficient Space Heaters
1. Lasko 6405 Designer Energy Efficient Heater
A space heater’s job is to make your room warm and toasty, but it is definitely not a bad idea if it adds to the aesthetics of your room as well.
Thanks to its impressive design, the Lasko 6405 is a household fixture that will most definitely stand out in your home.
But this heater isn’t just a thing of beauty. It is also designed to deliver heat optimally to every part of your large room.
One major highlight of this heater that makes this possible is its wide-area oscillation features which ensure effective heat distribution.
It delivers up to 1500 watts of heat which can be easily adjusted to high or low using its thermostat settings.
Its ceramic heating element is self-regulating. Its body is made of a combination of metals and plastic, which makes it quite lightweight while retaining its durability.
This heater comes with several features for enhanced safety. Four sturdy legs ensure durability.
There is overheat protection which shuts off the heater if it ever gets too hot. While its 7-hour auto timer and thermostats further increase control and ease of use.
Features:
- The ceramic heating element can self-regulate.
- Stylish body and design that complements your home décor
- Built-in timer
- Oscillation features ensure effective heat distribution.
Cons:
- Might not be effective for areas larger than 300 square feet
2. DeLonghi HMP1500 Energy Efficient Heater
This heater’s stylish and functional design is probably its most prominent feature.
With an attractive and sleek design, the Delonghi Mica panel heater will blend right in with your home decor and deliver full room warmth without disturbing you with any noise at all.
Thanks to its slim design, it can fit into any room even when you don’t have enough ample space to spare. Alternatively, you can mount it on the wall if you find that more convenient.
This mica heating pane is perfect for spot heating or as a supplementary heat source for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and pretty much anywhere else in the home.
It is can also be used in office spaces too. This heater packs up to 1500 watts of power efficiency. Still, it can be further customized to meet your heating needs and minimize heating costs using its multiple heat setting and adjustable thermostat.
It also comes with several inbuilt safety features as well that prevents overheating, tip over and light indicators for safe operation.
Features:
- Customizable to meet your heating needs
- Sleek and slim design
- Wall mountable
- Compact, with carrying handles which make it even more portable
Cons:
- Optimal room size it can cover is about 300 sq. ft.
3. Dr. Infrared Portable And Energy Efficient Heater
Most space heaters cause the air in the room to dry out, here is one area infrared space heater is king.
It effectively warms up the room without drying out the air.
This space heater makes use of a dual heating system to warm up the room.
It uses a combination of Infrared Quartz tube and PTC for effective heat distribution.
Dr Infrared heater also has an inbuilt humidifier which ensures that you enjoy a warm and more natural feeling of warmth. It also delivers an energy-efficient operation too.
This portable heater delivers 1500 watt of heat energy but also as both high and low heat setting allowing it to raise room temperature within a range of 50 to 85 degrees in moderate to large-sized rooms conveniently.
There is a tip-over and overheat protection built into this unit. Additional safety features include an adjustable self-timer as well as a thermostat for regulating temperature conveniently.
Features:
- Dual heating system makes it suitable for heating large rooms.
- It is more energy efficient than an average model of the same capacity.
- Inbuilt humidifier ensures the air doesn’t dry up.
- Great price
Cons:
- None
4. Lifesmart Infrared Energy Efficient Heater
If you are looking for a safe and efficient way to warm up a large room, then this heater is the one to go for.
Its quick operation is another attractive feature you will like especially if you are a fan of instant heating that doesn’t waste energy.
There are three energy-saving settings on this heater which includes an Eco setting which makes it possible to attain a temperature of 68 degrees within minutes while making use of just 500 watts of energy.
This heater makes use of infrared rays which is a more comfortable way to distribute heat compared to other types of heaters.
The heater’s neutral colour and stylish metal cabinet design allow it to fit into any room like just another household fixture.
The top stays cool to touch during operation, which is a significant advantage, especially if you have kids or pets playing around.
This heater also comes with a remote control which makes it easy to adjust the digital thermostat and timer according to your needs.
Features:
- Three heat settings
- 12 hours timer
- Adjustable digital thermostat with a remote control
- Comes with an air filter
Cons:
- You might find this heater uncomfortable to use at night especially if you are easily bothered by having the lights on while you sleep
5. DeLonghi EW7707CM Energy Efficient Heater
It is almost impossible to talk about energy efficient heating options without mentioning an oil-filled space heater.
By many standards, they remain top on the list of the most energy efficient options out there and this DeLonghi EW7707CM is one of the best in the market.
With an ability to deliver up to 1500-watts of power, this radiator is suitable for heating medium to the large-sized room.
A significant advantage of using this type of heater is how it can keep the room warm even after the heater has been turned off.
It has a patented thermal slot which helps to maximize heat flow without getting too hot itself.
However, if for any reasons it gets too hot, safety features like thermal cut off help prevent the heater from overheating which can cause damage.
Additional safety features on this heater include an anti-freeze setting and an adjustable thermostat.
This heater comes with three heat settings which allow you to modify output according to your preferences.
There is also a ComforTemp button which makes it possible for the heater to maintain and attain an optimal temperature within a short time without using up too much power thus boosting its profile as a truly energy efficient option.
Features:
- Three adjustable heat settings
- ComforTemp button for economical use
- Easy to use smart-snap wheels for smooth transportation
Cons:
- The wheels are a bit flimsy
6. Comfort Zone Energy Efficient Heater
This ceramic Oscillating space heater from comfort zone makes use of a forced fan heating system to warm up your room as quickly as possible effectively.
The forced fan rotates from one side to the other to ensure an even warm-up of the entire room you are using it for and keep the temperature consistent.
To prevent overheating and reduce stuffiness of the air, this heater comes with a digital thermostat.
There is also an 8-hour timer which can be used to program the unit and maintain a steady and comfortable temperature.
This unit is built specifically to help you lower energy costs. It has an energy-saving mode which allows adjusting heat output to keep operating prices low.
Its ceramic build also further prevents excessive heat production.
Also, there is a sensor that automatically detects overheating and shuts off the unit.
It also has a cutoff switch that can determine when the heater is tipped over and shuts it off as well. Portability is another strong point you might want to consider. This unit can be easily moved from one room to the other.
Features:
- It comes with a portable remote control.
- Oscillating fan for even heat distribution
- Large display for showing room temperature
- Eco-mode setting
Cons:
- The base isn’t really stable
7. Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Energy Efficient Heater
This Uberheat ceramic heater features a unique, compact and modernized design that makes it an attractive addition to any home.
It is portable enough to be placed on a tabletop but can also be placed on the floor as well.
Energy efficiency is one of the strong points of this heater.
It is powerful enough to deliver 1500 watts of heat but also comes with low heat settings which make minimal use of electricity while providing optimum temperature, thus helping you to save cost.
The overheat heater is portable but suitable for supplementary heating for small rooms and offices.
It comes with safety features such as a tip-over switch, overheat protection and an adjustable thermostat. Also, the housing stays cool to touch even during active operation.
Pros
- Energy-efficient alternative
- Modern compact design
- Ease of use
- Portable heater ideal for personal space and offices
Cons
- The fan in the heater is a little noisy.
Buying Guide: Choosing The Best Energy Efficient Space Heater
Types Of Space Heaters Based On Fuel Type
Space heaters come in different varieties, and one of the significant differences is in how they are powered.
Since energy efficiency depends to some extent on the fuel being used, it is essential to get familiar with the various types of heaters available.
Electricity: electric heaters are among the most popular types of heaters out there. They work as independent heating units, but they can also be installed on a central heating system.
Electric heaters are designed mainly for indoor use. They come in different sizes and shape, and their energy efficiency varies from one type to the other.
Some of them are wall-mounted, but they can also be mounted on the ceiling or attached to a baseboard.
Natural gas: Natural gas is another possible fuel used in space heaters. Because of how cheap and conventional gas is, it is one of the most economical options you can go for.
Natural gas heaters are also quite easy to install.
Kerosene: this is another cheap fuel that is used to power space heaters. Generally, Kerosene heaters are considered more powerful compared to others.
Thus they find more application in industrial or workplace settings or for entire heating homes because they can produce high amounts of heat.
However, kerosene heaters require proper ventilation, and adequate safety procedures must be followed in installation and use.
Propane: Propane is another popular and cheap fuel used to power heaters. Propane heaters are suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, although those used indoors are explicitly designed for the purpose and are installed differently.
Propane heaters are commonly used as patio heaters and other outdoor applications. They transmit heat through radiation and fan-forced heating or convection.
Pellet fuel: Pellet fuel heaters are famous for being quite firm. The more powerful ones can heat an entire house. In addition to being durable, pellet fuel is incredibly cheap, and they burn quite efficiently.
Other Types Of Heaters
Oil Filled Heaters: some people might find the name a bit confusing, but oil-filled heaters are not fueled by oil. Instead, they are powered by electricity.
The oil they contain is heated up when you switch on the device heat is transmitted through it.
Although oil-filled heaters take a while to heat up, they actually retain heat a lot longer than other types of heaters. In fact, they are considered to be among the most energy efficient space heaters out there.
Hydronic heaters: Hydronic heaters are powered usually attached to regular boilers in the house.
Like oil-filled heaters, they transmit heat through a fluid which in this case is hot water.
They take a while to heat up as well, but they also have impressive heat retention ability which makes them quite efficient as well.
Infrared Heaters: Unlike most of the other types of heaters that heat the air first, infrared heaters don’t work that way.
Instead, they heat objects or people in the room first, and the air is only heated up later if the heater runs long enough.
The heat generated is transmitted in the form of rays. It follows a straight path and will stop once it encounters an obstacle. Infrared heaters are also called spot heater.
If you are looking for any heater that will deliver instant warmth in a small space, then an infrared heater should work for you. In terms of energy efficiency, there are some limitations.
The most obvious is the fact that heat dissipates as soon they heater is turned off, which means you have to keep the heater on for longer.
However, infrared heaters are still considered to be quite economical, mainly because they wasted less energy compared to conventional convection heaters.
Ceramic heaters: Ceramic heaters are usually made exclusively of ceramics and aluminium. The baffles are made with aluminium while the heating elements are made with ceramics material. They are generally small-sized but give out an adequate amount of heat to warm moderate to large-sized rooms.
Convection heaters: Convection heaters don’t have fans which mean heat circulation isn’t by blowing air around.
Instead, heat circulation is through convection. This mechanism of heat circulation has a lot of distinct advantages.
It is perfect for people with allergies or any type of breathing difficulty since no fan means no particles are blown around. It also doesn’t leave the air dry like regular heaters.
It can deliver quick heat to a room without overeating into your electricity bills. There is also the issue of noise which is another problem with using heaters with fans.
The only downside to using these types of heaters it the fact that they are don’t retain heat for long as they cool off fast once they are turned off.
How To Find The Most Energy Efficient Space Heaters?
It’s a good thing that you already know that you don’t want just any type of heater but an energy efficient one.
This way, you are not merely shopping for heaters, but your efforts are directed towards finding the ones that cost you least to use and maintain.
Measure the size of the room: let’s begin with somewhere close to home before you step out to check out heaters or get on that computer to check online, it is vital that you know the size of the room you intend to warm up.
Buying a heater that is too small means your room you will not be getting as warm as you want it to be.
It also means it has to stay on for a more extended period for it to perform up to par which means more energy will be consumed in the long run.
On the other hand, going for a heater that is too powerful for the size of your room will be a total waste of time.
Consider your options: as mentioned, there are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to efficient heaters for your home.
Using the information you have about the size of your room, you can easily calculate how much heat the heater you want to buy will have to generate.
This way, you can narrow down your options.
Determine The Fueling Options You Want To Go For: we have discussed some of the most popular fueling options for space heaters. You need to consider which one is most commonly available around you as well as how cheap and ample in supply it is.
Tips To Improve The Energy Efficiency Of Your Heating System
Finding an energy efficient heater to help save utility costs is a great idea. However, even with the most energy efficient space heaters out there, you might still end up wasting more energy than you want to because of how you make use of your heating system. Some simple tips and tricks can help you get the most of your heaters and reduce energy costs. These include:
Tip 1# Zone Heating
Most of the times, all you want to do is get a little area of your room, or just a single room in your home warmed up enough for you to conveniently stay in it. This is where zone heating comes to play.
Instead of turning on the central heating in your home, you can get yourself a portable heater that will provide supplemental heat to that specific area of your home; you need it the most.
Such a heater should be portable and easy to transport, this way it will be able to cover multiple rooms depending on where you are making use of at a particular time.
Another alternative to this is to get your central heating wired in such a way that you can isolate specific areas of your home.
It works the same way as using the supplementary heater, and you won’t have to turn the heat up in areas of your home where you won’t be making use of.
Tip 2# Get Heating Controls.
Being able to regulate how much heat you are making use of in your home is essential for energy efficiency.
One way to ensure total control over your heating is to use heating controls. You can either buy a heater that has inbuilt controls or simply have this fitted into a central heating unit.
Here are some critical controls you should consider:
- Timers: timers determine when the heater should turn on and off. If you have a stable schedule, you can time your heater to stay off when you are not at home and come on just right before you arrive at home. This way, you come home to a crisply warm house, and you would have conserved energy during the day.
- Use a room Thermostat: A room thermostat measures the temperature in your room and controls how the heating system works based on this. You will be able to set an optimum temperature, and the heater will turn on or off based on this temperature.
- Use a Programmer: Typically, a programmer combines the work of a timer and a thermostat. But much more than that, it also allows you to set specific temperatures for different times of the day. This works great, especially during times when you spend a lot of time at home.
- Thermostatic Valves: another alternative is to have a thermostatic valve installed into your radiator. This allows you to control the radiator temperature for each of your rooms or turn the heater off entirely if you want
- Smart home devices: Smart home software and apps like Alexa are making it more and easier to control how appliances work in your home. Once installed, you will be able to manage your heating from wherever you are using your mobile device or directly speaking out commands.
Tip 3# Insulate Your Home.
Consider this, maybe the reason you are spending so much on heating your home isn’t because of the appliance you are using but because your home itself isn’t designed to be energy efficient.
Without sufficient insulation in your roof and walls, there is a good chance your house will be letting all the heat out instead of keeping it in.
This is why you should consider investing a little more in insulation fixtures for your home.
For example, double glazed windows are more effective at conserving heat than single pane ones.
With features like this, you can further insulate your home and keep it warmer for longer.
Tip 4# Create A Heating Schedule.
If you are someone good with keeping up with plans and schedules, then you should consider this option. You can time your heating to suit your habits and promote efficiency. The time spent at home in the morning is typically spent in places like your bathroom getting ready for work or in the kitchen preparing breakfast. At night, you are more likely to spend the time in bed; you can program your home heating on a schedule that coincides with your plan this way instead of wasting energy by heating your entire house.
Tip 5# Dress Up
A straightforward way to cut down on how much you have to spend on heating is to dress up for the weather. This might seem insignificant, but merely putting on your favourite sweater and socks can reduce how much you will need that heater after all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Determine How Much You Spend On Heating?
It is essential that you can calculate how much your heating expenses will be if you purchase a particular type of heater.
To calculate this, you need to know the power rating on your heater, how long you run it as well as the Kilowatt rating in your home.
For example, if you buy a 1500 watts space heater, here’s how to calculate how much you spend on it.
First, begin by converting the power rating to Kilowatts since the electricity rate is calculated in Kilo-watt hours. To do this divides the power rating by 1000.
This gives you 1.5. Multiply this figure by the number of hours you run the heater per day, then by the number of days in the month. You can then multiply your answer by the kWh rate on your electricity bill.
This gives you an estimated amount of how much It will cost to use your space heater per month.
What Type Of Heater Is Recommended For Heating The Whole Room For A Short Period Of Time?
As discussed, your choice of the heater based on the mode of heat distribution is between convection, heaters, radiator heaters or fan heaters. The type of heater you go for depends to a large extent on what you need the heater to do for you.
If the intention is to warm up an entire room for a short time, the most energy efficient choice will be a convection heater.
A convector heater warms up the air around it fact and circulates hot air evenly around the room, which makes it an excellent choice for this type of heating compared to other types of heaters.
Usually, a convector heater takes some time to work to its full capacity. However, it also comes with a timer or thermostat, which helps to automatically switch off the unit once an optimal temperature is reached.
What Type Of Heater Is Best For Spot Heating?
If you are looking for heater suitable for zone heating or spot heatings (basically just a quick blast of warmth), then you should go for a radiation or fan heater. These types of heaters are best suited for heating a small area of your room for a short time period.
They do not heat the air as convection heaters do. Instead, they transmit heat in using electromagnetic waves the way the sun heats you the earth.
Radiation heaters or fan heaters are not valid for warming up a whole room and using it for that purpose will not be economical.
In most case, they also don’t have thermostats which means you might have to manually monitor to prevent wastage of energy.
Infrared Vs Ceramic Heaters. Which One Is Better?
This is one of the most popular questions users ask about heaters. Infrared heaters and ceramic heaters are classic examples of radiation and convection heaters, respectively.
These are the two common types of heat distribution system used in heaters. The fundamental difference between these two is in how they transmit heat.
Convection heater warms up the air closes to the heater and circulates it while radiation heaters warm up objects in their paths directly.
Generally, in terms of energy consumption efficiency, most experts consider infrared heaters more efficient than ceramic heaters.
But this isn’t to say that overall infrared heaters are better than ceramics in all cases.
The rule mostly applies to zone heating when you will be spending a long time in a specific area of your room.
For a more room-wide warm-up effect, the ceramic heater which uses convection current is a better alternative.
Also, infrared heaters operate noiselessly compared to ceramic heaters. They are also better in terms of how they affect overall health since they don’t mess up with the air in your room.
However, infrared heaters get too hot to touch when in use. Also, they lose heat almost immediately, which sorts of counters their reputation of energy efficiency since you has to keep them on as long as you want to stay long.
They also emit a bright red glow which many might find uncomfortable to have in a room while sleeping.
Conclusion
As far as the efficiency of heaters is concerned, there are a whole lot of factors to consider. First, the power rating of the specific heater you are going for is really important.
Additional energy saving features like thermostats, timers and so on will also be important in determining how efficient the heater is at managing heat energy.
But much than the features on the heater itself, you also have to consider your purpose for purchasing the heater since different types of heaters will have varying efficiency depending on how they are used.
Finally, to get the best from your heater, there might make some lifestyle changes and make some simple adjustments too.
This way, after selecting from our list of best energy-efficient heaters, you will be able to maximize it better effectively to keep you warm and happy on cold days and nights.
