Room Heaters efficiency

If shopping for a room heater, pay attention to the energy efficiency issue but do not forget some more general rules about room heating, the differences between electric room heating and gas and other combustion heating, and the uses and cases where the different heaters can provide good energy savings and are truly energy efficient.

Electric heaters may have some advantages over gas and other combustion space heaters, but also some limitations and disadvantages. Choice depends on your goals, needs, safety considerations or climate...

See, on this issue: Electric vs gas space heaters
Electric heaters are highly efficient at converting the electricity they use (some convert more than 95% of the electricity into heat) but since most electricity is produced from coal, oil and other fossil fuels, and there are distribution losses, in the end electric heaters aren't so energy-efficient as many people think… Their running costs can be very high, and some combustion heaters, namely gas heaters, are more energy-efficient than electric heaters – which doesn’t mean that they are necessarily more advantageous and a better choice... That depends on a wide set of factors.

The most efficient infrared Room heaters

If you want to buy a small personal heater to heat you and the air around you, you are probably looking for an infrared space heater.

In that case, prefer a ceramic heater. Ceramic space heaters are on average more energy-efficient than quartz heaters and metal sheath space heaters. They are excellent as a supplemental source of heating, and they are energy-efficient at it.

Cases when radiant electric heaters are more energy efficient

If you want a room heater to heat almost instantaneously the people in a room, by generating heat that can be directed to them (instead of heating the air and the entire room) you are looking for a radiant electric heater. Radiant heating is the best solution for such cases.

Electric oil-filled Room heaters

If you want a more powerful space heater, you may consider an oil-filled electric heater (they are much more energy efficient than electric panels and other medium-capacity heaters).

Electric-oil filled heaters can heat an entire room, and are great to supplement a central heating system or to save money (by not heating the entire home). They also provide a high-quality heating, but if you live in a cold climate you cannot fulfill all your heating needs by using them intensively. That's not the goal of space heaters...

See, for details on these heaters: Oil-filled electric heaters

Cases where gas or other combustion heaters are more energy efficient

New wall-mounted gas heaters (including new wall gas furnaces) are powerful units, capable of quickly heating more than a single room. In you are seeking a heater for such needs, these gas heaters can be an energy-efficient solution. But be aware. Do not choose a vent-free model. For safety reasons, choose a vented unit.

For more information:
New direct vent furnaces
Gas space heaters: vented and ventless
See also:
Kerosene heaters: indoor and outdoor uses
Electric thermal storage heaters and solutions