Heating Options

Home heaters, whether electric or gas, give out heat in different ways depending on the type of heat distribution they use.

Conduction is where heat travels directly from one object to another that is touching it. It is of limited use in home heating.

Convection is the distribution of heat through air currents.

Radiation is the way the sun heats the earth - the energy strikes objects and warms them.

Electric heaters (more…)	Electric heaters are 100% energy efficient as they convert all the electricity to heat. Different types of electric heaters suit different circumstances.
Heat pumps (more…)	Heat pumps have become a popular choice for home heating in New Zealand. They transfer heat from outside to inside the house, rather than generating heat like traditional heaters.
Natural gas heating (more…)	Gas heating in a flued natural gas heater is around 68% efficient but some heat is lost up the flue. This can be costly as daily charges are quite high for reticulated piped gas.
Underfloor heating (more…)	Underfloor heating provides a comfortable radiant heat. It heats the people, rather than the air.
Wood burners (more…)	A good wood burner heats the room in two ways - by convection (warm air) and by radiation, which heats objects directly. Wood and coal burners average 75% efficiency.

Further information:

ENERGY STAR is an international quality standard, awarded to the most energy efficient products.
www.energystar.govt.nz

Heating options on the Consumer website:
www.consumer.org.nz