Electric Heating

Electric heating is still the most popular form of heating in new detached houses. Direct electric heating is clearly the most common form of electric heating, but it is being replaced by methods of electric heating equipped with various heat pumps. Low-energy construction, which is increasing in popularity, also requires heating properties that are already available in electric heating.

The popularity of electric heating is maintained by its benefits. Electric heating is easy to use and effortless, and it has a good utilisation rate. Electric heating is also environmentally safe and easy to control, and it reacts rapidly to internal variations of temperature. Electric heating is also cost-effective because it does not require expensive investments or lengthy maintenance measures. Electricity also has an infrastructure in place, it is available almost everywhere.

It is also easy to carry out energy-saving measures in houses with electric heating. Modern heaters and good thermostats guarantee that no unnecessary energy is consumed in the building. It is also possible to install a home/away switch for easy reduction of ambient temperature when the home is empty. The ventilation and energy efficiency of older houses can also be improved with an air-conditioning unit equipped with heat recovery. Indoor climate can be improved with renovation, which also provides savings in energy consumption. Extra thermal insulation is also often worthwhile. Renovation and improvement of the control technology will also provide functioning temperature reductions, more accurate thermostats, remote control and the possibility of home automation for the property.

Low-energy construction will halve the requirement for space heating energy. The amount of energy consumed for the space heating of a low-energy house is half of that of the average consumption of a detached house that meets the building regulations. It is possible to build low-energy houses with ordinary modern technology: this can be achieved with sufficient insulation of the building envelope combined with energy-efficient ventilation. Electricity is extremely suitable for low-energy houses because the utilisation rate of electric heating is good and it reacts quickly, e.g. to free heat, such as the heat produced by domestic appliances and the sun.

Electric heating methods equipped with a heat pump will replace direct electric heating in order to save energy. All heat pump solutions reduce the need for energy. Typically, a ground heat pump solution needs only one-third, an exhaust air source heat pump about a half and an air source heat pump about 70% of the electricity consumed by direct electric heating.