How to Slash Your Home Heating Bill Using the Science of Infrared

Got big heating bills this winter even though you keep the thermostat set at “Brrrrrr”? Science offers a better and cheaper way to stay warm at home that can reduce your energy bill by  30-40%. 

Sun heat

The sun produces harmless infrared light waves that are invisible and responsible for making us feel warm. Feeling warm or cold does not depend on the temperature of the surrounding air. Skiers and mountain climbers do not freeze on extremely cold but sunny days. That’s because of infrared. When infrared waves touch the surface of the skier’s skin and clothing, heat energy is released regardless of the surrounding air temperature. So people on a winter sports holiday can sunbathe despite the low air temperatures—all thanks to the sun’s infrared rays.

Typical home heat

Now let’s talk about the way you heat your home. Whether you have a forced-air furnace,  a central gas heater, or radiators in every room—your system heats air and directs it into the rooms of your home. It costs a lot of money to keep open areas warm using this method, but you may still feel cold.

A better way

There is an alternative and more effective way to keep heating costs down without feeling cold. It’s called infrared technology.

Portable infrared heaters work like the sun, producing infrared light waves, not warmed air. An infrared heater will heat you, your dog, your chair, the carpet, and the walls—not the air around you.

Like sunlight

It’s like being directly in the sunlight versus sitting in the shade. You feel warm in the sun because the light that hits your clothes and skin keeps you warm. Infrared warms objects and surfaces, radiating warmth back into the room.

Infrared is safe

Infrared heaters are safe, available readily, and relatively inexpensive. They come in a wide range of designs and sizes. Some appear to be attractive pieces of furniture, a wood stove, a flat panel, or a fireplace.

Slash heating cost

Both infrared and electric heaters run on electricity. The price of one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy usage is the same. In the U.S., the average electricity price is 16.32 cents per kWh. However, since infrared heaters use 30-40% less energy for the same level of comfort because instead of producing heat, these heaters produce infrared, your energy bill will be 30-40% lower.

Mobility

The nice thing about a portable infrared heater is that you can move it from one room to another as you change rooms. Or you could put one in each of several rooms. An infrared heater takes just a few minutes to get a room warm and comfortable.

As a supplement

Used in conjunction with your current heating system, stand-alone infrared heaters can reduce your home heating bills by as much as 50 percent because you can turn down the thermostat for the whole house, then supplement as needed with infrared. Depending on how much you are paying for home heat, an infrared heater could pay for itself in a matter of weeks.

Just plug it in

Infrared heaters cost nothing to install (just plug it in) or maintain (no wood or pellets to purchase) and can keep you warm for nickels a day.

Stand-alone portable infrared heaters can heat objects in a room from 300 to 1,800 square feet, depending on the model you select. Some even have a programmable thermostat to start the heater just before you get home so your favorite chair will be warm and ready for you.

Worth consideration

An infrared heater may just be the solution you’ve been looking for to slash the cost of staying warm and comfortable this winter.

This charming infrared heater is the next best thing if your home doesn’t have a built-in fireplace. It continues to be one of reviewers’ favorite space heaters due to its good looks; safety features; perks, like the remote control; and the ability to customize settings such as heat and lighting.

It’s designed to look like a wood stove, with a flickering-flame effect (complete with fake logs and embers).

 

 

The Dr. Infrared Heater DR-998 is a robust space heater encased in wood, resembling a speaker or small piece of furniture. It effectively warms up a small room, raising the temperature by four degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes.

The large buttons on the front make programming a breeze, and there’s a remote for couch-based control if you prefer. In a unique twist, this model can also humidify the air in addition to heating.

 

Updated: 11-1-23

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