DO INFRARED LAMPS SAVE ELECTRICITY?

Many people ask whether infrared lamps save electricity. Before we start talking about heat, what is infrared anyway? Infrared is part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light. Although this form of light is invisible to the human eye, we can feel its energy in the form of heat. This is similar to how we perceive the heat of the sun: although we do not see the rays of the sun on the earth, we feel their effects. Infrared is one of three methods through which heat is transferred between objects. The other two methods of heat transfer are convection and conduction.

However, unlike conventional heaters, the infrared heating system distributes heat where it is needed rather than in the empty spaces inside the room. Infrared heating technology uses 80% of its energy to warm people and other parts of the room. Infrared uses just 20% of its energy for heating the air, which is minimal compared to other more conventional forms of heating technology.

How much energy do infrared lamps use?

When purchasing a household appliance, the two main concepts that consumers take into account are “sustainability and practicality”. An online portal dedicated to providing information on heating, insulation and renewable energy systems offers the following example to underline how cost-effective infrared heating systems are:

• We use heating for about 5 hours a day
• For a period of 120 days in winter
• 1 kW Electric convection heater vs 0.4 kW infrared heater

Moreover, this research shows that during the winter period, using a conventional heater the consumer would have spent €90. Instead, the consumer spent just €30 using an infrared heater, saving 67%! Looking more closely at local rates, the cost calculator of this research states that if you use infrared lamps every day in the following rooms, the monthly cost would be as low as €21.0:

• 4 hours in the living room
• 4 hours in the dining room
• 4 hours in the kitchen
• 6 hours combined across three different bedrooms

The total cost on heating for a winter period would be just €84.24, while enjoying a cosy experience in most of your home!

How does infrared heating work?

Conventional heating methods tend to emit heat to the surrounding air that spreads in the vicinity of the heater. However, unlike other heating methods, infrared heating emits a natural form of heat uniformly and it is absorbed by nearby objects. With infrared lamps, there is no need to wait for the device to warm up: this is due to the fast-acting heat emitted by the infrared panel. Heat is created through a precise heat beam that is directed at an object through a constant flow of heat particles. This is convenient because no matter where you are, the heat is directed to the individual and not on the millions of air particles in the room.

Given it radiates light and it does not use a fan, the infrared panel works in complete silence! This makes it a perfect addition to any room, especially those where you want some peace and calm. The heat is transferred evenly across the surrounding environment. As the distance between the object and the heater increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep warm. However, in order to maximise the distance through which heat can be transferred, infrared heaters feature bright metal which helps to extend their efficiency.

Advantages of infrared lamps

It is known that most heaters can dry our skin or add harmful gases into the air and cause static electricity. Infrared lamps are immune to all this. They produce the same kind of heat as the sun, so you can enjoy the benefits of sunlight without worrying about UV rays. Therefore, infrared heating does not dry the air inside a room, nor does it cause heat loss through ventilation because it does not heat the air.

Nowadays people are more conscious of pollution, especially when they buy household appliances. This type of appliance is certainly appropriate for eco-conscious consumers, unlike other appliances where heat loss is a significant problem. When using an infrared heater there is actually no loss of heat transfer. It uses 100 percent of the heat it generates to heat objects, and at a very low cost! In addition to all this, maintaining infrared heaters requires minimal effort. This is due to the fact that as an appliance it does not have moving parts that could potentially fail or wear out over time. All you have to do is periodically clean the reflectors to keep your unit running smoothly.

All in all, infrared lamps have many advantages including ergonomic design, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, health benefits and minimal maintenance. Above all, they are extremely efficient household appliances to keep you and your loved ones warm during the cold winter months.