Electric heating is certainly the future, with solar, wind and hydroelectric Energy sources providing us with cleaner electricity to heat our homes. But how Energy Efficient are electric radiators? 

This guide covers some of the most Energy Efficient Electric radiators, including freestanding, wall-mounted, vertical and central heating compatible radiators. To answer your questions about energy efficiency and help you decipher which features matter (and which don’t) we’ve also written a helpful buying guide at the end of this article!

Let’s dig in…

Our Selection of the Best Energy Efficient Electric Radiators in the UK

Best Electric Panel Heater for Central Heating

Panel heaters that use radiation rather than convection are very energy efficient – see our shopping guide below to learn more about the distinction. The best electric panel heater for central heating is this SUNHEAT model – note that it doesn’t plumb into your water system like a traditional radiator, but needs to be plugged into a socket.

These eco electric radiators warm up objects rather than the air – much like the sun’s rays coming through a window. These are the most efficient radiators available and that’s why it tops our list!

Most Energy Efficient Electric Radiator – Freestanding

The most energy efficient electric radiators are the ones that come plumbed into your home or are infrared wall mounted. But if you’re renting a home or just can’t install a wall mounted radiator for whatever reason, then this is the most efficient freestand model around.

The 2500W NETTA oil-filled radiator is great for heating large rooms and is at an affordable price. Compared to other freestanding radiators in this price range, the NETTA models had better safety features and decent energy efficiency. Thumbs up from us!

Most Energy Efficient Electric Radiator – Wall Mounted!

Of the most energy efficient electric radiators (wall mounted convection) the ROINTE is one of the most reliable brands. We’ve selected one of their smallest models to show off to you on this list. It works efficiently and is amazingly reliable.

This particular model is a favourite for conservatories, hallways and small rooms.

For more wall-mounted options, keep an eye on our site for a top list coming soon.

Most Energy Efficient Electric Bathroom Radiator

For a bathroom, not all economic electric radiators will suffice. Many UK bathrooms don’t use standard sockets for safety reasons, so you can’t just plug in a free standing radiator – that would be a fire hazard.

If you are dead set on having an electric radiator in your bathroom, we recommend the MYLEK infrared vertical panel heater. You might need to get the electrician to create a power outlet for it, but that’s a small price to pay for the energy savings over the long run.

This infrared model is specifically designed to go in bathrooms, so it’s even more water and moisture proof than other models and has a towel rack fitted to it.

Best Eco Portable Electric Radiator

A portable electric radiator needs to be light, so we ruled out all of the oil-filled storage heaters from the start, even the more energy efficient ones.

Of the remaining oil-free portable heaters, the Dimplex 1.5kW was the most suitable. It’s moderately energy efficient and quite light. It also has wheels on the base and a moulded carry handle that makes it easy to transport.

Best Vertical Electric Radiator – It’s Infrared!

The best low energy electric radiators are infrared. Besides their energy efficiency, they’re also pretty versatile in size. This ICON vertical radiator is barely 10cm deep but can warm a room efficiently by heating up objects and people in it.

It comes with a 5-year guarantee and a host of smart features. As you had probably guessed, the price tag is not cheap. But is it worth it? 100%.

What to Consider When Buying an Energy Efficient Electric Radiator

These are the criteria we looked at when deciding how energy efficient each radiator was. We’ll also explain what the difference is between a radiator and heater (sort of), so you have more clarity when shopping for an eco-friendly solution.

There are a couple different types of radiators, so let’s clear up what they all mean.

What Makes an Electric Radiator Energy Efficient?

To be classified as an energy efficient radiator, the product needs to be significantly more efficient than other heating solutions and other radiators. But of course, things change over time. In 5 years (or even sooner), we’ll need to replace the models on this list with their successors.

So, rather than giving a set figure, e.g. “if it uses X amount of energy, it’s an eco-friendly product” we need to look at how the product compares, e.g. “if X radiator can produce the same heat as Y radiator but with half the energy, it’s more energy efficient and a more eco-friendly product.”

In the UK in 2019, the average energy bill came to £1,289 per year. With the cost of living rising, estimates suggest that the figure will rise to £3,000 per year by the end of 2022, pushing 40% of UK households into fuel poverty.

That’s why energy efficient heating is so incredibly important.

But putting your heating bill aside, there are other factors besides energy usage that impact the efficiency of the radiator. The size, the environment in your room, the materials used to make the radiator, and the type of radiator also impact the efficiency – learn about these below.

The Difference Between Electric Radiators and Electric Heaters

You have several electric heating options available to you. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is if electric radiators or electric heaters are best for you. The problem is that often these terms are used interchangeably and in the UK, the term ‘radiator’ can be used casually for any kind of heating device. A better way to look at heating and radiator devices is by the mechanism they use:

Convection – these heaters use an electric element that heats the air, which then heats objects in the room (including you). The element is heated, creating heat that emanates somewhat unevenly as it’s swept across or out of the room by draughts. Not only is this type of heater the least efficient, but it also dries the air out in your home. 

Traditional radiators that are plumbed into your home and use hot water or steam also rely on convection to heat the air, which then travels around the room.

Radiation – unlike convection, which heats the air only, a heater that uses radiation will push the heat away from the heater and warm objects and people instead. This is more efficient than convection because you’re cutting out the middleman – the air in the room.

However, heaters that rely on radiation, e.g. through infrared waves, are slower and more costly. This is why many electric heaters rely solely on convection or a mix of radiation and convection together. 

The method of heating the room has a big impact on energy efficiency, but so do other factors. We’ll cover those next. 

Features to Look For

Room Compatibility

If you are heating your living room or bedroom, you need consistent heat and will likely have the heating on for long periods of time. The reliability and long-lasting heat of a radiator, like a thermal inertia heater, is ideal for energy efficiency in these rooms.

Rooms that only need to be heated for a short period can rely on convection heaters that push out a lot of heat quickly. As the heater isn’t used so heavily, you can get away with a more inefficient heating method (though in an ideal world, you’d use the most efficient option in every room). The speed is also an advantage here.

Important note: In terms of energy efficiency, central heating that runs electric radiators, panels, or even underfloor heating all over your home is still more efficient than using a solo portable space heater per room. But we know that you might not have a choice (especially if you’re renting), so finding the most efficient model is still beneficial.

Size

The size and shape of the room will determine whether you have wall space for a mounted heater or need a space heater style radiator.

The radiator should have enough power to heat the room efficiently. Some radiators and heaters will declare how large of a room they are suited to in the description.

Thermostat Control

Most electric models should come with a thermostat controller, but if you want to fine tune the temperature or make use of extra features, be prepared to pay more. Some of the high-end heaters use features like motion sensors to tell when a window is opened and then reduce heat output to prevent wasting energy.

Whichever heater or radiator you end up buying, you’ll know that it’s a good energy efficient option if you select it off our list!

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