Why choosing electric could make a big difference…
Comments Off on Why choosing electric could make a big difference…Affordable, ambient flames
As homeowners get to grips with their rising energy expenditure, the question of how to heat your home economically remains a difficult one to answer conclusively. Many are turning to quick, heat-boosting appliances as an alternative to using their main source of heating; plug-in radiators saw a spike in sales towards the end of last year across Europe as a result. One of the most common questions our sales team are now asked regularly is ‘How much does my fire cost to run?’. Despite the perception that electric based heaters are ‘vampire appliances’, they can be quite economical. Most importantly though, if you choose the right appliance, it can add just as much to your living space without the heat, as with.
Take our market-leading Halo 1500 model for example, using the UK: Energy Price Guarantee (Oct 2022) fixed unit rate of 34p per kWh, using your heater for 4 hours a night would cost you a little over £1*.The huge advantage an Evonic Fires model has over other electric heat options is that once your living area has been sufficiently heated, you can still experience the ambience of a real fire, without the heat. The perfect year-round product. If you are curious to see how much an Evonic fire would cost to run, with or without heat, a cost-calculator can be found on the home page of our website.
Uncertain times for stove-owners
The sales of wood-burning stoves last year suggested that many homeowners have opted for a more permanent solution, with an estimated 1.5 million homes in the UK now using a traditional stove. The thought process behind this is understandable – Yes, the initial outlay is costly when you factor in buying and installing a stove. But over a period, they will save on your heating bill by providing efficient heat whilst being fairly economical to run, depending on what fuel you choose. Well, maybe not, according to the government’s recently published 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan.
One of the key areas the government are looking to crack down on is emissions. Burners in designated “Smoke Control Areas” – most towns and cities – will now only be allowed to emit 3 grams (g) of smoke per hour, down from 5g, as part of a bid to reduce air pollution. Whilst stove manufacturers are confident of being able to circumvent this by producing more efficient products, and promoting less harmful fuel, it is certainly a factor to bear in mind if you are unsure what heating appliance is best for your home. Especially when you factor in a potential £300, on the spot fine for breaching the 5g per hour limit. You can, of course, purchase higher quality fuel which emit fewer particulates, however with these new rules in place you can be assured of a significant price increase.
Is gas a viable option?
Much like homeowners using electricity to heat their home, consumers who rely on gas have seen their bills steadily rise. Perhaps not to the extent of electric, but there has been a considerable increase. The Energy Price Guarantee (Oct 2022) has frozen prices until March 2023 at 10.3p/kWh for gas, so how does that stack up against an electric fire, or wood burning stove? A top of the range gas fire is a stunning addition to any home, however they don’t come cheap. Cost-wise, you can expect to fork out a considerable amount for the initial purchase and install, similar to a stove. Comparing running cost’s between our Halo 1500 model to a similarly sized, market-leading gas fire using natural gas, and you can see why gas is perhaps not the most economical option. On low heat setting, you can expect to pay almost triple the price for 4 hours of use, and on a high setting that jumps up to almost 6 times the cost. These costs are considerably higher if you are thinking of using propane (LPG).
So why choose Evonic?
All things considered, there is still no way to conclusively say how best to heat your home in a cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way. What Evonic are confident of though, is that our products should certainly be part of the conversation. With relatively cheap running costs, and the uncertainty around purchasing other traditional heating products, an Evonic fire stands up very well. Evonic Fires also recently gained ISO:14001 certification, so customers can be confident that they are purchasing from a company that manufactures products with the environment at the forefront of our thoughts.
