3 ms·
Electricity is 100% efficient in a resistance heater, in that all the electricity used is turned to heat. However, it is considerably more expensive per unit he
by AlgorithmicTime 6y ago
Electricity is 100% efficient in a resistance heater, in that all the electricity used is turned to heat. However, it is considerably more expensive per unit heat than natural gas, even though you may only get 70-90% efficiency with your boiler or furnace. A heat pump can be even more efficient, though. An electric heat pump can be more than 100% efficient, in that each watt of electricity can be used to move more than 1 watt of heat into your home using the heat pump.
- SigmundA 6y agoIf electricity is made combusting fossil fuels at a power plant at say 40-50% effciency thats the problem. If your using fossil fuels for heat its more efficient to burn them directly at point needed and capture the heat, rather than use the heat to convert to mechanical then electrical then back into heat. Air source heat pumps are basically solar assisted, they move heat from outside air into heated space using electricity which also contributes resistive heat in compressor friction. The outside air is heated by the sun.