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Baseboard Heater Pros and Cons
During the winter season, over 40% of our household energy consumption is dedicated to heating our homes. At the same time, much of the energy we use to heat our homes stems from non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, or natural gas. One of the best steps any homeowner can take to reduce their home's carbon footprint is to improve their home's energy efficiency while continuing their search for renewable energy sources.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that over 2.5 million households use wood as the primary fuel for heating their homes. Wood is certainly a renewable resource and is considered carbon-neutral. However, it is not a feasible heating alternative in densely populated urban areas where smoke could worsen air quality and increase the likelihood of lung disease.
Baseboard heaters are a heating option that can be useful in effectively heating certain types of homes. While these heaters have usually been employed as a supplemental heating source for cold and drafty areas of a home, they could, at times, be the most efficient and economical way to heat modern, airtight homes.
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What is a Baseboard Heater?
Baseboard heaters come in a variety of different lengths and radiate heat into a room using electricity. One of the supposed benefits of this heating option is that 100% of the heaters' electricity produces heat. While some manufacturers will claim that baseboard heaters are a clean and efficient way of heating your home, it is essential to understand where your home and region's electricity comes from.
If you have a massive solar panel system on your roof, then the electricity used to heat your home with baseboard heaters will be clean and renewable. If, however, your home is powered by a nearby coal power plant, your electric baseboard heaters are contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Are There Different Types of Baseboard Heaters?
common is a 120-volt connection that can be easily connected to a current 20-amp circuit in your home. If the circuit load does not allow for the extra voltage, an electrician can add a new 20-amp circuit from the panel to power the baseboard heaters that you install. You can even find 240-volt electric baseboard heaters, which require a two-pole, 20-amp breaker to power the heaters.
While electric baseboard heaters certainly pull a large amount of energy, there are both pros and cons related to using these types of heaters in your home.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
