The future of home heating: exploring energy efficiency in electric radiators

Why electric radiators are shaping the future of heating

Although they were often viewed as secondary heating options in the past, electric radiators are becoming a primary choice in more and more homes today. As the energy grid becomes greener and consumer preferences shift in the direction of smarter and cleaner technologies, a clear trend towards electrification is noticeable. At Purmo we perceive a few key reasons for this shift:

• Unmatched efficiency: electric radiators are 100% efficient as they convert all the electricity they use into heat without energy loss. This means they don’t produce any waste heat as opposed to boiler systems that can lose a small amount of energy during combustion and through piping systems. This inherent efficiency makes them an attractive choice for homes and businesses prioritizing sustainability.
• Compatibility with renewable energy: Europe’s electricity grid is rapidly decarbonizing, with renewable sources like wind (17%) and solar photovoltaics (9%) making up a significant portion of the energy mix¹. This shrinks the carbon footprint of electric radiators and positions electric radiators as a cornerstone technology for achieving net-zero emissions goals. For HVAC professionals, this means a growing market for retrofitting existing systems as well as integrating electric radiators into new buildings that strive for energy efficiency certifications or compliance with stringent building codes.
• Ease of installation: electric radiators are straightforward to install since they only require a power connection. This makes them ideal for retrofits, renovations, and supplemental heating needs in older buildings.
• Economic benefits for the end user: while electricity prices can be higher than gas in some regions, the operational savings from energy-efficient electric radiators offset upfront costs over time. According to the EU's Ecodesign regulations, updated standards are expected to save European consumers €7.9 billion by 2040 through reduced energy consumption and improved performance².
• No maintenance: electric radiators require no maintenance, unlike hydronic radiators that need to be cleaned and bled once a year.

Innovation and product design of electric radiators

Although most people are aware of the benefits listed above, it’s still a challenge to overcome misconceptions about the design of electric radiators, in particular with regard to their sustainability and safety.

“In the last 20 years, electric radiators have evolved greatly” says Yann Apruzzese, Global Product Manager Electric Radiators at Purmo Group. “New technologies and new designs have turned a very basic product offer with only horizontal electric radiators into a vast range with fitting options for everyone, including oil-filled electric radiators, vertical electric radiators and designer electric radiators. Price is, of course, still an important factor but customers are also asking for products that are as sustainable as possible, and preferably come with all the required certifications and EPDs. The latter are currently in the works for our electric radiators and are expected to be available in the course of 2025. However, all our electric radiators today already meet the EU’s Ecodesign and safety regulations. These are quite strict and make the production of energy-efficient electric radiators rather time-consuming and costly. Yet, it gives our customers the guarantee that they are buying a safe and sustainable product.”

Moreover, modern features such as thermostats with a precision of 0,2 °C, open window detection, programming, etc. are integrated in almost all our electric radiators. These avoid wasting energy and allow users to tailor their heating system as much as possible to their needs for optimal comfort and energy efficiency. “In addition, we are constantly looking at how we can reduce our products’ footprint. For our Yali Plus radiators, for example, we use carbon offset steel at the moment and our electric range is at the front of the queue for use of the green steel that we will purchase from 2026 onwards. Once our electric radiators reach the end of their lifecycle, their components can also be easily recycled. The only exception is the vegetable oil in our oil-filled products, but this is biodegradable.”

Read more about our sustainable procurement

Smart features revolutionising electric radiators

Even though electric radiators have already come a long way, there is always something new around the corner. At present, we are thinking in particular of smart controls and adaptive learning technologies. These innovations allow users to tailor their heating schedules to their specific needs, wherever and whenever they want. Our Yali Plus electric radiators, for example, can easily be connected to the Unisenza Plus gateway, allowing for remote control via the Unisenza Plus app. If a home automation system, such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, is installed, the energy-efficient electric radiators can even be voice controlled. Moreover, every radiator can be controlled separately, so users can save money and minimise energy waste by only heating the rooms they’re actually using, rather than needlessly heating the entire space.

Yann concludes: “Advancements in connectivity and automation combined with the increasing demand for convenience and energy efficiency drives the evolution of smart technology. So on top of the more sustainable materials that are becoming available and the electricity grid that is rapidly decarbonizing, this technology is a key element that will undoubtedly help to make electric radiators even more sustainable and energy-efficient in the near and further future.”

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our experts if you have any questions about how to integrate electric radiators in your project(s). We will gladly assist in any way we can.

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Sources
1. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/share-of-energy-consumption-from
2. Commission adopts new ecodesign rules for local space heaters - European Commission