With most energy companies placing such a positive emphasis on electric power, more of the general public are now opting for electric kitchen appliances over gas. However, can we really be sure that electric options are much better for the environment?
Considering that such a large proportion of the British population is dependent on electricity and the national usage is increasing day by day, are there any extreme consequences of using too much electricity that we need to be aware of?
If these questions are on your mind, or maybe you’re considering making the jump from gas-operated appliances to electric-operated appliances, then keep reading for more information on whether an electric household really is better for the environment.
Gas radiators versus electric radiators
Especially in the UK, all homes require at least some form of heating. Whether the home’s heaters are gas or electric usually depends on the preferences of the contractors and builders involved in the planning of the property.
But are electric radiators better for the environment than gas radiators? Research from Evergreen Energy, suggests that there isn’t really a cleaner form of safe household energy than electricity. Not only does it emit practically no greenhouse gases upon creation, but it also doesn’t produce any byproducts through use.
Additionally, using an electric radiator creates a process of energy transferral that is actually 100% efficient! Due to the fact that the only byproduct electricity gives off is heat, an electric radiator’s purpose is to produce heat anyway; so both products contribute to the initial purpose of the machine.
As a result, electric radiators are much more efficient at using energy and save power overall in a much more environmentally-friendly way.
Gas heaters, on the other hand, give off excessive amounts of methane, which is indeed classified as a greenhouse gas. Not only does this cause harm to the environment in the form of global warming, but it also is much less efficient at transferring energy than electricity is.
If you’re thinking of switching from your gas heater, you can look at electric radiators at Trade Radiators, a great supplier of radiators both standard and designer.
How can you reduce the environmental impact of your home?
You can reduce the overall environmental impact of your home by making small changes around the house.
Especially if the majority of your energy usage is electric, little switches in your household like low energy usage lightbulbs, timers for washing machines and dryers, as well as turning all the switches off before you go to bed, can really add up over time.
As much as electricity is indeed one of the cleanest forms of energy out there for households, there is still a large amount of excess energy used in the harvesting of electricity and in the development and construction of power plants.
If you’re struggling to think of ways that your home can be improved in terms of its energy consumption, you can speak to your landlord about getting an updated Energy Performance Certificate (more commonly known as an EPC). This is a document that shows you both the current energy efficiency of your home and the potential efficiency too.
The document also shows you some changes that you could make around the house to achieve your potential energy efficiency rating, should you be confused.
However, if you’re thinking of making any larger changes such as installing insulation, changing the wiring, or removing any appliances that were there when you moved in whilst renting, make sure you consult your landlord and ask for permission beforehand.
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