Quote:
Originally Posted by brk-lnt
Agreed 
In terms of actual efficiency, there are no consumer heating methods that are more *efficient* than electric for heating (where efficient means that the overall power consumed is converted to usable interior heat). However, almost every other form of heating is cheaper than electric when you factor in the dollar costs to create BTU's inside the residence.
I'd never recommend electric as a primary heating means unless the need for heat was VERY rare. Electric is often cheaper and easier to install, so there is a period of time where the ROI between electric and gas for example favors the electric heat option. But this scale tips after a few dozen hours of usage typically. |
Actually an electric heat pump is much more efficient than electric resistance heating, although that efficiency drops off at lower temperatures. You also have to be careful when comparing electric efficiency to other fuels. It is true that an electric baseboard heater will yield all the heat it produces to the premise heated yeilding close to 100 % efficency. But, if you consider a gallon of oil burned miles away to produce electricity, you have to consider the efficency of the generator, power source, transmission losses, plant costs, distribution costs, I think you would find electric baseboard very inefficient.