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Are Electric Radiators Efficient?

Radiator experts are frequently asked whether electric radiators are “efficient” and, more specifically, whether storage heaters are more “efficient” than other types of electric heating. Electrician Brisbane 24 hours has experience in large-scale electrical work including events at some of Australia’s biggest venues.

When it comes to radiators, the word “efficiency” can be interpreted in many ways. From our experience, when a customer asks “Which radiators are the most efficient?” they could mean:

  1. Which radiator gives out the most heat for its size?
  2. Which radiator is the cheapest to run?
  3. Which radiator uses the least fuel?
  4. Which radiator heats up the quickest?
  5. Which radiator is most environmentally friendly?

Electric radiators are generally regarded as being 100% efficient as almost 100% of the electricity consumed by the radiator is converted into heat and released into the room. (This differs from piped hot water central heating systems where some of the heat can be lost through the pipes on route to the radiators and the boiler.) Therefore it could be argued that all electric radiators are equal in efficiency as the energy put into the radiator will equal the amount of heat put out.

So the questions above cannot be answered by looking at efficiency; instead the key to choosing the best electric radiator is to decide which would be most effective in your specific situation.

This article aims to give clear information and facts to help you choose the electric heating product that best matches your unique lifestyle and heating needs. This will then enable you to minimise any wasted energy, which in turn will help reduce the amount of fuel you use, therefore reducing the cost of your electricity bills and your impact on the environment.

Whichever form of electric heating you opt for, we always suggest looking at the various energy providers’ tariffs to compare pricing as the cost of electricity can vary significantly; pricing does not only vary between suppliers but also between the wide varieties of tariffs offered by each supplier.

Below we have provided a summary of the electric heating options available on the market detailing their pros and cons to help you choose which option is the best for your home.

Electric heaters or electric radiators generally come in two distinct styles:

  • Storage heaters; or
  • On demand heaters, namely;
    1. Radiant heating panels;
    2. Convectors; and
    3. Liquid-filled electric radiators.

Storage heaters

These make use of the cheaper electricity that is available at night on an economy tariff. Electricity is used to heat up ceramic bricks within the heater overnight which then “store” the heat and slowly release it gradually over the course of the following day. Storage heaters were historically seen as the only real alternative to gas central heating and are still a common sight in homes across the UK.

Example: Using a storage heater in a room that requires 1kW of heat

  • Require a storage heater that consumes around 3.2 kiloWatts or kW per hour.
  • Economy 7 tariff = 7 hours electricity at a cheaper rate during the night.
  • Storage heater is set to “charge” for these 7 hours, consuming 3.2kW per hour for 7 hours.
  • Consumes a total of 22.4kW per night.
  • Releases the 22.4kW of heat consumed over a 24 hour period = heat output of 0.933kW of heat per hour.

This means that storage heaters are efficient, insomuch as they give out all the energy that they consume, however they do consume a lot of energy. Interestingly, storage heaters were originally developed during the strikes of the late seventies and there is an argument that the government encouraged their use at this time as they were keen to keep the power stations running to make the country dependent on the coal industry.

Storage heaters can offer a practical solution for many homeowners; for example, as the heat is released throughout the day, storage heaters are more suitable for people who are retired or at home throughout the day. Alternatively, if you work full time and do not require heating during the day, storage heaters may not be the best option as heat will be emitted even when you are not there, resulting in unnecessary energy wastage.

The nature of storage heaters does make them harder to control than “on demand” heating products. For instance, consider the following scenarios:

  • You spontaneously decide to go out for the day, but you have already paid for that day’s heating;
  • You go on holiday and turn the heating off, but there will be no “charge” in the heater when you return, meaning time sat in a cold house; and
  • You may want to turn the heating off in summer, but an unexpected cold snap might mean you need to do an urgent “boost” on the heaters during the day, which would be charged at a high peak rate.
  • This lack of controllability makes homeowners reluctant to deviate from the pre-determined charging hours and standard usage.

Also as storage heaters age, their internal insulation can break down; resulting in heat being expended too fast and so supplementary heating may be required for later on in the day; this supplementary heating would be charged at the peak rate per hour, rather than the economy rate. Bear in mind that the peak rates on Economy tariffs are usually significantly higher than at any time on non-Economy tariffs and these rates apply to all appliances used during peak hours, not just radiators.

Storage heaters are often deemed unattractive and the nature of their design makes them quite bulky protruding significantly into a room.

On demand heaters

The following 3 forms of electric heating consume electricity “on demand” unlike storage heaters. “On demand” heating products allow you to only turn the heater on when you need heat, and turn it off when you don’t need heat. This makes them the better option for avoiding wasted energy as you only have the radiators on as and when needed and there is no need to second guess what the weather will be doing 24 hours in advance, which is particularly useful with the unpredictable British climate. On demand heaters are normally used with regular, non-Economy electricity tariffs, which do not use cheaper night-time rates.

Example: Using an on-demand heater in a room that requires 1kW of heat

  • Require an on-demand heater that consumes 1 kW per hour.
  • Standard electricity tariff = same rate at all times of the day.
  • For someone who works 9am to 5pm; On-demand heater timer is set to come on at 7am till 8am and 6pm till 11pm, so consumes 1kW per hour for 6 hours.
  • Consumes a total of 6kW per day giving a heat output of 1kW of heat per hour.

This example shows a significant reduction in the amount of energy used by someone who works standard hours; when comparing a storage heater with an on demand heater, despite the electricity being charged at a higher rate than on the rates for the Economy 7 tariff, this could still be the most cost effective option in this type of scenario.

On demand heating products, as detailed below, usually provide a better solution than storage heaters to the question “which radiator is most efficient?”

  1. Radiant heating panels are either hollow, or, more commonly, are a sealed unit. An electric element is concealed within the radiator, which heats up and radiates heat out evenly from the front of the radiator. Radiant heat is absorbed by the furniture, fabrics and carpet in a room, so the warmth is retained for longer. This type of radiator is particularly good for people with dust allergies as their flat panel makes them easy to clean and they don’t “convect” heat or promote air circulation to heat a space; these factors help to reduce the amount of dust being circulated around a room.
  2. Convectors, or heaters that make use of convection, warm a room by following the principle that hot air rises. Electric convectors usually consist of a hollow case; open at the top and bottom with a visible coil heating element. (Quite often, when these radiators are switched on and you look inside them, you can see the heating element glowing red inside the radiator.) Convection heating works by creating a cycle of air circulation; cool air comes from underneath the radiator, it is drawn up from the bottom of the radiator and then warms up and rises or “convects” as it passes the heating element, emitting warm air from the top of the radiator. This warm air rises to the ceiling, cools and falls back to the floor then repeats the process. Electric fan heaters also work on the same principle; the only key difference being that the fan forces air across the electric element speeding up the movement of warm air. This means that fan heaters will blast warm air into a room very quickly, but as soon as they are turned off, the room will cool almost immediately. Radiators that work on convection can sometimes be the cause of black marks seen on walls above radiators; these are caused by the residue of dust being drawn up into the radiator and burnt onto the open element.
  3. Liquid-filled electric radiators operate in similar way to radiant panel type heaters; they are sealed units with an internal heating element that releases this heat via the outer case, however the elements are submerged in a liquid such as oil, water with corrosion inhibitor or heat transfer agent/gel rather than being dry. Depending on the design of the radiator, the heat generated can be entirely radiant or a combination of radiant and convected heat. Historically, oil was used to fill electric radiators. However water is now increasingly common as this offers a cleaner option; for instance, The National Trust uses water-filled electric radiators as they do not want to risk using oil which could cause damage to a historical property or its contents.

So in summary, a radiator is just a vessel designed to release energy in the form of heat and the amount of heat that a radiator releases will depend on the amount of energy put into it; this is particularly true of electric radiators, where they will perform at approximately 100% efficiency.

  • Storage heaters use a large amount of cheap electricity, but lack controllability resulting in energy wastage. “On demand” heaters use less electricity and offer greater flexibility, but this electricity is not available on an Economy tariff.
  • Convected heat immediately warms the air in a room, but the heat dissipates almost immediately as the heat source is turned off. Radiated heat takes longer to warm a room as it heats objects not just the air, but this means that the room stays warm for much longer.

In practice, there are many aspects that will determine the best radiator(s) for your project including your lifestyle e.g. working hours, size restrictions, interior décor, budget and availability; your choice will be governed by which factors take priority. The research proves that when it comes to heating, there is no magic “one-size fits all” solution.

For more advice on choosing the most effective electric heating product, speak to an electric radiator specialist.

Written by Helena Gerwitz, General Manager of Feature Radiators, one of the UK’s leading retailers and distributors of electric radiators and electric central heating systems.

Feature Radiators is a one-stop port of call for anyone wanting high performance, stylish electric heating at competitive prices.

Our Electric Collection is made up of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast iron electric radiators and heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money.

Electric products include our exclusive iRad range of radiators that wirelessly link together to provide a centrally controlled electric heating system that is easy to install, easy to use and easy on the eye, and our electric cast iron range, perfect for use in older properties where piped central heating cannot be installed or extended.

With a wide variety of electric models on display in our West Yorkshire showroom, expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery, we are widely recognized as the UK’s leading electric radiator specialist.

For more expert advice then contact Feature Radiators at http://www.featureradiators.co.uk, call them on 01274 567789 or visit them in person at Feature Radiators, Bingley Railway Station. BD16 2NB

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Helena_Gerwitz/756057

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7207405

The Basics of Pilates Exercise Method

Pilates is a form of exercise emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness to support efficient, graceful movement. It was developed by Joseph Pilates and is also known as the Pilates Method. KX Pilates dee why is a revolutionary, fast paced, high intensity, body-toning workout that fuses the core strengthening elements of traditional reformer pilates.

Who Can Benefit From Pilates?

It seems like everyone is either doing Pilates or is interested in starting a Pilates exercise program. Indeed, one of the best things about the Pilates method is that it works so well for a wide range of people. Athletes and dancers love it, as do ​seniors, women rebounding from pregnancy, and people who at various stages of physical rehabilitation.

The top benefits of Pilates include improved strength and posture. You’ll find that your body becomes more efficient at performing activities of daily living. Enthusiasts talk about getting in shape with Pilates and developing a Pilates body.

When Joseph Pilates developed this work, he did not talk about long, lean muscles, or flat abs as we see in Pilates body advertising these days. He was interested in the body as a total package of health and vitality, from which a pleasing external presentation—flat abs, better posture, balanced muscularity—is a natural result.

Pilates Is an Adaptable Method

Exercise modification is the key to Pilates success with a variety of populations. All exercises are developed with modifications that can make a workout safe and challenge a person at any level.8 Pilates Exercise Modification Tips

Core Strength

Core strength is the foundation of Pilates exercise.

The core muscles are the deep, internal muscles of the abdomen and back. When the core muscles are strong and healthy, they work in tandem with the superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine through a wide range of movement.

As you develop your core strength you develop stability throughout your entire torso. This is one of the ways Pilates helps people overcome back pain. As the trunk is properly stabilized, pressure on the back is relieved and the body is able to move freely and efficiently. Pilates exercises are designed to make sure the spine is well-supported by the core muscles, and that there’s proper alignment of all the bones.

The flat abdominal muscles Pilates promotes are the natural result of a system of exercise that emphasizes core strength and flexibility by way of the harmonious coordination of muscles and skeletal alignment in the service of graceful, efficient activity. The abs are strengthened, but they are also trained to work together properly (an often overlooked key to getting flat instead of poofed abs) in the context of an integrated body that is relating at a high level to itself and its environment.

The Six Pilates Principles

There are six Pilates principles: centering, control, flow, breath, precision, and concentration. They are essential ingredients in a high-quality Pilates workout as well as being the philosophical foundations of Pilates.

The 6 Essential Principles of Pilates

The Pilates method has always emphasized quality over quantity, and you will find that, unlike many systems of exercise, Pilates exercises do not include a lot of repetitions for each move. Instead, doing each exercise fully, with precision, yields significant results in a shorter time than one would ever imagine.

Joseph Pilates said that, above all else, one should learn to breathe properly. Full breathing feeds and stimulates the circulatory system, which is a body cleansing process that detoxifies the blood and refreshes the cells. Here is the root of the vitality you need to enjoy life and exercise. When breathing and circulation are working well, the body also has a natural rhythm wherein the organs are toned and refreshed, and there is energy for daily life.

A Unique Method of Exercise

Core strength and torso stability, along with the six Pilates principles, set the Pilates method apart from many other types of exercise. Weight lifting, for example, can put a lot of attention on arm or leg strength without attending much to the fact that those parts are connected to the rest of the body. Even running or swimming can seem like all arms and legs, with either a floppy or overly tense core. Ultimately those who really succeed at their sport learn to use their core muscles, but in Pilates, this integrative approach is learned from the beginning.

How a body moves, not just in the studio or gym, but in daily life, is the most important aspect of Pilates training; it wasn’t developed just for looks. For Joseph Pilates, the point was to provide a method of training that would allow the body to do what is asked of it with grace, ease, and efficiency. Such a body has to be both strong and flexible, and it has certain qualities of movement, such as being centered and balanced, as well as flowing yet controlled. These qualities, or Pilates principles, are practiced consciously through Pilates exercises as the strength and flexibility that support them are developed.

What you see in an ideal Pilates body is uniform, function-appropriate, muscular development. In fact, strength without bulk is one of the aspects of Pilates that draws many people to the practice. Not only is uniform muscular development a pleasing visual, but it is also a natural result of training the body to move at a high level of harmony and efficiency.

An imbalanced body leads to all kinds of weaknesses and compensations in the body?

Mat Work and Equipment

Pilates exercises are done on either on a mat on the floor or on exercise equipment developed by Joseph Pilates. The Pilates workout equipment generally utilizes pulleys and resistance from the participant’s own body weight on the machine and graduated levels of springs. The reformer is probably the best-known piece of resistance equipment that you will encounter at a Pilates studio.

Joseph Pilates

The Pilates Method of the exercise was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. It was originally used as a rehabilitation program for prisoners of war and was later found to be of great benefit to anyone seeking a higher level of fitness. The work was kept alive over the years by a small group of Pilates’ devoted students until its popularity blossomed in the past couple of decades. Exercise science caught up with the principles that Pilates had been teaching all along, and now you can enjoy the rich evolution of the Pilates work available today.

Get Started in Pilates

Pilates is best learned through a combination of classes and home workouts. You can get started right away with a Pilates beginners program.

Strategies And Ideas That Will Help You With Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is the process of tweaking your website for improved performance on the search engine rankings provided with the help of freelance seo consultant Sydney. SEO is a huge industry.Some Internet marketers might say that SEO is an arcane field beyond the reach of ordinary webmasters.

Coding is an important element in search engine optimization if you are using SEO.For example, if you have JavaScript and the code isn’t done well, so that it can be indexed by search engine spiders.

Additional ads on your pages do not necessarily mean a higher search engine rankings.

Pick a domain name which has your chosen keywords.You want to make your website easy to find when customers are searching for it in the web. Not all of your site traffic will be generated by affiliate advertisements, some find your site by searching for things on your site.

Your site should be entertaining to be successful.These two things can help boost your site rank on search engines.

This is very true for clients who discover you through YouTube because it is easy to remember.

Using product feeds can help to reach new customers. Feeds can contain information about your business such as prices, descriptions and prices.Submit them to sites which compare prices and all of the major search engines.

Avoid using Flash if you want to perform SEO on. Flash can not be read by the spiders and text used in flash won’t be indexed. You must make your content that is readily visible in order for it to be indexed and optimized by the search engine spiders.

Users aren’t going to spend time at a site unless they can find the information they need, so content is king.

A site map can help a search engines to be able to create an index of your site pages. Even for a small site, in how a search engine will rank it.

Try including transcripts for any visual or audio content on your site.

You entire website such be easy to navigate and to read.

A site map is an important tool; remember your keywords included should be created.A site map acts as a central hub that allows visitors to go to any page on your web site.

Captions are important to the SEO tool. For example, if you have pictures on your website, add captions that are relevant to your keyword; you will soon see more traffic.

You won’t find many image links with sites that are optimized for various search engines. Image links do not link your content to the linked file URL for search engine.

These tags are just another smart way that you can incorporate keywords, so putting keywords there helps to improve ranking.

SEO is how you can get more people to your customers find you.Many business to not take this really is.

You can give your SEO a boost by using off-site linking to reputable sites. This signals that your site is a credible source of your link usage. Search engines value off-site links full of good content higher than links to your own pages. To maximize your rank, find linking options that will also link to your website.

You should use proper anchor text when you are utilizing interlinks on your site. There are certain words that you shouldn’t use because they’ll not help search engines navigate your SEO endeavors. Someone who specializes in search engine optimization will be able to help you to figure out what kind of anchor text can be used.

Don’t create a page full of links. Blend them into the other content on your page. Link pages are not appreciated by search engines.

Make sure that your search engine optimization.While keyword phrases for bots are important, understand that the bots are not making purchases from you, so you can optimize the content afterwards. The text on the site should be simple for anyone to read. You could fail if it isn’t.

Remember that it takes time to see the results of your SEO results. It is normal for you to expect to see quick results after putting so much effort into your SEO strategy. You have to remember that creating a solid web presence requires hard work and dedication.

A good way to give your search engine ranking is to get a second hand domain name. Search engines give additional weight to domain names that have been around for two years.

Make sure to configure your server to be sensitive on URLs.

While SEO is definitely a complex field, it is also something that a novice can learn and incorporate. SEO is something you can effectively do by yourself by making use of the proven techniques you have learned in this article. You don’t have to spend months or years learning how to attract visitors to your site. You might see improvements within a week when you start using these techniques.