Which is your best choice for warming up?
Energy.gov suggests setting your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day when you’re awake and lower while you’re asleep or away from home. This can mean that you may feel a little chilly at times and sometimes grabbing a throw or adding extra clothing just isn’t enough to warm you up. Space heaters and electric blankets can make you feel cozy and warm, but are they the best choice? We asked our energy services experts, and here’s what they had to say.
Space Heaters:
The average space heater uses approximately 1500 watts of electricity per hour. They are best used for heating an isolated space for a short amount of time – for example, your living room while you’re relaxing reading a book or watching TV.
Electric Blankets:
Electric blankets or throws have become quite popular again in the last few years. They are readily available at retail stores and come in fashionable styles that can spruce up a room. You can also find them for a reasonable price. The average electric blanket uses only 400 watts of electricity. Like the space heater they should be used for short periods of time to provide relief from a chill.
So, what does this mean? Space heaters and electric blankets are effective and less costly than turning up the heat. When used in isolated spaces for small amounts of time, they can help make you more comfortable and not break the bank. With the low wattage required for the use of an electric blanket it’s the better choice. Let’s break it down.
1500 Watt Space Heater – 30 days of use, 2 hours per day
1000 watts = 1 kilowatt
1500 watts/1000 = 1.5 kilowatts
1.5 kilowatts x 2 hours = 3 kilowatt hours per day
3 kilowatt hours per day x 30 days = 90 kilowatt hours of usage
90 kilowatt hours x $0.0673* = $6.06 ($0.10 per hour)
400 Watt Electric Blanket – 30 days of use, 2 hours per day
1000 watts = 1 kilowatt
400 watts/1000 = .4 kilowatts
.4 kilowatts x 2 hours = .8 kilowatt hours per day
.8 kilowatt hours per day x 30 days = 24 kilowatt hours of usage
24 kilowatt hours x $0.0673* = $1.62 ($0.03 per hour)
*Franklin PUD’s kWh charge for residential customers = $0.0673
While there are concerns about the safety of electric blankets and space heaters, there is minimal risk as long as you follow the manufacturers recommendations and safety guidelines. Always use them responsibly and supervise children and pets if they are in the room when in use.