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Are Patio Heaters Bad For The Environment

Why Are Electric Heaters Better For The Environment

Electric heaters use infrared technology or heating elements, depending on the type of electric heater you use and the Kw rating you will have different effects. 

But apart from producing heat, there is no other by-product, unlike gas heaters that produce Co2.

Obviously, electric heaters do in fact use electricity, this needs to be taken into account when deciding the environmental impact of your heater. But they are often seen as safer by consumers since there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.


People often fail to take into account what happens to the electric heater once the element stops working, due to the nature of these heaters, it takes an electrician to be able to open one up and repair the heater.

The elements are not made to be replaced and the heater does in fact need to be thrown away accordingly, this adds to the environmental impact. There are many different models of electric patio heaters, each with their pros and cons.

The Best Patio Heaters For Your Garden

Looking for a way to prolong your garden soirée? We have rounded up the best patio heaters that mean you can stay outside as late as you want, regardless of the weather.

British weather is notoriously unstable. A slightly sunny day barbecuing and lounging in the garden can quickly turn into an evening huddled in a pile of blankets and, as the months grow colder, it’s even less predictable. A patio heater solves that problem, ensuring you can enjoy a night outdoors while remaining cosy and comfortable. 


Give Me A Good Example Of An Electric Quartz Infrared Heater

If you are looking to invest in a long term solution for your patio, and you have the space and ability to put something permanently in place then the WSN Electric Umbrella is for you.

Its not cheap, but its powerful and you will be warm through day and night instantly. It can cover a space of 10 to 40 square meters, so its certainly not just for decoration.

Alternatively if that stretches your budget a little too much, then how about a more traditional heat lamp such as the Flower Electric Freestanding heater?


Not only does it have an adjustable head so you can direct the heat exactly to where you need it to go, had a soft light that will add atmosphere to any party, and could save you as much as 30-40% on electricity than your traditional heater.

Who said going green is so difficult?

How Else Can I Keep Warm

Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace, says: The ideal technology for keeping warm outdoors without heating the entire atmosphere is still a jumper. There are a few other options. You could put up a windbreak, awning or gazebo to try to limit wind chill. In terms of clothing, you could invest in a good base layer in merino, bamboo or recycled yarn, wear two pairs of socks and liners inside your gloves, and dress head to toe for the climate where you live. Invest in a recycled insulated camping blanket, such as the ones from Rumpl or Voited, or unzip a sleeping bag and use it as a comforter. Make a flask. Wrap your hands around a hot mug. Layer up until you can barely move. Dig out your old hot-water bottle, or if you dont have one, treat yourself to a recyclable model; Hugo Frosch has one made from 80% renewable materials. While disposable hand warmers are never a good environmental choice, there are rechargeable or reusable wheat-filled versions you can stuff in a pocket or slip inside the liners inside your gloves. Give it a try. If the cold is really unbearable, next time suggest a walk.


Alternative Outdoor Heaters To Fire Pits

Screen Patio Enclosures & Patio Covers

Apart from fire pits, you can also heat your garden with infrared heaters and gas patio heaters. Electric heaters will obviously not produce any local pollution so if you are looking for the most environmentally responsible method of surviving the cold British summer we would recommend this is potentially the way to go although you wont be getting the same campfire experience, but you may well feel less guilty about the environment!

Are They Bad For The Environment


When powered by clean, renewable electricity we believe that our outdoor heaters provide a sustainable way to allow people to enjoy time outdoors with zero harmful fumes, air pollution or CO2 emissions.

The majority of the components in our heaters are metal and a very high percentage can be recycled at end of life. They are designed to last and there are no harmful chemicals used in the production process, or in the heaters.

Patio Heaters For Use At Home Or In The Garden

In a consumer or home setting, the choices are just as great. However, there are a lot of really poor products out there. In many circumstances they look like a good buy, yet, CAVEAT EMPTOR! don’t deliver on their advertised performance. A 2kW rating or slogan on the box is telling you the power it consumes and not necessarily its heat output. There are often massive differences between a technologically advanced 2kW infrared heater and a poorly developed, cheaper 2kW alternative patio heater. We go into more detail about the exactly why in the sections below.


Home use gas heaters are still a good option if your intended use is a few hours a week or short bursts during summer months. The additional running costs of gas patio heaters and the type of heat a gas heater delivers will not necessarily become a detrimental factor when choosing, if you’re drawn to the aesthetic look of an open flame, it will also be hard to discount gas as your preferred choice. They also benefit from complete portability and, in some cases, very stylish flames like the spiral flame in the Santini ECO.

Extra Safety Tips For Gas Heaters

  • Always make sure that a patio heater is stable or fixed, and only use them outdoors.
  • Never use or store a gas cylinder indoors.
  • Never use an industrial-type heater in a domestic situation.
  • Never use a cabinet heater. A cabinet heater is an indoor gas heater that is fuelled by an LPG gas bottle, which is housed inside the heater itself.

Are Patio Heaters Safe To Use

Despite some misconceptions, patio heaters are extremely safe to use so long as you follow the manufacturers instructions and safety rules.


You must also ensure that installation instructions, recommended distances and regular maintenance is adhered to when owning a patio heater. Although modern, well-designed heaters have cut off switches and anti-tip shut-offs, you will still need to make sure that they are located correctly and that there is no damage prior to turning them on. Common sense and safety run hand in hand, so as long as you follow the guidelines as with any heating appliance, they are perfectly safe.

Best Firepit Patio Heater: Made

  • Josper metal cut-out fire pit, £169 at Made – buy here

 

An alternative to gas or electric heaters, a fire pit looks great, cleans easily and helps to make your outdoor space a year-round attraction.

This metal design from Made has ample storage for logs underneath and looks divine.

‘The firepit has been a welcome addition to our home on slightly chillier summer evenings. We use it when friends come to visit.

‘The heat that radiates from the firepit has kept us warm late into the night. It’s a beautifully designed item. It could be left out but is also very easy to store away’, writes a fan.

Best gas patio heater:

What Can I Do To Lower My Heating Footprint

So are outdoor heaters bad for the environment? Unfortunately the answer is yes. There are no such thing as eco-friendly outdoor heaters because theres no such thing as eco-friendly energy.

Until such time as we all get our electricity through the power of wind, water or sunshine, there is going to be a cost. And while electric heaters are substantially more environmentally-friendly than gas patio heaters, unless your hour runs from electricity from your solar panels on your roof, there is cost.

So if you want to ensure that you dont have the patio heater at full blast all the time, heres some small things you can do.

  • Hang lights: they may not provide warm, but the provide that illusion that tricks the brain into thinking you are warmer than you are.
  • Create a wind shelter: wind, more than anything, will bring the cold in. Create a little nook or shelter for guest to enjoy.
  • Bring out blankets: drape blankets all over the seats and allow your guest to add or remove layers as they feel comfortable.
  • Dont forget soft furnishings: pillows, throws, rugs even if they dont use them, these cotton fabrics will be instantly warmer than wood, metal or plastic.
  • Buy an efficient patio heater: if you are going to use energy, make sure it doesnt go to waste. Warm your guest with a good electric patio heater instead.
  • Dont think that you cant enjoy the outdoor come winter just because you dont want to heat your patio.

    How To Make Your Firepit Environmentally Friendly

    Your fire pit is never going to be completely environmentally friendly, as there is no way you can prevent it from emitting smoke, however we would always recommend buying low emission firewood. 

    Typically the best type of wood to burn is seasoned wood that is wood that has been allowed to dry out so the moisture content is below 20%. Provided wood is stored in a dry place, over time the moisture will evaporate this is the process of seasoning. 

    It is possible to buy kiln dried wood this is essentially where the natural drying process has been sped up by the use of large industrial kilns. 

    Burning seasoned wood in the firepit is really important for two reasons firstly dry wood burns hotter, so the firepit provides more heat. But secondly and potentially more importantly, wet wood produces more smoke when burnt as the moisture causes incomplete combustion. 

    If you have a firepit and dont have access to a log store we recommend looking for kiln dried wood as it will arrive at your home ready to burn. The most environmentally friendly firewood on the market is kiln dried hickory, or kiln dried oak. Although these are not found in most shops, they can be bought online. 

    Can Patio Heaters Be Used In Winter

    2000W Outdoor Infrared Patio Heater

    Winter is the perfect time to use a patio heater. We recommend using a patio heater that has an IP rating of IPX6 or above if youre looking at using these heaters in the snow, as the immersion protection means that when the snow does melt, you wont risk damaging your heater.

    Burda specialise in winter ready patio heaters. The rated and perfect for harsher weather conditions.

    Best Patio Heater For Wind

    • Heating Range: 12 ft
    • Size: 91 x 30 inches

    Finally, we have the Hiland Tall Quartz Glass Tube Heater which is really a spectacle in itself.

    The 91-inch tall heat glass tube model is propane patio heater, with the ability to give 40,000 BTUs to heat large outdoor spaces.

    As the name suggests, it does feature a large quartz glass tube/pyramid which allows you to see everything. The durable stainless steel finish is rust-and-corrosion-resistant, so you can use it in various types of climates.

    With this model, youll be able to enjoy the great outdoors for many months more than you would typically have the chance to.

    You have complete control over the temperature to make sure no one starts getting too hot. The wheels let you move it where youd like it without risk of it tipping over.

    Thermocouple and ani-tilt safety devices will also turn off the model if it does happen to lose its balance. With a 20-pound propane tank capacity, youll get up to 10 hours of runtime off a single tank which is more than enough to heat a party or dinner.

    Moreover, youll receive a 1-yaer warranty against manufacturer defects so you can have the peace of mind knowing that youre receiving a product that wont let you down.

    This Means That More Heat Is Required To Warm Each Room In The House

    This means that more heat is required to warm each room in the house. Are patio heaters bad for the environment? Environmental illnesses are caused by breathing in natural gas, most frequently asthma in children and respiratory compromise in adults. They are also very inconvenient with heavy gas cannisters or complex installation. Long touted as a bridge toward renewable energy, natural gas is not as dirty as oil or coal but still contributes to carbon pollution, and when leaked directly into the atmosphereas is often the. While unvented heaters release pollutants like carbon monoxide,. According to the uk company heat outdoors, an average gas patio heater emits approximately 3,300 kg of co2 per year, while an equivalent electric heater uses around 500 kg of co2 per year. The biggest indoor air problems came from cooking with gas, as most water heaters and furnaces are direct vented to the exterior, creating its own set of problems in co2 and other emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. The least eco friendly combination is a solid fuel burning open fire. Electric patio heaters produce up to 90% less co2 and are up to 94% heat efficient. Wood burning itself isn’t necessarily bad for the environment. This is inefficient for both the environment and your home!

    Patio Heaters For Commercial Use

    In a commercial environment, infrared electric radiant heating is likely to be the most common choice. They are the most economical as not only are there no gas cylinders to order, store or change, but also, a much more ECO conscious buyer is driving the marketplace and demanding better performance, lower running cost and solid environmental credentials.

    Despite electric infrared heaters offering significant benefits over gas alternatives, gas heaters do still remain a popular choice for many restaurants and bars. Often, they’re a picturesque and captivating feature of an outdoors space which can often in itself draw in customers to an entrance way or outdoor area. They’re relatively straightforward to assemble and their gas cylinders can be easily refilled as well as the unit itself being very portable to different areas as needed

    Electric infrared given the advantages we explain in more detail below does sometimes have additional installation costs and often requires a permanence which doesn’t suit all locations.

    Health Problems Linked To Faulty Gas Heaters

    A faulty gas heater can cause serious health problems. Health problems that seem to be worse or only occur when the heating is on may be caused by carbon monoxide from a faulty gas heater. 

    Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless. High levels of carbon monoxide in the air are very dangerous and may cause people to pass out or even die.

    The following people are at increased risk from air pollutants, including carbon monoxide: 

    • children

    Long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also lead to impaired thinking and concentration, emotional changeability, irritability and impulsiveness.

    Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are non-specific and can be mistaken for a flu-like illness or even food poisoning. Very high levels of carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness, seizures and death.

    If you suspect you may be affected by carbon monoxide, open windows and doors, turn off the appliance and go outside to breathe fresh air. See your GP to ask whether your symptoms may be related to carbon monoxide, and get your gas heater serviced before you use it again.

    If you are not using your gas heater, consider safe alternative ways of keeping warm, as cold temperatures may also cause health problems, particularly for young children, older people and those with chronic illnesses. If you know someone in this situation, consider checking on them and seeing what you might be able to do to help.

    Gas Burners Were Estimated To Add

    According to the uk company heat outdoors, an average gas patio heater emits approximately 3,300 kg of co2 per year, while an equivalent electric heater uses around 500 kg of co2 per year. The energy you consume heating your home with electricity not only adds to global warming, but it costs you more. This means that more heat is required to warm each room in the house. Gas heaters are highly inefficient as they consume a high amount of gas for the relative heat output and are very bad for the environment due to the high co2 levels. Which heaters are least damaging to the environment? But prevention, too, is key. Are patio heaters bad for the environment? Not only that, burning it is bad for the environment. This is inefficient for both the environment and your home! If one’s lungs are already compromised, eliminating natural gas from the home becomes even more important. Long touted as a bridge toward renewable energy, natural gas is not as dirty as oil or coal but still contributes to carbon pollution, and when leaked directly into the atmosphereas is often the. Your gas stove is bad for you and the planet. Wood burning itself isn’t necessarily bad for the environment.

    Best Patio Heater 2021: Stay Warm In Your Garden All Year Round

    The best patio heaters mean chilly evenings this summer won’t stop your outdoor entertaining

    Lets get the environmental argument out of the way first: the most environmentally friendly patio heater is a woolly jumper. But the best patio heater is one you buy online that usually runs on fossil fuels but keeps you warm during spring and cooler summer al fresco evenings.

    If you need to beat the chill of the great outdoors, you have three kinds of heat to consider: propane gas, solid fuel and electricity.

    There are pros and cons to each. Electricity feels free, although of course it isnt, but it offers instant heat and fairly quick cooling. There are two main kinds of electric heating: long-wave infrared and halogen. The latter is much cheaper but suffers from very limited range, so you need to sit fairly close and youll probably end up complaining about a too-hot head. Long-wave infrared is much more expensive but doesnt emit visible light and covers a much larger area.

    Gas heaters can be very effective, but of course you need to buy gas for them – and that means thinking ahead so youre not driving around the local garages and DIY stores looking for a new canister fifteen minutes before your guests arrive. They cost more to run than electric heaters do, but they warm a larger area without the hot-or-not issue that affects electric patio heaters.

    Consider Ways To Make Cost Savings

    The running cost of most electric patio heaters is around 12p per kW/hour, and there are several ways to ensure that costs are kept low without compromising on heat for those using the outside space. As we have seen, the most efficient electric heater are short-wave heaters that can be left switched off when the area is not in use. They work instantly when heat is needed again so need no warming up.

    Several control systems are available that both enable heat output to be varied between 30 per cent and 100 per cent, as well as control the periods when the heater itself operates. These controllers can stop the heater turning on when the ambient air temperature is sufficiently high not to warrant them. Some switches can ensure the heater only comes on for a specified time period to avoid it being left on when perhaps no one is present. There are also options for PIR and switches that detect movement and automatically turn the heater on when people are in its direct vicinity or combinations of the above to suit any individual circumstances. The use of our soft-start switches protects the circuit from sudden surges and elongates the life span of the lamp by up to 33%.

    Stufenlose Temperaturregelung Verschiedene Leistungsstufen Fernbedienbar Uvm

    Are Outdoor Heaters Bad for the Environment? Find Out Here ...

    Although no heater will be. However they are highly controversial as they mainly run on fossil fuels. Are patio heaters bad for the environment. Are outdoor wood burners bad for the environment? People are always surprised to find out how much there is to consider when buying their patio heaters, it’s extremely beneficial to. Using an outdoor heater is a fantastic option when you need to heat up areas of your garden, especially when the weather turns a little colder or when trying to stop areas from getting damp. Are patio heaters bad for the environment? In other words lpg patio heaters are ten times less efficient than indoor heating. /vcg heating the outdoors is as wasteful as it is inefficient: 12 patio heaters bad for environment photos you might also like another post under: Most people will use their patio heaters less than that, but they do have a measurable effect on the environment if that’s a concern for you. The 93 exige stainless steel deluxe patio heater. Patio heaters come in different sizes and shapes,.

    Are patio heaters bad for the environment? Patio heater, fire pit or a bigger jumper? For example, france banned all outdoor heaters in july, although the ban doesn. Gas heaters produce much more co2 than electric and so these have a greater carbon footprint. Of course, the surfaces will give off the heat gradually, so that heat will be lost to the.

    Outdoor Gas Heaters Are Responsible For Local Air Pollution New Research Reveals

    Using a single outdoor gas heater for five hours a day every day produces the same amount of nitrogen oxide pollution as that produced by a typical gas-heated home in a year, according to new research published by Future Climate for Environmental Defense Fund Europe. 

    After road transport, heating and powering homes and businesses with gas is the second-largest source of NOx pollution in London.

    Yet a gas-heated home disperses this pollution outside, away from inhabitants. 

    In comparison, outdoor gas heaters emit pollution directly into the surrounding space and air that customers and workers breathe.

    If a beer garden has 10 gas heaters working for a single night that is equivalent to the pollution from gas heating 10 homes, all packed into the small space where several people are sitting.

    The researchers have highlighted that electric heaters are a much better alternative, they do not produce any local NOx pollution, they use less energy and produce 60% less carbon dioxide emissions. 

    The report also highlights that pubs, cafes and restaurants can continue to reduce pollution by making changes to the way they cook food.

    It is estimated that half of the fine particulate matter pollution produced in central London comes from commercial cooking mainly grilling and frying, or anything where fat is heated or smoke is made. 

    Photo Credit Pixabay

    There Have Been Numerous Calls To Ban Patio Heaters In Europe And Some Successful Bans

    Are patio heaters bad for the environment. Most people will use their patio heaters less than that, but they do have a measurable effect on the environment if that’s a concern for you. Patio heaters, the good & bad. In other words lpg patio heaters are ten times less efficient than indoor heating. Outdoor heaters consume a lot of energy for very little perceived heat, but produce a significant amount of co2 emissions. Small spaces will experience a lighting effect that can make the space brighter than normal. Are outdoor wood burners bad for the environment? The reason that they are so bad for the environment is that a 13kg bottle oflpg produces 38 kg co2. The homelabs propane patio heater is visually stunning, modern heater which comes with some of the most recent advancements in the industry. Commonly used to heat outdoor seating sections of restaurants, patio heaters are capable of heating a large area with the use of propane fuel or electricity. However they are highly controversial as they mainly run on fossil fuels. Besides, if you misuse them, they are more dangerous to you than to the surroundings. Because the heat is directed and only heats surfaces directly rather than the air around it, the heat will warm people and not waste the energy heating the atmosphere.


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