Last month we took a look at the state of the
art—past and present—in gas, oil and hydronic
space-heating systems, focusing on the practical
applications of each.
With this issue, we delve into the second and
final part of this heating overview with a discussion
of electric, solar and solid-fuel systems.
Electric Heating Systems
Electric heating systems come in several
forms. The most common is electric baseboard
resistance. In spite of the inherent inefficiency
of electric heat, all things considered, electric
baseboard makes sense as a back-up system in
energy-efficient, tight houses—primarily those
heated with solid fuel.
In addition to its low initial cost, it is very
flexible, allowing easy use in individual rooms
without expensive zone