ENERCO SOLUTIONS · INDUSTRIAL HEATING, COOLING & VENTILATION
Home / Gas or electric heating
Heating costs for your business premises
Which costs less: gas or electric heating?
The answer depends on your energy rates, installation and usage. In warehouses and workshops, the area heated and operating hours also matter. Compare complete solutions for the same desired comfort.
Start with three questions
1. Where is heat needed?
The whole space or specific work zones?
2. When do people work?
Daily, in shifts or at varying times?
3. What does your energy cost?
Use the rates and terms of your business contract.
A fair comparison
The price per kWh is only one factor
Assess the building, work zones and hours together with the installation.
Energy rate
Use your own electricity and gas rates on the same basis for VAT and charges. Include relevant network, capacity and fixed charges separately.
Efficiency and losses
An electric resistance heater converts about 1 kWh of electricity into 1 kWh of heat at the point of use. With gas heating, delivered heat depends on efficiency and installation losses.
Heat where it is needed
Heating a few work zones may require a different amount of heat from heating the whole hall. Compare solutions for the same desired comfort and actual activities.
Electric heating
Infrared, air heating and heat pumps differ
The type of installation determines electricity use and how heat is delivered.
Electric radiant and air heaters
Our electric infrared and air heaters use resistance elements. Potential project savings must come from factors such as selected zones, placement, operating hours and controls.
Heat pumps
A heat pump transfers heat from the surroundings and can deliver several kWh of heat per kWh of electricity. Actual efficiency depends on the system and conditions; include this when comparing whole-space solutions.
Appliance efficiency alone does not determine building consumption. Heat loss, comfort, controls and usage affect real performance.
Illustrative calculation
What does 10 kWh of delivered heat cost?
These figures use fictional rates and assumptions. They are not current market prices or a quotation for your business.
Electric resistance · €3.00
10 kWh of electricity × €0.30/kWh = €3.00. Assumed conversion at the point of use: 1 kWh of electricity provides 1 kWh of heat.
Gas installation · €0.89
10 kWh of heat ÷ 0.90 × €0.08/kWh of gas ≈ €0.89. Assumed efficiency: 90%; the energy basis must match that efficiency.
Heat pump · €1.00
10 kWh of heat ÷ 3 × €0.30/kWh = €1.00. Assumed average ratio over the period: 3 kWh of heat per kWh of electricity.
This compares energy costs only for the same amount of delivered heat. Investment, maintenance, heat distribution, auxiliary energy and fixed or capacity charges are excluded. Project heat demand must be assessed separately.
Your building and activities
When is a comparison by work zone useful?
We assess your heating needs together with your existing installation.
Identify areas used daily, frequently open doors and whether the whole hall needs the same temperature. A proposal can assess individual work zones, general heating or a combination.
Calculate investment and annual costs for each proposal using your rates and realistic operating hours. Any potential saving must follow from this comparison.
For a focused proposal
What information helps us compare?
Send details of your premises and existing heating.
- Building: dimensions, height, insulation and door use.
- Comfort: target temperature and heated work zones.
- Usage: working days, shifts and hours.
- Installation: make, type, output and controls.
- Energy: rates and consumption over a representative period.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about gas and electric heating
Is infrared heating always cheaper than gas?
No. The result depends on rates, heat demand, installation and use. Targeted heating can be assessed when only certain work zones need comfort.
Is electric heating the same as a heat pump?
No. Resistance heaters produce heat from electricity. A heat pump uses electricity to transfer heat from the surroundings. They have different ratios of consumption to delivered heat.
Do solar panels make electric heating free?
Assess how much self-generated electricity is available when heating is used. Investment and the value of that electricity also matter. Annual totals do not replace actual overlap between generation and consumption.
Can I keep my current installation?
This can be assessed as part of the proposal. We consider whether supplementary work-zone heating suits the existing installation and your comfort target.
Background and sources
The technology behind the calculation
The figures use the fictional assumptions stated above.
Your business project
Compare solutions for your warehouse or workshop
Tell us which zones need heating and how the building is used. We will discuss a suitable proposal.