It is crucial to correctly design the IR heating system to ensure optimal performance with low consumption. By following the principles of radiant heat, correct IR panel power, installation positions, efficiency, and quality of the IR panel itself, as well as precise regulation of each room, we can ensure highly efficient energy performance of IR heating! The essential feature of IR panels is the method of heat transfer by radiation - infrared waves. One must not overlook the specific property of radiant heat, which does not lose energy to heat the air but instead, most of the heat is directly absorbed by surfaces and objects within the reach of the IR panel. High energy efficiency is also achieved because: the heat is created directly in the room, so there are no losses in the ducts, furnace, or chimney; extremely precise IR Sun regulation (operation without hysteresis) of each room, immediate adaptation to temperature changes, minimal temperature differences between the ceiling and the floor, meaning fewer warm air losses under the ceiling, and fewer ventilation losses due to the heat accumulated in the surfaces. For all these reasons, we gain a significant advantage over central convection systems! In the real environment, this means that IR panels, on average, operate less than 3 hours/day in well-insulated houses or new constructions throughout the heating season (with correctly dimensioned power), which is only 1/8 of the day.

Properly designed IR heating is very economical in almost all situations, especially when considering the total operating costs. Savings can be substantial. If you are currently heating with electric radiators, oil, or liquid gas, have an old gas boiler, or do not use all living areas, you can halve your annual heating bill, and in some cases, users' savings reach up to 60% of previous heating costs. It's also important to consider that quality IR heating requires no servicing or maintenance and has a lifespan of 30-40 years. In new constructions, savings can be even higher, as you can save up to 70% on the total investment in the heating system and all maintenance costs of other systems. All this is a calculable fact when considering the total costs of heating systems, including maintenance, emergency services, consumption, lifespan, and investment.

The laws certainly apply, but we must consider the specific principles of radiant heat, the dynamic aspect of heat transfer, and how we measure temperature rise in the space. It quickly becomes clear that not everything is the same, even though the laws apply.

The question arises whether the same amount of energy is needed to heat the same space, regardless of the heat source? What do we mean by "actually consumed energy" and "theoretically consumed energy"? Can we differentiate?

The answer to these questions depends on definitions, and we will provide explanations for all.

Starting from the basics of physical laws, to change the temperature of any substance, we need to change the amount of heat of that substance. If we supply a certain amount of heat to a substance, the temperature change depends on the properties of the substance and the amount of heat. Thus, the heat source the substance received is not important, as the change in temperature will always be the same. However, if we ask about the temperature in a room, the matter is much more complex, especially regarding the influence of the source on the amount of transferred energy into the room. When we add the influence of temperature rise and the measurement location, especially if we add the variable of a person who says when they feel warm, regardless of what the thermostat shows, the matter becomes even more complex.

So, does the required amount of energy to raise to a certain temperature of the same substance change? The answer is no. Does the actually consumed energy change if we change the way (source) of supplying energy into the room where the thermostat regulates heating? Of course.

It is necessary to consider the relationship between bodies receiving heat and the place where we measure the temperature, which will turn off the heat source. Let's take, for example, a 100 kg ball that we heat from the inside or outside. The ball is in a room where we want to have a temperature of 21°C. The thermostat turns off the heating when the air reaches 21°C. Now let's first place an IR emitter in this room, which heats the surface of the ball and the room, and then place a heating element in the center of the ball. We measure energy consumption and observe the events throughout a typical year. It quickly becomes clear that the system with the heating element in the center of the ball will consume much more energy, the room will often overheat, and temperature control will be quite difficult, as the heater must first heat the entire mass of the ball before it starts heating the room, often overheating it. In the first case, the room with the ball's surface will quickly be just right. There is no need to heat the entire ball, just the surface, as it will feel equally warm. In heating, it is only important that the surfaces have a temperature where the heat flow is ideal for us, which is at an average temperature of 21°C, including everything around us, both air and objects. Therefore, in winter, the air needs to be hotter with conventional heating so that we don't feel cold, while in summer, even at 21°C, we can feel hot if the walls are warmer. Therefore, the heat requirements of the room have not changed; we have only changed the way energy is supplied, and everything changes accordingly. This is, of course, a strongly exaggerated example that shows that we must always consider the actual situation and not just calculate heat losses and then replace them in any way.

Similar differences, though smaller, occur when comparing IR heating and conventional convection heating. We should ask ourselves what heats the hot air and how much the air temperature affects ventilation and other heat losses and what heats the IR panel and how much ventilation and heat losses there are. We immediately see significant differences. Different mass, different amount of mass, different temperatures in different parts of the room, and eventually different energy consumption at the same thermostat, which turns off heating at the same temperature. Even mounting the panel on the ceiling or wall creates measurable differences in energy consumption.

Take a 2 kW iron and press it against an outer wall in the middle of winter or a 2 kW radiator or IR panel. Will it be equally warm? Even IR panels heat rooms differently effectively depending on whether they are on the wall or ceiling. Why? Why don't high-temperature IR heaters heat the same rooms as efficiently as low-temperature ones? So the way energy is transferred matters in actual consumption.

What about energy sources? If we ask whether there are differences with the same heating system and the same energy source efficiency, of course, there are none. But if we only change the location of the radiator in this system, there will be changes in energy consumption. There are always differences in the energy efficiency of the energy source itself. Take dry and wet wood, and it will be clear. Therefore, we can't even compare the same energy sources among themselves. What about furnaces and their location? Does it matter if the furnace is located inside the building or 500 m away? Does it matter where the pipes are laid? Believe that a heat pump can be a more expensive solution than oil if located 500 m from the heated building.

Local or central heating? Central heating is very wasteful, especially during transitional periods due to system losses and unresponsiveness. The impact also depends on the lifestyle. Again, there is no comparison.

So, in theory, we always need the same energy to raise the temperature of the same substance. But how we do it and where we put the energy significantly affects how much energy we actually use to raise the temperature in the room. In practice, it is not possible to compare even the same energy sources, let alone different heating systems, in terms of energy consumption. This is also proven by the fact that IR heating users consume on average 40% to 60% less energy than central systems and about 30% less than local electric systems. When comparing thermal comfort, the differences are even greater.

Ekosen experts perform precise energy calculations for your building and, based on this data, determine the optimal power of IR panels for each room. Energy consumption with the Ekosen IR heating system is very low in practice and can also be calculated. With correctly determined IR panel power, these will operate on average up to about 3 hours a day in well and excellently insulated buildings throughout the heating season and up to about 5 hours in less efficiently insulated buildings. Based on this data, you can easily calculate the approximate consumption of the system. For example, in a well-insulated residential house that, according to our calculations, requires a total power of 7 kW, the consumption calculation would be: 7 kW x 3 hours/day x 180 days = 3780 kWh. *The price per kilowatt-hour depends on the selected supplier, except in the case of installed solar power, where the heating cost can be free.

We often wonder if it is misleading customers by claiming that IR heating is so efficient and economical. However, due to the transfer of heat by radiation and considering the correct design of the IR heating system, there is a completely different heat transfer dynamic and fewer losses, resulting in fewer activations of the IR heating element. This is a fact observed by all users worldwide. Scientific studies have also been conducted that demonstrate the greater efficiency of IR heating in compensating for heat losses. It is impossible to briefly describe all the reasons because it is a complex phenomenon, but we can summarize the key causes:

• Specific property of radiant heat, which does not lose energy to heat the air but instead directly heats the surfaces, objects within the reach of the IR panel. The air in the room is heated indirectly by the heated surfaces.

• Electrical energy is almost 100% converted into heat that warms the room. Consequently, there are no losses through pipe ducts, chimneys, furnaces, etc.

• Minimal temperature differences between the ceiling and the floor mean fewer warm air losses under the ceiling.

• During ventilation, there are fewer losses because more heat is stored in objects than in the air, so this energy is lost more slowly when the rooms are ventilated.

• The system is extremely responsive due to its operation and installation in the room, which is particularly noticeable during transitional periods or occasional room use.

• Greater insulation effect due to drying walls. The fact is that moist walls, in some cases, reduce the insulation effect by up to 40%. 

• Each room is individually controlled through advanced IR SUN regulation, so we only use as much energy as needed in each room, thus avoiding excess heat or lack thereof.

Most IR panels are installed on the ceiling, as radiant heat is most evenly distributed in the room, just like light from a ceiling lamp. Ceiling mounting also makes the floor warmer since radiant heat directly reaches the floor surface. Since Ekosen IR panels emit radiant heat at a wide angle, it also accumulates in the walls and other objects, resulting in very evenly distributed heat. The room acts like a low-temperature radiator.

Usually, the distance between the ceiling and the floor is shorter than between adjacent walls. With wall mounting, it is more challenging to ensure the proper position of the IR panel, as furniture, tables, etc., need to be moved. Most importantly, with wall mounting, the IR panel should not be directed directly at window surfaces, as this causes greater heat losses through the window.

In practice, it may prove that in certain situations, wall mounting of the IR panel is more appropriate and economical. Therefore, advice or an inspection by an IR heating specialist is needed to recommend the ideal placement of the IR panels. If IR panels are mounted on walls, heating costs can be higher, but there may also be no noticeable differences if the proper placement is chosen.

Yes. As mentioned, IR heating is very economical in most situations, but there are specific factors or types of buildings where IR heating is not the most reasonable or efficient due to its mode of operation. Therefore, it is necessary to consult IR heating specialists before purchasing, who can correctly design and provide an appropriate opinion. Residential buildings mainly made of stone or solid brick without additional insulation and with ceramic or stone flooring without insulation present a greater challenge in ensuring the efficiency of IR heating. Such buildings often also show a high level of capillary moisture in the walls or floors. Although IR panels can be very effectively used to remove this moisture, it must be considered that in such buildings, there is still a constant external influx of moisture into the walls. While IR panels reduce wall moisture, their operation in drying moist walls with continuous external moisture increases energy consumption required to maintain the desired room temperature.

Absolutely! We can confidently state that Ekosen IR heating achieves more favorable temperatures in the room while using less energy than convection heating. In enclosed spaces such as living areas, all surfaces (floors, walls, etc.) are evenly heated, which then release heat and pleasantly warm the air. Most people believe that the feeling of warmth depends on the air temperature, which is incorrect, as thermal comfort depends on several factors, with the key ones being the average ambient temperature and the presence of wind. For example: Skiers and mountaineers do not freeze even when surrounded by cold air. The reason is that they are bathed in thermal IR waves coming directly from the sun (solar heat) and the environment that can effectively reflect these rays (snow, rock, earth, etc.). We can confidently claim that IR heating can create perfect thermal comfort, i.e., the correct air and ambient temperature, regardless of the conditions. 

Ekosen experts perform precise energy calculations for your building and, based on this data, determine the optimal power of IR panels for each room. The energy consumption with the Ekosen IR heating system is very low in practice and can also be calculated. With correctly determined IR panel power, they will operate on average only up to about 3 hours per day in well and excellently insulated buildings and up to about 5 hours in less efficiently insulated buildings throughout the entire winter. Based on this data, you can easily calculate the approximate consumption of the system. For example, in a well-insulated residential house that, according to our calculations, requires a total power of 7 kW, the consumption calculation would be: 7 kW x 3 hours/day x 180 days = 3780 kWh. *The price per kilowatt-hour depends on the selected supplier, except in the case of an installed solar power plant, where heating costs can be free.

IR heating is known to be completely harmless and entirely natural, as it is present all around us. It is used in healthcare and has proven positive effects on health and well-being. Using the Ekosen IR heating system reduces the amount of dust and microorganisms in the air, as air circulation is lower compared to classic radiators and underfloor heating that use convection heating. This leads to a noticeable reduction in allergic reactions and respiratory problems, significantly improving overall well-being, especially for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. Additionally, the Ekosen IR heating system maintains optimal air humidity and prevents dry air. It also creates fewer conditions for mold formation, as it directly heats the walls, reducing the chances of condensation and mold occurrence.

People are increasingly choosing IR heating for several reasons. High energy efficiency, which actually consumes less energy to achieve the same room temperature as conventional heating systems, allows for quick and efficient room heating. The simple installation of IR panels enables faster installation execution. The natural form of heat provided by the IR system positively affects comfort and well-being in the room. Lower initial investment compared to other central heating systems is attractive to many. Easy management and long-term durability of the system facilitate use and maintenance. Additionally, IR heating has a positive ecological aspect, as it does not produce harmful emissions and is environmentally friendly.

With properly designed and dimensioned IR heating, the average operation of IR panels will be very low, up to around 3 hours a day in well and excellently insulated buildings and up to around 5 hours a day in poorly insulated buildings. We are talking about average operation throughout the entire heating season. It should be noted that for serious use of IR heating, energy calculations by Ekosen experts are necessary. The actual number of operating hours also depends on usage, outdoor temperatures, insulation, and heating temperature. Generally, we can talk about very low consumption achieved due to several factors described on the "Energy Consumption with IR Panels" page.

Of course. When the main heating of the building is used, i.e., maintaining the desired temperature constantly, the air in the room is pleasantly heated to room temperature. The regulator positioned in each room measures the air temperature, not the surface temperature. If we set the temperature to, for example, 22°C, the air temperature will be exactly 22°C, and all surfaces in the room will have a similar temperature. In practice, this means that the entire room is evenly heated without cold zones.

Not at all. IR heat is very evenly distributed throughout the room and is even warmer under the table than with classic radiator heating, where warm air rises to the ceiling, and cold air stays near the floor. It is true that the IR panel primarily heats all objects in its line of sight, but indirectly and with a constantly heated room, there is also partial reflection of IR waves on surrounding surfaces (those "in the shade"). Heat naturally spreads towards cooler areas, thus heating the floor under the table as well.

A room constantly heated with IR panels achieves a very even heat distribution throughout the room. The temperature difference between the floor and the ceiling is only about 1-2°C. Compared to classic convection heating, where temperatures can be 5-6°C higher under the ceiling than at the floor, the temperature difference is much smaller with IR heating. The advantages of IR heating are even more pronounced with high ceilings.

All official research shows that IR heating and IR heat are completely harmless and even have positive effects on human health and well-being. The official international commission for protection against non-ionizing radiation states that long-wave thermal radiation poses no practical health concerns. For more information, click HERE. 

Measurements were also conducted at the Slovenian INIS institute for non-ionizing radiation. The INIS institute is registered as an independent and non-governmental organization for research and development in the interdisciplinary field of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation issues. The INIS group is trained for the most demanding research and development tasks in the technical, administrative, legal, and health supervision of non-ionizing radiation. For more information on testing, click  HERE 

From serious scientific studies and official opinions, it is clear that IR heating has positive effects, which we do not emphasize because we primarily offer economical and efficient heating, leaving treatments and potential therapies to medicine.

The price range is wide and depends on the size and specifics of the rooms, insulation, and consequent heat losses, the number of IR panels and regulators, and the quality class of the IR panels. The investment in the Ekosen turnkey heating system ranges from approximately 25 to 55 EUR/m². Since this is a long-term investment, to ensure the effective operation of IR heating and optimal calculations as well as high-quality services, we offer a free inspection of the building.

Of course, our customers most often choose a comprehensive solution that includes full professional installation. The standards we have set at Ekosen ensure quality services at all stages of business. The references that Ekosen has in Slovenia are currently far ahead of the competition. Ekosen provides comprehensive services, from expert consultation to sales and quality installation throughout Slovenia. The installation is carried out by professionally trained electricians and installers, with the best tools and installation materials. This avoids unnecessary stress for the client during installation and its duration. Our installers leave a tidy environment and restore the original state of the building (they also perform patching).

With the Ekosen IR heating system, no additional space is required, as the panels are mounted on the ceiling or wall. Therefore, there is no need for a boiler room, external unit, tank, or large water reservoirs. Additionally, a pipeline system, radiators, and chimney are not necessary.

Because they complement each other excellently, especially in buildings with poor insulation. THERMOSUN is a special thermoceramic coating (paint) that ranks among the best in quality. It is designed to increase the thermal reflectivity of walls (increase IR reflection) while helping to dry damp walls, resulting in even better results with IR heating in buildings with poor insulation, moisture problems, and new constructions. Thermal comfort is further improved with Thermosun paint, as the unpleasant feeling of cold walls becomes a thing of the past, and the thermostat temperature no longer needs to be raised, which can lower heating costs.

There are several unfriendly facts about conventional heating. Most conventional heating systems operate on the principle of air circulation (convection). Heated air rises, cooled air falls, resulting in natural air circulation. In a room heated this way, dust and mites are lifted. Additionally, air humidity is reduced. All this can have negative effects on our health and well-being, causing dry air and potential breathing problems. Due to air circulation, heat is unevenly distributed in the room, as warm air rises to the ceiling while the floor remains cold if heated by a radiator system. Due to the temperature differences between the floor and ceiling, which can be up to 7°C, many people often feel cold feet.

The IR heating system significantly reduces dust and mite circulation because the heat transfer method is different, resulting in significantly reduced air circulation. The temperature difference between the ceiling and floor is smaller - only about 1-2°C. The floor is about 3-4°C warmer than with a conventional radiator heating system. Because air circulation is reduced and it is a low-temperature heating system, the air does not dry out, contributing to a healthier environment.