Cost-Effective, Personal WFH Space Heating: Infrared panel heater or globe(s), Hot Water Bottle(s), Fan-heater, R/C A/C, etc.

Is there a Scientist in the audience? A physicist, if that's not asking too much? Retired even…? ;~)

So, I'm looking for cost-effective + creative ways to heat just a small "space around my face" (& body).

My search & some of the info it's brought, so far:

a. Thinking-up designs for an indoor "box inside a box" (= room), that'd enable me to cut Electricity co$ts, both by cutting the volume+contents to be heated &/or by placing a transparent / translucent box (that may have been sold as a plant-growing / glasshouse) outside, to reduce effects of breezes+winds & rely on sunlight to heat its inside space (in Winter). If the house is cool, & the collected heat hot, maybe look for ways to transfer heat inside

b. Starting with Reverse Cycle units, split systems require co$tly installation. (Are they Really the most
cost-effective heat sources ('pumps) out there? I suspect running costs will be higher than current system,
as they heat the Air, not the things in a room, as Infrared panels & globes are said to do. New to me.

c. Portable R/C units are reportedly much more co$tly to run, especially if they have a single exhaust-hose… & are also [said to be] noisier, in early models of a series.

d. Infrared Panel(s) or Globe(s): The claim is, that they're more cost-effective, since: "They heat things (eg, wall behind the panel) in the space/room, Not the air" (True of False?)

e. Any1 got a "HotPod Electric Heat Pack"…? How many Watts does it draw, & for how long does it:
Need to "Charge" & Stay Hot on a "Charge"? Oh, & what technology does it use?

It's said to be a replacement for Hot Water Bottle (which Chemist Warehouse offers for ~$6.50)
HotPod's are ~$31.49 (@ both Amazon & CW), but it's unclear if they're worth so much.

Help us clear that up, if you know, thanks?

etc.

(What source(s) of Higher-Efficiency Space Heating are we missing?)

Comments

  • +2

    Hot water bottle on your face does it.

  • "the space around my face"

    … if only there was a way to harness all that exhaled hot air…

    • Mask?

      • We don't need to wear one on YouTube, Skype or Zoom, not to mention Zello, as we're all WFH.

  • +4

    Wear a down jacket with a hood.

    • Ah, fond memories of my Air Force Parka come back to mind, after all those years…

      OTOH, it's not quite as cold here as Sweden was or Antarctica is… and some of my work would be hard to do in a thick sleeved coat.

      Not a bad idea, generally, but it might not "sell" in a Skype / Zoom or YouTube scene.

  • +8

    In keeping with typical IVI style the OP has made the post too confusing for anyone to understand. The question would have been " What would be the most cost effective and efficient method to keep myself warm (during winter)? " and you don't need a retired Physicist to answer this.

    IMHO the best response would be to wear few layers of warm clothing as this is undoubtedly the cheapest way to keep your body warm.

    • -1

      The Physicist could point us in the direction of least (electrical) energy-use, or "do the Math" or guestimate the $ cost / BTU, etc. for Infrared panel vs globe vs (etc.)

      Maybe I should have asked for an Engineer. :~)

      Not so hard to grok, really; after all you did & supplied some reasonable sugg'ns.

      (Skip the IVI-bias & you'll improve the Signal-to-Noise ratio; that applies to others, besides IVI, who's not here ATM, BTW. She asked me to fill-in for her.)

      • +1

        besides IVI, who's not here ATM, BTW. She asked me to fill-in for her.)

        Dum Dum Dum! Plot twist!

      • +1

        (Skip the IVI-bias & you'll improve the Signal-to-Noise ratio; that applies to others, besides IVI, who's not here ATM, BTW. She asked me to fill-in for her.)

        Irony in a single sentence.

        • +3

          And in a full width sentence too which itself is a real improvement. Remember these?
          Are we dealing with some AI bot here?

  • Just get a heated balaclava.

    • She'd rather not need to shlep batteries about, or even charge them…

  • +3

    She asked me to fill-in for her.

    Safer not to ask just what the bloody hell that means, or if you are an acorn very near to tree.

    a. Beyond skylights or anything else planned.

    some of the rest of the alphabet. General -
    Adequate insulation in the ceiling, important.

    Regardless of method of heating employed, experiment with fans that you may have or might purchase, including ceiling fans with reverse settings and/or DC pedestal fans with very low-speed settings, to recirculate/redirect heated air.
    You may find that you can comfortably halve any heater settings otherwise needed for hygge-heat. Trial and error required there for best result.

    Humidify the room. Particularly at the extremes, even a two or three point difference in relative humidity can equate to a significantly perceived difference in temp.

    Consider digging down through the floor… not a great deal happening with that, right at the moment.

    Do you still have a cat? If answer Yes, place cat on lap for additional warmth.

    Heated jacket / jogging around the room whilst avoiding controversy, two other options…

    :-)

  • Make a desk height Kotatsu?

    No sure how you would heat the charcoal for cheap?

  • It cost me 50cents/day to heat my place from 16celcius to 19c with a reverse cycle inverter Daikin AC. That's about 100cubic metres including the stairwell.

    Your cheapest localised heat will be an electric throw or heated jacket.

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