Q: I received a small greenhouse for Christmas, which I plan to heat with electricity. Which is the most efficient electric heater?

A: Jeff Tiller from Southface says that a watt is a watt is a watt!

Whether you use an expensive ceramic heater or a liquid-filled electric radiator or an inexpensive resistance heated “foot-warmer”, they all cost the SAME to operate.

When a heater uses 1000 watts of electricity for an hour, it produces 3412 BTU’s of heat. Two different heaters, both rated at 1500 watts, will produce the same amount of heat.

The more expensive heaters have built-in thermostats and fans, which make them more convenient to use. Plan now for what you will do if the electricity goes off during an ice storm this winter!