Most homes feature a single thermostat, designed to heat the whole house more or less evenly. This means many households heat unoccupied rooms for hours, days, or months at a time, increasing both carbon emissions and utility bills. This can be reduced by maintaining lower temperatures in unused areas, known as “zoned heating.”
The least expensive zoning method — probably easiest for empty nesters or single people – is to turn down the central thermostat and use an electric space heater in occupied rooms. If you’re working in a study or craft room, the extra warmth of a space heater might be all you need for much of the day. If you typically occupy just one room after dinner, consider programming the thermostat to set back two or three hours before bedtime, and read or watch TV warmed by a space heater. (For more information about space heater use and safety, see the Autumn 2022 edition of Good Energy.)
A second zoned heating method, requiring greater initial investment, is to install one or more mini-splits. Consisting of a heat pump and condenser, these units perform heating and cooling functions, allowing for zoning in both summer and winter. The average cost for a unit plus installation is $3,000, but estimates range widely, depending on many factors. Iowa winter temps mean we need to choose the model carefully, but in January 2023, EnergyStar will make this easier by certifying heat pumps suitable for cold climate use. Consumer Reports has a useful update here.
For people building a new house or undertaking a major renovation, a third option is a whole-house zoned heating system, with a thermostat for each area. For example, the bedrooms might be routinely cooler than the living room and kitchen. Converting a conventional heating system in an existing house, however, is a costly and complicated process, unlikely to be worth the investment financially.
The best description we found of the three types of zoned heating is from a commercial appliance company Newair, found here. As they point out, we try to turn off the lights and taps in areas where we don’t need them, so why not the heat too?
Read the entire Good Energy Newsletter, Winter 2022