10 Most Energy Efficient Electric Fires: Buying Guide

When you’re buying an electric fire, it is important to think about the energy efficiency of the electric fire you’re considering. Choosing an energy-efficient model will help you to keep running costs low, as well as have additional benefits such as a lower environmental impact and greater convenience.

In this guide, we’ll look at what makes electric fires energy efficient and how this benefits you. We’ll also help you find the best energy-efficient electric fire for your home.

What Makes an Electric Fire Energy Efficient?

There are many features that help to make an electric fire energy efficient. Some of the key ones include:

LED lighting

LED flame effects create a cosy atmosphere and a focal point in the room for incredibly low running costs.

Adjustable thermostats

Being able to set an electric fire’s thermostat for the temperature you want helps to avoid wasting electricity and makes the fire more energy efficient.

Flame-only setting

Fires with a flame-only setting or energy-saving mode are more energy efficient because they allow you to use the LED flame effect independently of the heater.

Open window warning

The most energy efficient electric fires include open window sensors, which cause the appliance to drop its heat output or switch off completely if a sudden drop in temperature indicates a window is open in the same room.

Outward-facing vents

The position and direction of the heat output vents also impact the energy efficiency of electric fires. Front-facing heaters are typically better for energy efficiency because they encourage heat distribution into the room.

The Benefits of Energy-Efficient Electric Fires

Choosing an energy-efficient electric fire has many advantages. These include:

Lower running costs

Electric fire running costs are lower with energy-efficient electric fires than with less efficient models. Energy-efficient electric fires use less electricity, which means lower electricity costs.

Lower carbon footprint

Depending on how your electricity is generated, choosing a more energy-efficient electric fire could also reduce your carbon footprint. Lower electricity usage means fewer carbon emissions will be used to generate the power you need. Of course, if you’re using renewable energy, the carbon footprint from powering your electric fire will be practically zero.

Convenience

The most efficient electric fires are typically the latest models. That means that they also come with the latest features, such as remote controls, open-window sensors, adjustable thermostats, and timer functions that make it easier to operate the appliance.

What Factors Influence The Energy Efficiency of Electric Fires?

Several factors influence energy efficiency in electric fires. Some of them are related to the design and technology of the fire itself, while others depend on how the fire is used. Let’s explore all of those now.

Heat output

Electric fires with a smaller heater will inevitably be more energy efficient than larger heaters. For example, a 2kW electric fire will use more energy than a 1kW electric fire if they are used for the same period of time (but will also generate twice as much heat).

Using the flame-only setting

Using the flame effect independently of a heater is the most energy-efficient way to use an electric fire. Although no heat is produced, many people find that it helps a room to feel warmer for very little cost.

Using the timer 

Setting an electric fire timer gives an energy-efficient and manageable boost of heat and reduces the risk of you forgetting to switch it off.

Using the thermostat

Setting the adjustable thermostat will help you to use an electric fire more efficiently than if it were simply switched on and allowed to keep heating the room continuously.

Using standby mode

You can make any electric fire slightly more energy efficient by switching it off completely rather than simply putting it into standby mode. Similarly, you can save more by unplugging the fire during extended periods when it won’t be in use.

Types of Electric Fires and How They Affect Energy Efficiency

There are various different types of electric fire. These include freestanding electric fires, wall-mounted electric fires, inset electric fires, built-in electric fires and media wall electric fires.

Broadly speaking, each type of electric fire is equally energy efficient. One area in which your choice of electric fire could impact your overall household energy efficiency is if you replace a draughty open fireplace with an inset electric fire or build a media wall to block it. Preventing the draught could make your home more energy efficient.

10 Most Energy-Efficient Electric Fires

To help you narrow down your search, here are 10 of the most energy-efficient electric fires currently available, covering all the different types of electric fire we’ve discussed in this guide.

Ezee Glow Celestial Electric Fire

The Ezee Glow Celestial is a highly energy-efficient media wall fire. It includes a choice of three LED flame colours and 12 LED fuel-bed colours. It can be installed with one, two or three glass sides. As well as a sleek contemporary design, it also includes an array of useful features, including a seven-day timer, adjustable thermostat, and remote control.

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ACR Neo 3F 2 kW Electric Stove

The ACR Neo is an electric stove in the style of a contemporary woodburner. Made from high-quality, lightweight steel it features a powder-coat black finish, 3D holographic LED flame projection, and three-sided views of the flame effect. It offers features such as an intelligent remote control, thermostatic controller, and programmable timer.

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Ezee Glow Zara Electric Fire

With its LED flame effect and flame-only setting, the Ezee Glow Zara offers very low running costs. It is an energy-efficient wall-mounted electric fire, which can also be recessed within the wall. It boasts a modern, minimal design, a slim-line remote control, and a choice of three LED flame colours.

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Dimplex Kingsley Deluxe 2kW Electric Inset Fire

With its classic fire fret and traditional aesthetic, the Dimplex Kingsley is a timeless addition to any living room. It includes Dimplex's mesmerising Optiflame technology, plus an adjustable thermostat, timer, and many other features. It can be installed flat-to-wall as a freestanding electric fire or inset within a fireplace opening and surround. 

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Ezee Glow Pulse Inset Electric Fire 

The Ezee Glow Pulse's contemporary style instantly uplifts any fireplace. It can be inset into any standard fireplace opening. High-end tempered glass, three flame settings, and a choice of decorative fuel beds create a beautiful focal point. A seven-day timer, front-facing heater, and low heat output 750W setting make this a highly energy-efficient inset electric fire.

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ACR Malvern 2 kW Electric Stove

The ACR Malvern is an attractive, modern stove with a high-quality steel body. Its soft-edged design, holographic LED flame effect and decorative fuel bed all make it an attractive focal point fireplace. This energy-efficient electric stove also includes a flame-only setting and an intelligent remote control with seven-day programmable settings.

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Gr8 100 Electric Fire Suite

Our energy-efficient electric fire comes with its own flat-packed suite and storage plinth. It includes 22 fuel-bed and flame-effect LED colour combinations, with a three-sided glass viewing panel. A flame-only mode, two heat settings, and an adjustable thermostat all help to keep energy usage low.

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Dimplex Cheriton Freestanding Electric Fire

The Dimplex Cheriton is designed to fit flat-to-wall against any wall of your choosing or within an existing fireplace suite. It offers a traditional design bolstered by many energy-efficient modern features, including Optiflame LED flame effect, independent flame setting and thermostat.

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Ezee Glow Crescent Electric Freestanding Stove

The Ezee Glow Crescent is an attractive, three-sided freestanding electric stove. It can be controlled using a remote control or app for convenience and maximum efficiency. A colour selection wheel offers countless flame, flue-bed and downlighting colour options, while the heater is controlled by an adjustable thermostat and programmable timer.

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Dimplex Bizet Electric Wall Hung Fire 

The handy Dimplex Bizet can be hung on your wall or recessed within it—both options offer space-saving convenience. Remote-controlled flame effects, thermostats, and heat settings help you manage comfort and energy efficiency. The LED Optiflame flame effect can be used independently of the heater for even greater savings.

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Comparison of Features

To help you more easily decide which energy-efficient electric fire might be the best for your home, we've compiled all the important features of each into a handy chart below. 

Installation and Maintenance Tips

When installing an electric fire, remember that your fire will need to be within reach of an electrical socket. Check the manual of any fire you’re considering to confirm the cable length is suitable.

You should also check the manual for the manufacturer’s instructions on air gaps and ventilation to find out how much space to leave around your electric fire. These are usually relatively small and particularly relevant if you’re building a media wall or recessing a built-in electric fire.

Also follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on maintenance. This will usually involve making sure the heater vents are free of dust.

How to Choose the Right Electric Fire for Your Home

When deciding on the best energy-efficient electric fire for your home, there are a few considerations to keep in mind such as:

Room size

If you need to heat a larger space, it makes sense to choose an electric fire with a greater heat output.

Budget

Electric fires range in price from around £100 to several thousand pounds. You need to find an energy-efficient electric fire that is in your price range and also fits your other requirements.

Design

You will want an electric fire that suits your decor and has an attractive design as well as being energy efficient.

Features

You might choose an electric fire because it  has a specific feature or features. This could be some of the energy efficiency features we’ve already mentioned, including flame-only mode, LED flame effect, adjustable thermostat or timer.

Type of electric fire

The type of electric fire you choose is purely down to aesthetics, personal preference and how you intend to install the appliance. Will you choose an electric stove to create a wood-burning stove look? Or will you choose one of the many different types of electric fire, which we will discuss in more detail below.

Conclusion

That completes our rundown of the most efficient electric fires. When finding an energy-efficient electric fire for your home, it makes sense to have a clear idea of the type of fire you want and how much you want to spend.

Once you’ve decided, you can then narrow down your search by finding appliances with the energy-saving features you want. The good news is that many modern electric fires incorporate these features as standard. If you have any questions, our experts will be happy to answer them for you.