Tefkot,

If you use lower power convection (lower temperature gradiant driving slower air movement), stratification is lessened. We do this in hydronics by lowering the temperature of the convector and increasing its surface area (adding more baseboard). The air temperature is then weakened in its ability to rise to the ceiling, and you improve this stratification issue. You are still left with other issues in some houses (comfort, higher temperature operation driving parasitic losses, etc) but stratification itself can be reduced.

Is there something like this that can be done in electric baseboard units? Naturally radiant will often come out ahead anyway, but for times that it wouldn't, an alternative is always good to have.

I agree that you assessment of losses is mostly correct! but (had to be a but, right?), if you are going to call ceiling losses "quite high", I think you need to justify the statement about floor losses at a very similar temperature being "minimized". They should be quite similar given an equal temperature situation on the other side of the plane (i.e., both exposed to outdoor temperature air), and are similar in R-value, right?

Dear Rob,
In floor we generally use insulation boards before laying the cables hence losses down war are reduced. in the ceiling it is very rare that good insulation practices are followed ceiling is mostly ignored when insulations are concerned. hence losses from floor are less and losses from ceiling are quite high usually.
You are right that we can inprove efficiency of convection by increasing surface area and reducing the temperature and air speed .this way the current will not reach the ceiling. this is a good way of improving convection and can be achieved in both electric and hydronic systems
but still the convection system will be less efficient than radiant system.
But there are many cases mostly in old houses where you dont want to remove or change the whole flooring and then you look at the next best options awailable and it is there that other convection based systems which require minimum disturbance to exixting layout become a preffered ( not better) choice.

NRT: The losses are not more than a hydronic system at the same temp. granted with water you adjust water temp. With electric you cycle the power. Since we deal with significantly less mass we can adjust output quickly and not overshoot our desired temps. As you know with increase in mass you you slow response time. Our element is a ribbon 1/2000th" thick. when power is applied you get heat. The wide contact allows for quick even heat transfer. much like what the heat transfer plates are used for just on a much smaller mass.

quote:

Originally posted by NRT.Rob:
I keep seeing electric radiant people dismissing electric baseboard as somehow inefficient.

Last I knew, all electric resistance heating was "100%" in terms of kwH delivered to the emitter being turned into heat.

Is there really a difference of efficiency, and if so, why? Or is electric radiant simply a comfort upgrade?

The efficiency lies in the fact that the radiant heating system does not lose heat to diffusion as electric baseboard heaters do. It radiates heat throughout a home, rather than simply blowing it, and even so, that air simply rises to the ceiling and by the time it falls to ground level is cold again anyways. That's been my experience.