Is radiant heat in concrete flooring energy efficient?

Radiant heating in concrete floors can be an energy-efficient heating solution for some structures if a sufficiently large amount of concrete is available. However, this type of heating is sometimes less efficient than other solutions such as mini-split heat pumps, especially in smaller homes.

The most efficient implementation of radiant heating using concrete floors relies on a large mass of concrete to hold thermal energy for long periods of time. Electric cables in a concrete slab warm it, causing the slab to radiate heat for several hours afterwards. Savings on heating bills using this approach can be substantial if the slab is heated during off-peak electric billing hours.