Electric models are self-contained and operate independently of the central heating system. They are direct wired and run on regular 120 Volt current. They offer the advantage of four-season usage and will provide luxurious radiant heat to warm you, your bathroom and your towels whether it's the dead of winter or just a raw day. Electric models offer the flexibility of temperature settings; low for warming towels and high for room heating. Electric towel radiators may be used as the sole source of heat for a room. Larger towel radiators (900 Watts) will heat an entire room up to 150 square feet. However, as a heater, electric models are often used in conjunction with another heat source. For example the majority of homes in the United States are heated by forced-air, and one of the limitations of this type of heating system is that it is not typically zoned. Bathrooms tend to be at the end of the heating run. By the time the warm air reaches the bathroom it often lacks oomph and people find themselves cranking up the heat in the entire house to warm the bathroom. An electric Runtal towel radiator provides energy efficiency by eliminating the need to raise the temperature in the entire house--just to warm the bathroom.