Sometimes it feels like everything is microchips these days. Almost anything you care to name, including home heating systems, seem to claim to use technology developed by NASA for space missions. But sometimes we do not need cutting edge technology, but simply want something that works, for the right price. Home kerosene heaters may fit the bill for some families.
If you do not feel your home needs a central heating system - and many do not have sufficiently cold weather to justify it - then you may be happier with portable solutions. Of course there are electric portable space heaters, and many of these are quite efficient.
Generally however, it is cheaper and more efficient to use a primary source (from the ground, usually). Kerosene can be an ideal fuel for home heating and indoor kerosene heaters might be just right for your home.
The portable kerosene heater these days is not exactly low tech - any model worth buying should feature a quality safety shut off in the event of it being tipped up, and a nice easy (probably electric) starter.
What they are is very portable and capable of providing plenty of heat. The individual units are really quite affordable, making the kerosene heater a smart choice for many settings.