And just an obvious reminder- Heat rises! So you get more efficiency with UTH (under tank heat) because the heat is going INTO the tank, instead of starting at the top with much of it going up up & away from where you need it.
UTH tends to be VERY low wattage- so it might be cost effective to do both, especially in the winter time (along with insulating most of the glass or whatever you're using). Then whatever heat source you use overhead won't have to work so hard to push heat down to where your snake is. Snakes like belly heat to digest, & even though UTH won't be enough to warm all the air within the tank to your BP's liking, it's a good start, rather than having your snake perceive a "cold drafty floor" that might make them refuse food.
"Insulation" includes what you attach to the glass, but ALSO what a tank is sitting on. Whether or not you use UTH, it helps if the glass tank (or PVC enclosure) is sitting on top of solid wood furniture- that too is insulation. Always think of the "big picture"- higher elevation in the room is warmer, while closer to the floor is colder. And some parts of a room or home are warmer, just from better heat circulation, & distance from chilly windows or outside doors being opened.
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