Abstract: A method for the heating of a fluid stream flowing in the pores of a body of specially prepared porous reticulated vitreous carbon which does not crack or substantially change in electrical resistance with time when heated to elevated temperature in air is described. The body is composed of electrically conductive rigid, interconnected and multidirectional continuous strands of vitreous carbon forming a rigid porous, three dimensional skeletal structure. The body as an electrical resistance element has current conductive paths between at least two regions; is shaped to provide particular cross-sections along the conductive paths; and has electrical connector means attached at the regions of the body so that current can be distributed through the body. The electrical resistance element is particularly useful as a heating element for air flowing through the pores in electrically powered room space heaters, hair dryers, hand dryers and the like and can also function as a self-cooling resistor.