With projections calling for increases in the price of heating oil and gas, and with fuel supplies uncertain, many people are looking to upgrade to a higher efficiency method of heating their homes. Three options for higher efficiency include alternative energy, hybrid heating, and geothermal systems.
Alternative Energy
Wood pellets, made from 100% wood waste material, are a clean-burning and high heat value fuel. Because the heat output can be precisely controlled, pellet stoves will work equally well in both small rooms and larger areas of the home. The average use over a heating season will be approximately 3 tons of fuel (150 bags), about one bag per day. Usage will vary depending on the outside temperature as well as the insulation in your home. For whole-house heating, a pellet add-on furnace that works in conjunction with your forced-air furnace is another option. Wood: Strict EPA regulations from the late 1980s have helped wood stoves to make a come-back. EPA-certified stoves now burn 72% to 82% more cleanly than those of the past, making wood's former reputation as a dirty fuel obsolete. Wood has a much higher BTU than gas, and wood is also a renewable resource. Well planned space heating saves energy, and regardless of what you pay for energy, space heating with wood clips 25% right off the top - and you will stay warm even if your power goes out. With various finishes, styles and sizes to choose from, you're sure to find the wood stove that meets your exact neets.
Hybrid Heat System - Gas Furnace with Electric Heat Pump
This system gives you more control over your monthly heating bills by allowing you to take advantage of two different heating sources. Combining a high efficiency gas furnace with an electric heat pump, this system automatically switches between the two sources as conditions change to maintain a greater overall effficiency than a single-source heating system. Because a heat pump also provides cool, indoor comfort when it's hot outside, this system can become your total, year-round comfort solution.
Geothermal
By tapping into the relatively constant temperature of the earth below the frost line, you can heat and cool your home at a significant savings - 25% to 50% when compared to traditional systems. In the winter, the system draws heat from the ground and transfers it to your house. In the summer, it extracts heat from your home and transfers it to the ground. Geothermal systems do not produce any combustion or emissions, and they do not require fuel lines. They provide unsurpassed indoor air quality and they operate as quietely as a refrigerator. Their simplicity ensures reliable performance with much less maintenance than traditional systems.
This article is provided courtesy of Roy Mjelde - owner of Top Hat Heating, Fireplace and Chimney Specialists. For more information, please contact Roy at 608/271-7581 or visit Top Hat on the internet at www.tophat-pro.com.
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