If you have a stressful, long, and hectic day at work, you’re looking to get home and unwind at the end of the day. Our homes are our safe havens, and thus we make efforts towards making our houses as warm and inviting as possible. You can choose from several options for the system that works best for you. An undeniable fact is that heating for homes is an expensive affair. It takes up a good percentage of your utility bill. You will need to find more affordable options for your home. Before choosing a heating system, the percentage of usable energy given off by the system makes sense to you. A heating system with a high annual fuel utilization efficiency rating (AFUE) is ideal. Luckily, there are so many options to try out and find a good fit for your system. Some of these energy-efficient options are listed below.
Use of High-Efficiency Furnaces
Furnaces have been used for a long time to provide heat to our homes. A furnace heats air then passes the heated air through ducts positioned in the house. Several changes have been made to the older versions of furnaces to improve efficiency. A high-efficiency furnace has two heat exchangers. The fuel is pulled into the first heat exchanger, and then the exhaust gas is run through a second heat exchanger, thus making sure the fuel is well utilized. The exhaust fuel is reused, and there is a minor loss between the cycles, which means less fuel is used than a furnace with one exchanger. This process saves you money. Find a furnace that is the right size for your home that will be cheaper to purchase and maintain rather than a big furnace that will waste money. According to , ensure that the windows are well insulated, get a sealed combustion furnace, and you are guaranteed to see a drop in your utility bill.
Using Geothermal Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners
. The operational costs of using geothermal heat pumps are low thus preferred by some people. The principle used in this type of heat source is that the pumps transfer heat beneath the surface to homes during winter and sink heat back into the earth’s surface during summer. This is possible because the temperature is constant below the earth’s surface. Geothermal heat pumps also provide hot water through the desuperheaters fitted in the homes. Heating from heat pumps is very cost-effective as you get to keep warm, keep cool and have hot showers all under one package. For an alternative heating system heating, you can upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioner. Contrary to widespread belief, air conditioners give off heat to the tune of 3 kilowatts of heat for 1 kilowatt of electricity used. This means that you get to be warm in winter and cool in summer from one appliance, and that is a good bargain.
Using Active Solar-Heating
As the name suggests, solar heating uses solar energy to heat liquid or air to keep our homes warm. This is an excellent source of heat as the sun provides renewable energy. Active solar energy uses water tanks to store liquid-based heat and thermal mass to keep the heat when air is used. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment when you know that your heat source is clean and great for the environment. You get tax exemptions when using solar energy, the panels are installed with a warranty spanning a decade, and you are never worried about buying expensive oil or gas. All these are benefits to make one keen on using solar energy heat.
Using High-Efficiency Fireplaces
A renewable source in your home is the use of pellets in a fireplace. In the modern fireplace, small pellets of about an inch are used instead of full wood logs, as in traditional fireplaces. The cost of buying the pellets is cheaper than buying wood. The heat obtained from this option is clean and affordable. The one part that will enable this to work efficiently is the installation of the fireplace. You should ensure that your insert is airtight, which gives you control over how much heat you get and how much fire you need. A modern insert should be easy to clean, work as well as a wood stove, and be certified as a low emissions appliance. The heated air is sent to a basement fan and then distributed throughout the house using ducts. Whichever way you look at it, this is another way you could keep your home warm for less.
Using Radiant-Heating
Don’t we all want heated floors? Just imagine that you get the option to walk bare feet in your home any time of day or night. Then it would help if you investigated hydronic radiant floors. This is a more pocket-friendly way to heat your floors and consequently your home. The working mechanism is easy. Water heated from a boiler passes through tubing under the floor, thus providing warmth. The wall and ceiling panels also use heated water or electricity. Radiant heating uses the principle of convection to pass heat around. Using zoning valves and thermostats, you can control the heated water and regulate room temperatures. Heating not only keeps you warm but uses little electricity and other sources to heat the liquid. This is a win for most people. You can get a dry floor as it’s faster to build.
You must determine what the term “efficient” means to you. The answer will help you decide on which system to use for your home. You can weigh the cost versus the benefits and see what best fits your needs.