Heating and cooling your home in a greener, more efficient way can be accomplished through some very simple changes to your system. Updating your old furnaces and air conditioners to more efficient units will use less energy and save you money. Updating your insulation, sealing your home completely, updating your windows, and incorporating passive solar systems will increase the efficiency of your traditional heating and cooling systems as it will require less effort to keep your home at its optimal temperature. The links in this guide will help you learn about the options available to you and help you incorporate them into your home.
1.1 Heating
Your home is a dynamic system, and most homes are unique. Your home requires the heating technique that is right for it, your family, and individual needs. There are many different styles of home heating and there are many minor changes a homeowner can make to be more efficient and save money.
1.1.1 Furnaces
If your furnace is more than 20 years old it made be time to update. Old oil furnaces are being reported to break down or be inefficient. Switching to an Energy Star rated furnace is a simple change.
Remember that heat loss and energy waste can be from many avenues. There are also hybrid systems that heat your home and water in the same unit, saving space and often energy. Where can your home benefit from an upgrade? A well-ventilated home will use heat better, and a well-insulated home will use less energy to heat. Consider some of the new technologies and read about the other options for home heating.
Home Power Magazine gives a brief introduction to many home heating options:
Energy Star Website – furnaces:
1.1.2 Natural Gas Furnaces
The choice of efficient furnaces used to be natural gas. This is due to the fact that gas was very affordable and local. With the current changes in fossil fuel prices, consumption rates, and economies, it is impossible to track which fossil fuel powered furnace will save you more. Natural gas furnaces are efficient, and when properly sized to your home can provide very affordable heat. However the cheapest long-term option cannot be determined between electric furnaces or gas, simply because the economic situations change too often. Non-fossil fuel furnace prices and operating costs do not fluctuate as much, and are more stable.
When replacing a furnace, be sure it is sized for your house. Many homes have furnaces that are too large and can never reach peak efficiency. There are new systems called “combo-systems” that heat your home, water, and provide ventilation. These units are very efficient and space saving. These hybrid systems, if you desire a traditional furnace, can be a smart choice for your home. Talk to a contractor who can recommend what your residence requires.
An overview on furnaces and replacement options
1.1.3 Radiant Heat
This is a heating technology that can be used throughout a home or in select rooms. The heat comes from tubing laid in the floor rather than through vents in the ceiling and walls as it would in a typical HVAC system. The system’s installation cost is based on the square footage the customer desires, and therefore could be ideal for small cottages and other small spaces. Radiant heating is a long-lasting, quiet, and out of sight alternative. Due to the way heat radiates through the floors, heat loss is often reduced in comparison to conventional duct systems. Radiant heat is compatible with solar options and if used properly can be very efficient. There at three kinds available: electric, water, and air: water and electric are the most common types of radiant floor heating. Pipes are installed in the floor in concrete slabs and carry hot water throughout the pipes. The cooler water returns to an area where it is reheated, forming a closed loop system. In an electric system, the tubes are typically copper or nichrome, which are metals with a high electrical resistance. This does not look like an electric heating element in your floor, but rather an electric blanket with no fabric. The best flooring for compatibility with radiant heat is ceramic tile, hardwood floors a close second, and carpeting as the least compatible. Carpet does not conduct heat well, however choosing an under mat that is flat (not waffled or ribbed) will make this flooring choice more compatible with your system.
A water radiant heat in-depth explanation
An electric Radiant heat explanation with installation and home heating tips
1.1.4 Alternative Wood
Many cottages still retain a wood-burning stove for heat, or have updated to pellet burners. If you have a small home or space and want a natural look and feel, this option might be for you. Wood burners are often viewed as being very sustainable if you have an ample supply of waste wood on your property. It is also attractive because it does not use fossil fuels and is quite renewable. Pellets are also renewable, and the prices are very competitive with fossil fuel-based energies. Pellet stoves are electric or natural gas burning, so consider this when purchasing. They do not require constant refuelling as they have a “hopper” that stores the pellets for up to 24 hours of heat production, depending on your heating requirements. You will need a cool dry place to store your pellets, or they become unusable. This can take up space however firewood often has the same encumbrance. Both of these options are very sustainable for the right home.
Some facts about different pellet burners
An overview on wood-burning stoves
1.2 Cooling
When one thinks of cooling their home you might think of an air conditioner, which can be updated if your unit is old or failing into disrepair. However there are many options available that are cheaper and greener to consider. Coolant technology is not the only option, while it is usually the first solution we think of today. Adding awnings and other shade-inducing items to decks and outdoors areas near doors and windows can reduce heat pathways in the summer. Consider exploring the Permaculture section of this webpage to see how a naturalized yard using trees and shade can save you money on your heating and cooling bills.
A green home link on cooling your home
1.2.1 Air Conditioning
Most issues surrounding air conditioners and their sustainability arise from their overuse or use in a poor setting. A well insulated home with good windows, good shade and proper ventilation in the summertime should only require a small energy star air conditioner for good comfort. An upgrade on an old unit can often help, but so can moving the unit away from the hot driveway and into the shade of a tree. This will increase its efficiency because it will not have to cool itself down. An air-tight, shaded, ventilated house will require less air conditioning, and could use only a window air conditioner. Larger, built-in air conditioning systems require certain maintenance to ensure it continues to operate at its maximum efficiency. Try to find ways to increase the natural cooling and ventilation of your home before you turn on your AC, and you will find that you require much less energy to cool your home.
Energy Star window air conditioners
1.2.2 Ventilation
Heating and cooling your home in all seasons will be more effective with proper and controllable ventilation. Close off unused rooms and install sealable vents or use proper vent covers to moderate air into those rooms. To increase circulation, consider using fans before adjusting the thermostat: this will help your home control its temperate using a smaller energy source than the furnace or air conditioner. They are also portable and can be placed in optimal locations for best comfort.
Ventilation also refers to air movement throughout your home. This is how your home filters excess heat and retrieves fresh air. Many homes have air ducts and vents installed when they are built, for example in the attic, eves, and basement, however older homes and cottages may not have these systems. Do you find your house stuffy or humid in certain seasons? Is one floor of your home warmer than another? Consider inspecting your ventilation system, and making some minor tweaks to increase your comfort and save energy.
An article on ventilation within the home
Some ventilation/heating/cooling technology, available in Canada
See Cross Ventilation
1.3 Energy
Energy costs are on the rise, and most energy today comes from fossil fuels. Your energy comes from your local energy supplier, and may not be the greenest option available in your area.
Adding alternative energy to your home can be a good investment into your homes property value. You can also cover the costs of installing the system by selling your power back to the main power grid in some areas. However most often homeowners use alternative and green energy to offset the costs of buying electricity from your supplier. Your local conditions dictate what might work well with your home, and some technologies may be better suited than others.
1.3.1 Solar
If you are considering adding solar to your home, it is a good idea to get assessed by a professional and do your research first. The best place for solar panels is a south facing roof-top. This area of your home needs to be in full sun and properly angled for proper conduction. Look for incentives in your area to help offset the start up costs, as they can be quite large. If you can get an incentive or are simply looking to add value to your home and be more environmentally friendly, solar is a good choice for the right home.
Other options are solar pool heating, radiant heat, and solar water heating, which also require roof-top technology. Many of these technologies are very affordable as they are smaller than full home heating and can offset electricity costs.
1.3.2 Wind Technology
Wind technology can produce energy for your home and offset your electricity requirements from your municipality. There are many requirements to have a wind turbine in a residential area, however, and these are enforced by the Canadian government, but you must also be up to regulation for most companies to install your product. You must have an adequate wind source on your property, your property must be larger than an acre, and the turbine must be 250-300 metres away from your neighbours. There are more requirements you must meet, as seen in the link below. If the area you are in is ideal and you can add this technology to your home it is a good option for residents whose electricity demands are very high and for those who wish to be environmentally-friendly. There are also many different sizes of wind technology to suit homeowners’ properties and needs. In close residential areas however, this technology is not recommended.
Canadian residents and wind turbines (Factsheet):
Frequently asked Questions on Wind technology