Energy-Efficient HVAC Solutions For Your Home – Heating and Cooling Green

In today’s environmentally conscious world, everyone wants to do their part for a more sustainable future. But it’s hard to know what you can do to limit your impact on the planet. One of the easiest and most eco-friendly choices is to install an energy-efficient heating and cooling system in your home for dramatically reduced energy usage. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the lower energy consumption of these heating systems will also help you save big bucks on your bills! In fact, some Energy Star rated HVAC systems can save you up to 30% on heating and cooling.

Solar Heating Systems

Solar heating systems are a great hot water heating solution that’s eco-friendly and has extremely low operating costs. These systems can provide up to 80% of your home’s hot water for major energy cost savings. Used to heat hot water, pools, and water for radiant heating, solar heating systems harness the free energy of the sun. And, although solar hot water heating can be expensive to install, it usually pays for itself in less than five years (in reduced energy bills and government incentives). Once the equipment is paid off, you have almost zero operating costs.

Hybrid Heat Pumps

Hybrid heat pumps are efficient combinations of gas furnaces and traditional heat pumps; blending two energy-efficient systems allows this hybrid to get the best of both worlds! Heat pumps function quite efficiently during warm months, but at cold temperatures they typically lose their effectiveness. Hybrid heat pumps work like a hybrid vehicle, turning on the gas furnace when necessary to supplement the efficiency of the heat pump. Switching between the two heat (and cooling) sources allows the system to automatically adjust for optimal function.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal Heating and Cooling)

Ground source heat pumps are among the most efficient heating and cooling options on the market today. They’re eco-friendly as well as inexpensive. This specialized type of heat pump utilizes the relatively constant temperature of ground to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. A loop of piping is installed in the ground near or under your house, and liquid (antifreeze or water) flowing through the loop heats or cools your home depending on the season. In summer, the soil is relatively cool, so it chills the liquid, which in turn cools your home; in winter, the soil is warmer, heating the liquid. Ground source heat pumps are a completely safe method of heating and cooling your home with a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. They can even reduce your home heating costs by up to 70%!

Radiant Floor Heating

Radiant heating is another environmentally-friendly heating solution that has gained popularity in recent years. Radiant heat functions by circulating heated water through pex tubing in your flooring. This warms the floor and radiates heat throughout your space as the warmth from the flooring rises. Because the tubing must be installed under the flooring, radiant floor heating is recommended for new construction or during major remodels. However, despite the expense and hassle of installation, many homeowners love the energy-efficiency and great tactile experience of radiant heating. Just imagine walking across a toasty-warm floor instead of icy cold tile! Radiant heat can be used as a whole house heating system or installed in individual rooms (commonly kitchens and bathrooms).

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Energy Efficient HVAC Solutions For Your Home

Everywhere you look people are looking for green solutions or are “going green”. There is a valid reason for this, whether you’d like to believe in global warming or not. First, we must think of renewable energy sources. With oil prices going up and supplies running lower and lower each year, finding an alternative to gas for heating your home, water, etc. is important. Then, there is always your carbon footprint you have to worry about. How many toxins are you releasing into the atmosphere when using certain types of HVAC systems? To some, this is an important factor in their HVAC equipment decision. For those who care about these types of issues, the HVAC industry has come a long way in finding alternative eco-friendly solutions. There are now several options that you have when looking for environmentally friendly HVAC equipment.

Hybrid Heat Pumps – Hybrid heat pumps are a combination of traditional heating pumps and gas furnaces. They are highly efficient systems that, by blending two already efficient systems, allow you the best of both worlds. Traditional heat pumps work well in warmer weather, but lose their efficiency in colder weather. That is the beauty of the hybrid heat pump: when the heating pump begins to lose its efficiency, the gas furnace turns on to supplement the work that needs to be done. The system itself will automatically adjust for optimal efficiency, by toggling between the two heating sources to figure out the most efficient combination.

Solar Heating Systems – Solar heating systems are a great fossil fuel alternative. These systems are powered by the sun’s energy, and therefore the operational costs are very low. Though the installation fees can be somewhat expensive, the system often pays for itself in less than 5 years. These systems are used to heat water (i.e. bathing water, water for a radiant heat system, pool water, etc.), and can often provide up to 80% of your home’s hot water.

Radiant Floor Heating – One of the more popular eco-friendly HVAC systems, radiant flooring works by funneling hot water through pipes/tubes located in your flooring. The floors get warmed, and because heat rises, it begins to circulate through the room/house. On the downside, because the tubing has to be installed in your flooring, radiant floor heating is usually recommended for new construction and major remodeling. Another positive aspect of radiant floor heating, that you usually cannot obtain through traditional HVAC equipment, is the fact that the floors are warmed. Imagine being able to walk across your tiled bathroom or kitchen floor with bare feet and the floors being toasty warm to the touch.

Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal Heating and Cooling) – These energy-efficient systems are inexpensive to install and have low operational costs. Piping is installed in the ground near or under your house. Then, water (or antifreeze) is funneled through these pipes and this water either heats or cools your home. The system works off of the inherent, and pretty constant, temperature in the soil, which is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The soil will either heat or cool the water in the pipes, which in turns heats or cools your house.

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