Urban Blog

During the cold winter months, it is impossible not to think about indoor heating, unless, of course you are living in a warm, sunny and tropical climate. For the rest of us, wintertime heating is a frequent thought, especially when it comes time to pay utility bills. Today, there are more options than ever when it comes to heating one’s home. Over the years, there have been many novel and highly effective ways to heat both homes and businesses. In this article, we are going to explore some of the most effective ways to heat buildings. The world of heating goes well beyond heaters and heat pumps.

1. Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps have a lot going for them. The concept of a geothermal heat pump is fairly straightforward, in that they work to concentrate heat naturally found in the earth. Pipes are buried a few feet under the earth, where it is warmer. Then that heat is transferred through the heat pump. This approach saves both energy and money.

While businesses both small and large can receive their power from geothermal energy, increasingly homeowners are realizing that they can benefit from the same approach. There is a substantial upfront investment to get your geothermal heat pump up and running, but in the near future the system should pay for itself.

2. The Wonders of Passive Solar and Solar Heating

Solar power is quickly becoming a reality. In fact, solar power technology is moving forward so quickly that regional monopoly power companies are scrambling. The idea that millions of people may soon be putting solar panels on their roofs has become a true reality. Solar home heating is a spectacular option for those looking to save serious money while at the same time help the environment.

Solar energy utilizes the sun to great effect, turning sunlight into energy and then into heat. Adding passive solar to the solar heating equation makes for a powerful one-two combination. Those looking for the most impressive way to heat one’s home using today’s technology are turning to solar power and passive solar. It is no accident that large corporations are beginning to place solar on the rooftops of their stores, warehouses, factories and beyond!

The simple fact is that passive solar is quite incredible. Passive solar, as the name indicates, is about taking advantage of what the sun has to offer, passively. Passive solar is all about thinking ahead and designing a home so that it takes full advantage of sunlight. The sun’s energy is used to heat a home and in sunny locations such as Colorado for example, passive solar can do wonders in both saving energy and cutting down on electric bills. Of course passive solar does have some requirements.

Just how good can passive solar homes be? Some proponents of passive homes and builders state that passive solar homes can heat and cool so efficiently that little or even no additional heating or cooling sources are usually needed. Of course this depends on factors such as region and the availability of sunlight. That stated, this approach to solar energy is remarkable in that it can help homes stay warmer and cooler without any additional energy use. Every dollar spent towards passive solar will save a tremendous amount of money in the long run. Those looking to substantially lower their carbon footprint may want to begin with looking at the passive solar options.

Frequently people feel that taking advantage of passive solar is something that one must do in the initial building stages of a home; however, it is often possible to take advantage of passive solar in existing homes. A good example would be building a sunroom or adding a skylight or windows in the optimal location. Beyond making sure that a home has enough strategically placed windows, passive solar also benefits greatly from a home being well insulated. Adding high quality insulation to your home in the attic and insulating spaces such as crawl spaces and wall interiors with blown in insulation helps to make passive solar more effective. A well insulated home is a must for any home regardless of how it is heated and that is why passive solar is a true “no brainer” when it comes to heating your home.

3. Underfloor Radiant Heating

Underfloor heating can be seen as being one of the most energy-efficient methods of heating a home. Heat is spread throughout a home from underneath piping installed under floors. If you love having warm cozy feet, radiant heating may very well be something you want to consider. The idea is that the warmth not only heats up your feet, but that it spreads to your whole body. While this may seem like a new and novel approach, the truth is that it has been around since the days of the ancient Romans. A common practice was to have people fan small fires under their marble floors.

The only drawback to this highly-efficient system is that it must be installed when either a home is being built or remodeled. The good news is that the cables are very thin and don’t raise the height of the floor at all. Often this type of heat is installed where people will appreciate it most- bathrooms, mudrooms and kitchens.

A Promising Future for Efficient Building Heating Approaches

You may not feel that the systems outlined in this article are right for your immediate needs. That’s okay, but just remember that there are steps you can take today to decrease your energy usage and put more money in your pocket. If you do buy a new HVAC system, look for an energy efficiency one or consider a heat pump which is a more energy efficient way to heat and cool your home.

Geo heat pumps may be more expensive but they can dramatically reduce your overall heating bills for decades to come. Insulating your home with eco-friendly insulation such as wool or blue-jean insulation is another way to start seeing a return on your money from day one. As soon as you invest in insulation, you start saving, which helps to make insulation one of the best home improvement options around.

In the future, a combination of solar, passive solar and geothermal heat pumps will likely play a huge role in heating and cooling around the world. These technologies and building approaches have a vital part to play in lowering carbon footprints and helping the world avoid potentially dangerous climate change.