Lower Fuel Costs and Home Comfort Can Be Achieved

You may be thinking about starting on your fall maintenance and inspections tasks at this time, but you need to save money and lower fuel costs. You may have done your fall furnace tune up, duct cleaning, and filter changes, but you feel that you need to do more. You may be thinking of taking on a larger project, such as replacing your existing heating and cooling system or just make an addition or two to it. Technology has been able to produce three earth-friendly systems that may be able to help you increase your indoor air quality and home comfort. You can choose a hybrid, solar heating and cooling, or geothermal heating and cooling system. 

A Brief Overview of Hybrid Systems

The hybrid system is the most popular of the three systems. It uses two fuel sources. One fuel source is an electric heat pump and it is paired with either a gas boiler, oil furnace, or a gas furnace. Depending on the settings you program for it, the system will automatically switch between the two fuel sources to use the most cost-efficient fuel. The settings for the automation depend upon the home comfort you desire, the seasonal temperature range, and the current energy prices. Your dealer or contractor can make these settings for you if you do not understand the instructions in the manual. During the colder months, the outdoor unit of the system absorbs the heat and pulls it inside to circulate through the home. During warmer months, it pulls the heat in the house to the outside to create a feeling of coolness. 

A Brief Overview of Solar Heating and Cooling Systems 

Solar heating and cooling systems are available in two different models: active and passive. An active solar heating and cooling system uses either liquid or air that collects in a hydronic collector. This system collects and absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the home or a storage system to be distributed throughout the home where it is needed. Solar systems can be used with absorption heat pumps and coolers, boilers with hot water radiators, or radiant heating systems. People have used the active solar heating and cooling systems to reduce and even eliminate their need for electricity, propane, and oil heating. A passive solar heating and cooling system uses the power of the sun in the opposite manner. Instead of absorbing heat from the outside, it reflects the outside heat away. A passive system would include things such as precisely-designed overhangs, a white reflective roof, and reflective double-glazed windows. You can also incorporate landscaping that would provide a copious amount of shading and even install a photoelectric panel. However, if you do not have direct exposure to the sun, solar heating and cooling systems will not be as effective.  You must be able to commit to a regular maintenance schedule with these systems to keep them in good shape. 

A Brief Overview of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems 

A geothermal heating and cooling system is a heat pump that uses the earth’s temperature to heat or cool water or refrigerant that flow through underground pipes. The temperature remains constant; it does not depend on the temperature of the air. The air temperature fluctuates and cannot provide stability to the system. The heat pump is installed indoors and conventional air-to-air heat pumps are installed outdoors. One thing that gives geothermal heating and cooling systems an advantage over solar is that geothermal systems do not use air or fans to circulate air over the compressor coils. Instead, refrigerant is cycled through a system of pipes by a compressor and circulation pump that operates quietly. Geothermal heating and cooler systems tend to last longer and they require very little maintenance whereas the solar systems require a regular maintenance schedule.