If you are thinking about replacing the heating system in an existing home with an environmentally friendly alternative, or you are considering building a home that has a green home heating system right from the beginning, it can be difficult to tell which systems would be right for you. Here is a look at some fairly common green heating methods as well as information that will tell you which systems may be better for your needs.

Forced air systems
Many homes have forced air heating systems. In any forced air system, a furnace warms air. Green fuel sources such as wood pellets or other biomass fuels can be burned in order to warm the air. A thermometer is placed in one room of the home and monitors the temperature. When hot air is needed, a blower pushes the warmed air through a series of ducts. It then comes out in various rooms via vents in the floors or walls.

These systems can also be augmented by a heat pump. This pulls heat out of the earth or nearby water in order to warm the air. They can also be used along with a central air conditioning unit in order to keep a home cool when warmer weather arrives.

These systems can be expensive to install if a home has always had baseboard or radiator heating as ducts will need to be placed in the walls. They can also be a problem for families where allergies are an issue. Dust and mold spores can be blown throughout the home. This is something that can be problematic for many individuals.

Hot water radiators
Many homes have radiators which produce heat. Hot water travels through pipes to radiators in different rooms of a home or apartment. The heat radiates out through the metal radiator and can warm a home quite efficiently. If green heating is important, a wood pellet boiler can be used instead of an oil or natural gas boiler. This type of system would also work well using solar heat as a method of warming the water.

This heat source is also more expensive to install in a home that had previously utilized another form of heating as pipes will need to be run from room to room. Radiators can leak which may also be an issue in some cases. However, there are many benefits to this type of heating system. It can be controlled on a room by room basis which can cut down on energy waste. It also does not allow allergens to flow through the home as easily.

In floor heating
In floor heating has become much more popular in recent times. A flexible tube is run in the subfloor and the actual flooring is placed over top. Water is heated using a boiler or solar energy and runs through the tubing when heat is needed in a particular room. The heat source can be from biomass sources, a heat pump or even solar panels.

The main advantage is that there are no vents so there are no restrictions on furniture placement. Radiant heating tends to allow air to retain more moisture than with forced air heating. As well, a room is heated evenly so there are no cold or hot spots to worry about.

Making the decision about which heating system to use is not difficult especially if you have an experienced heating specialist to talk to about your options.

The phrase “off-grid” is one that has been used frequently these days and many people are wondering just what it entails and whether it is feasible or realistic for them to do so. Here is some information that you need in order to tell whether an off-grid lifestyle is feasible and affordable for you.

What is “the grid”?

The grid usually refers to the interlocking network of power lines and power generating stations that crisscross many countries. In the case of the North American power grid, this extends from one country into another. Power that is generated in one area of a country may actually end up being utilized by consumers located hundreds of miles away.

As the population increases, the drain on power is also increasing. Many experts have warned that there will come a time when the demand for electricity will raise to a level that will be impossible to supply. Even today, in times when power usage is at its peak, there may be power outages and other problems because there is not enough electricity to supply consumer demand.

Because of this fact, many homeowners and businesses are looking for ways to go “off grid”. That is, they want to find a way to generate their own power so that they are not hit with devastating electricity bills and are able to generate power so that they are safe from blackouts and shortages.

Can you generate power at home?

It is possible to generate enough energy to power your home without relying on commercial electrical supply companies to do so. There is a wealth of different options to choose from. Two of the most popular choices for generating power are solar panels and wind turbines. These can be installed on a small enough scale that they are affordable for many homeowners and can still generate a substantial amount of energy.

If you are considering either of these methods, working with a consultant who is experienced in this area is a must. They will be able to survey your home, the area where you live and the amount of space you have to dedicate to alternate power generation methods. They will be able to give you estimates as to the cost for materials and insulation.

Living off the power grid is something which an increasing number of individuals are choosing to do. Part of this stems from the fact that the technology is now much more readily available and that the price of conventional fuel sources is increasing so rapidly. Taking the time to learn whether it is right for you may be one of the best decisions for your budget and your wallet that you could ever make.

Electricity bills continue to get more and more expensive over time. Each year it seems as though individuals are being subjected to a price hike that seems endless. If you are interested in generating power for your home using green technology here is some information that you may find useful. It should help you determine which system is right for your home and the area in which you live.

Which solution is right for your home?

One of the first things to consider is which generation method is best suited for the conditions you live in. For example, unless you live in an area where there is a lot of wind, a turbine will not be the best choice. It will not be able to generate enough power to make the installation expense worthwhile. Some climates may not be suited to using solar power to generate electricity.

By speaking with professionals who are familiar with the environmental conditions in your area you will be able to get sound advice on which methods would suit your needs the best. It can be helpful if you have an idea of what your general power usage is and how you want to use the energy that your system generates. For example, some individuals may be looking for a way to power their entire home whereas others may be looking for more of a supplemental power source or one for a garage or workshop.

How the different systems work

Understanding how the different systems work can also help you choose which system is right for your needs. A solar panel, for example, uses a photovoltaic panel that converts sunlight into electrical energy. This can either be used immediately or stored in a battery for later use. This means that even when the sun goes down, a home still has access to an uninterrupted supply of power.

Solar panels can be expensive but are often worthwhile. They can be used in areas where there is little sunshine and can be configured so that they fit on many different surfaces. A back –up system that provides supplementary power can also be a worthwhile purchase.

Wind turbines work in a very different way from solar panels. The wind strikes vanes on the turbine. As the turbine rotates, it generates electricity. Like solar panels, this can either be used immediately or stored for times when there is less wind. They can vary in size and several small turbines may be able to generate a fairly decent supply of energy for your home.

Only you will know which method you wish to use in your home. Using renewable energy sources can be a fantastic way to reduce your electricity bill and the carbon footprint that your home is producing.

A large number of people are having home energy audits performed on their homes. As a result, they are able to enjoy discounts and rebates that many governments are offering. With the rising cost of energy, learning which areas of your home require updating or retrofitting can be money well spent. Here is what you need to know about the energy audit process and how it can help you.

What is a Home Energy Audit?

A home energy audit is a type of home inspection. A qualified auditor examines a home and its energy use in order to make it more energy efficient. The end goal is to produce a comfortable home that is much more affordable to heat and power. The process is not a lengthy one but it can be somewhat involved depending on what is being inspected.

In the course of an energy audit, the building envelope is inspected. This is the structure that retains air (and therefore heat or cool air) within a home. Areas that make up the envelope include:

• Windows
• Doors
• Floors
• Ceilings
• Skylights

All o f these areas can impact how energy efficient a home is. If there are leaks around windows, doors and skylights, for example, it can take much more energy to heat or cool a home. The way in which homeowners use energy in their home is often examined as well. Appliances may be inspected during the course of the home energy audit in order to determine whether they are energy efficient or not.

Next steps in the Process

Once the home has been inspected and tested, a report is produced. This outlines areas that can be improved. If homeowners take the suggestions that are contained in the audit they may find that their energy bills will drop significantly and their homes will be much more comfortable to live in. Suggestions may include:

• Increasing the amount of insulation in areas such as attics or dead air spaces
• Replacing older windows that may allow for unwanted air flow
• Replacing of doors or weather stripping to reduce leaks
• Replacing a heating system with a more energy efficient model

Other savings that may be available

Depending on where an individual lives, there may be numerous benefits to performing a home energy audit. Many governments are offering rebates or refunds once an energy audit has been performed. There may be further refunds or rebates if windows are replaced or if energy efficient insulation is added. Because they vary from year to year and area to area, it is best to look into what your government is offering before scheduling your audit.

Energy use in our homes is influenced by many different factors. These can include how airtight our homes are, the age and efficiency of our heating systems and how energy efficient our appliances are. Now, however, some experts are looking to the power bars that those appliances are plugged into as a way to save money in our homes. The right power bar can, in fact, help to make your home more energy efficient and, therefore, more affordable to manage in the long run.

How can power bars affect our energy use?

A power bar often has many small appliances such as televisions, computers and charging cords plugged into it. While this may not seem like an issue, it can, in fact, contribute to the waste of energy in a home or business. Items such as small appliances and electronic devices such as stereos and computers will continue to draw energy on a constant basis. This makes it possible for them to turn on as soon as a button is pressed or a switch is thrown.

If the switch to a power bar is turned off, it stops drawing power. There is no way for the appliances or items to draw power if the bar itself has been switched off. This works well in theory but many people will forget to turn off their power bars on a regular basis and energy continues to be wasted as time goes on.

While it may not seem like much, in time this wasted energy can build up and increase our energy bills. Now, many experts are suggesting that individuals invest in a new type of power bar. This type of power bar makes it easy for individuals to eliminate power usage. Some models are equipped with a timer that automatically turns the bar off at a specific time each day. This means that while we sleep or are out of the house we are not continuing to draw that small, steady trickle of energy.

What to look for when purchasing a power bar

If you are replacing older power bars and want to find new energy efficient models look for ones that have a timer built in or that state they prevent energy bleed. These have mechanisms built into them that prevent a constant drain on the energy supply in your home. They may be more costly than standard power bars but in time you will recover that cost via savings on your electricity bill.

When multiple glass panes are fitted in a single unit this system is called insulated glazing or double glazed unit. They are used for heat and sound insulation with the help of the generally inert gas between the two glass layers. The inert gas does not conduct heat and sound waves so insulation is maintained. The importance of this system is that they are still transparent systems and this makes them convenient to use in windows or ther glass surfaces.

The maximum insulating efficiency is determined by the thickness of the space between the glass units, i.e. the space containing the gas. If the space is too small then heat loss by radiation may be experienced. If the space is too large this time heat loss due to travelling of gas within the gap can be seen. The gap should be normally between 12 mm and 20 mm.

The cost of having single layer glasses in windows or glass doors can be as high as 25% extra heating cost. This means that you may be wasting one fourth of the fuel you buy just because it is transferred to the cold air outside through your glass exits such as windows and doors. The larger the area of the surfaces, naturally, the larger will be the loss.

A house with single layered glasses will also have a poor BER rating which is a labelling system for your house’s energy efficiency. All energy related elements in a house is taken into consideration while BERs are prepared. If you are spending more fuel than you need due to poor insulated walls, roofs, windows and doors this will cause a reduction in your BER report.

Glazed windows are not only required for heating purposes. Heat exchange due to radiation occurs also in summer but this time in the opposite direction. In other words, when you cool your house the hot air outside will start heating the cool air inside your house. And this will cause your spending more electricity to keep your house at a desired temperature level. The rates for winter are valid for summer months as well, i.e. with single layer glasses you will need 25% more electricity to cool your house.

Making a simple change in your glass exits will help you gain back the amount you lose due to poor insulation. Without a good insulated house all the changes you make in your house for being more energy efficient will be useless to some extent. You will definitely loose what you produced, hot air or cool air.

Double glazed windows also come with modern and stylish frames, they provide higher safety, acoustic insulation and you can use attractive glasses of your choice. Moreover, they are extremely easy to install.

If you need assistance from beginning to the end of your new glass insulation job you can contact us here.

If you want to heat your home efficiently and affordably, there is an option that you may want to consider. Opting to use a radiant heating system that warms the floors in your home and, from there, the air can actually be one of the most environmentally responsible ways of keeping your home at a comfortable level. Here are a few advantages that you may not have considered.

Heat sources are almost all environmentally friendly

Like any other heating system, a radiant heating system requires a heat source in order to warm the interior of a home. There are various ways of getting the heat that you need and, with a radiant heating system most if not all are environmentally friendly. Some of the potential heat sources include:

• Wood pellet boilers. These are a carbon neutral way of providing heat to your radiant heating system. The fuel is compact, readily available and supports local economy as it can be produced locally.
• Geothermal power. A heat sink can draw heat out of the ground surrounding a home and transfer it to the fluid in the radiant heating system. It is a renewable resource that does not generate pollution.
• Solar power. A solar water heating system can easily provide the warmth that a radiant heating system needs in order to work effectively. Whether you use a traditional flat panel system or an evacuated tube system it can be easy to warm a home using renewable solar energy.

Other benefits to radiant heating systems

There are a number of other advantages or benefits to radiant heating systems as well. The systems are affordable to install and do not require much in the way of maintenance. Other benefits to using a system such as this to heat your home include:

• Increased moisture content in your home. Forced air systems can dry the air, requiring the use of a humidifier in order to keep a home feeling comfortable. Radiant heating systems provide a moist heat that can feel more comfortable than a traditional forced air system.
• Lack of allergens and mould. Even though there is an increased level of humidity in the home, there is less issue with allergies. Ductwork provides a prime area for dust and mould to gather. This can cause problems for individuals who have allergies.
• Less of a problem arranging furniture. Because there are no vents or ductwork, there are no problems with arranging furniture. As well, there are no issues with cold spots as an entire room is heated evenly.

Learning more about radiant heating systems and heating a home with hot water can be an advantage for any homeowner. Speaking with a qualified and experienced installer will help you decide which method is right for your needs.

Every home needs a roof to keep weather from working its way inside. Whether precipitation is in the form of rain or snow, a proper roof is essential to keeping your home in good condition. Water damage can be devastating to a home but individuals who are looking for green materials for their homes are faced with a difficult decision. They need to decide which the best and most environmentally friendly roofing material would be for their home while balancing cost and the need for special installation techniques.

Traditional asphalt shingles are an affordable alternative and because of this are used on many homes. Unfortunately, there are many aspects to these shingles that make them one of the worst choices for your home from an environmental standpoint. They are environmentally harmful to produce and often leach toxic chemicals into the air and water. Here are some tips on how to choose the right roofing material for your home and the criteria you can use to determine whether a particular roofing material is environmentally friendly.

Factors that can help determine whether a roofing material is environmentally friendly

There are several factors that can help you determine whether a particular roofing material is, in fact, environmentally friendly. Once you have learned to identify those materials that are less harmful to the environment, you can then determine which of those materials is best suited to your home, needs and budget.

The first factor is how long the roofing material will last. By choosing a roofing material that can last for many years, you are reducing waste since it will not need replacing on a regular basis. Materials such as slate roofing and metal roofing tend to be much greener than shorter-lived asphalt shingles simply because they have a much longer life span.

How much does it damage the environment to produce a roofing material? It is important to look at the way in which a particular roofing material is created. Some production methods or materials are much more harmful to the environment than others. Cedar shakes are short lived and made from old growth wood. They are damaging to the environment to produce. Slate shingles are mined without harming the environment in a major way, last a long time and can be recycled.

Does the roofing material use recycled materials or can it be recycled? If a roofing material can be recycled, it is usually a much more environmentally friendly product. Asphalt shingles usually cannot be recycled and so fill up landfill sites. Slate shingles can be recycled and because of this they are a much greener option for your home.

By working with a contractor or a supplier who is familiar with environmentally friendly products you can roof your home in such a way that you do not harm the environment in the process.

Did you know that for regular household water heating costs are nearly one third of their fuel bills?
It is possible to cut this amount significantly using solar energy for heating water.

Solar water heaters work on the principle of absorbing the energy in sunlight through solar panels and use it to heat the water.
This hot water is then collected in a tank and used for your hot water needs.

Solar water heating systems vary depending on the technology, their location of installation
and means of circulating heat transfer fluid.

• Depending on the collector (panel) type they can be either flat-plate or evacuated tube collectors. Both systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. While flat-plate collectors are cheaper, evacuated tube collectors are more efficient. For this reason the choice would depend on your specific needs and budget. However, due to high efficiency of evacuated tube collectors the overall cost would be approximately the same.
• Collectors can be mounted on a roof and these are called on-roof systems.
  Sometimes it is possible to embed the collectors in the roof and these systems are called in-roof.
  Depending on space availability, some collectors are installed on the ground as standalone systems.
• Regardless of the collector type or location, heat absorbed from the sun is transferred to the water to be heated by means of a heat transfer fluid. If this fluid is circulated by pumps these systems are called active systems and if pumps are not used for fluid circulation those are passive systems.

Depending on the season you can save up to 70% of your water heating costs and 30% of your overall heating costs by solar water heaters.

It is possible to get hot water even in winter because solar water heating systems don’t need direct sunlight. They are able to convert even indirect sunlight to heat. So you will have the comfort of plenty of hot water for a very little cost even when the weather is overcast.

There are other advantages associated with solar water heating systems. They are:

• Reduced CO2 emissions
• Improved BER rating for your house, and increase in value of your house due to this

Quality is the most important point when choosing a solar water heater as they are intended for long-term use. What should be kept in mind while chosing a solar water heating system can be summarised as:

• It should be a system of recognised quality
• It should be a system designed by specialists so that your specific needs and conditions can be assesed in the best way
• Installation should be done by an expert installer with proper training and experience

If you are trying to find a way to monitor your energy consumption on an ongoing basis, you may want to consider installing an energy consumption meter. There are many different models available. Here is information on what these systems do and how they can help you potentially reduce the amount of money you spend on your energy bills each month.

How these devices help you monitor your energy use

Many people cannot translate the energy ratings they see posted on their appliances into the amount that they see on their energy bill. An energy consumption meter displays the energy that you are using in a cent-a-meter format that shows you a direct correlation between your energy use and the cost of your energy bill.

Some appliances will use a larger amount of energy than others will. These devices can help you identify which items are the most costly to use in terms of energy usage. By minimizing the amount of time that you are utilizing these energy guzzlers, you can reduce your energy bills and minimize your home’s environmental impact as well. You may be able to determine which appliances need to be replaced by more energy efficient models and which do not add to your energy bill as much.

Additional features that you may want to consider

Some energy monitoring devices come with other features built in. They can include a thermostat that will show you the temperature and humidity levels in your home. Some devices will also notify you if you are using excessive peak loads by sounding an alarm or other alert signal. Some may also track the amount of greenhouse gasses that your home is generating due to energy use. These can be very helpful if you are concerned about this aspect of your energy usage.

You need to make sure that you get a device that is easy to read and to utilize. You want to make sure that you can program an adjustable energy rate into the device so that it more accurately reflects the cost of the energy that you are using.

You also want to make sure that you are selecting a device that is designed for the type of building in which it will be used. Homes will have different energy usage patterns than an apartment or an office space will have. By installing the right system it becomes much easier to accurately measure the amount of energy that you are consuming and the cost of utilizing that energy.