In today’s modern technological society, it can be easy to take things like in-home heating for granted. Most of us just turn on the heat when it gets chilly out, and don’t think twice about it.
But there are so many ways to heat your home using different sources of power or different heating processes. Let’s take a look at some of the ways technology has made it possible for us to keep our homes warm in winter.
Solar Powered Heaters
Solar energy has been used for many years to power homes across the country. Using high-tech solar panels, we are able to harness the radiant light of the sun and convert it into heat energy to keep our houses warm.
Powering your home’s heating system with clean energy from the sun can save you money on your monthly bill, depending on how much energy you harness and how much you use. You can also earn some extra cash with solar heating, as any power you don’t use up gets sent to the central plant, for which the government reimburses you monthly.
Geothermal Heating
Another renewable energy source that’s popular for home heating is geothermal power, which uses energy produced and stored within the earth to power and heat your home. It’s more accessible than solar power in most areas because it doesn’t require a lot of space for panels. Using geothermal energy to power your heater can save you anywhere from 30% to 70% on your monthly heating bill, depending on how much heat you use.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a great cost-effective alternative to central heating, for folks who don’t have an air duct system in their home, because they can be purchased as a mini-split system. A heat pump takes in warm air from outside of the house and pumps it into a room.
Oil Heating
In an oil heating system, different methods are used to transfer heat energy from the heating element at the bottom of the unit to the oil, into the metal exterior, and out to the surrounding air. Having an oil heater in each room of your house is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home, it does require you to keep a tank of replacement oil at all times.
Natural Gas
Natural gas furnaces are among the most common ways to heat your home. In a gas furnace, cool air is drawn into the heating exchanger, the gas burner heats it to the desired temperature, and then a blower fan sends warm air into circulation. This is a tried and true method of home heating that has a reputation for efficiently keeping your home comfortable. Some models of gas furnaces can run at as much as 90% efficiency!
Centralized Electric Heating
Electric furnaces function in much the same way as a gas heater; only they use electrical energy to heat the air instead of gas. Electric heaters are the easiest and most affordable heaters to install in a home since they don’t require the installation of any new gas lines or solar or geothermal energy harnessing equipment. There are even energy efficient electric models available to help lower your monthly heating bill!
