Alternative Heating Sources for Homes

The recent energy crisis has sent many people looking for alternative methods of heating their homes. Many of the alternative methods we have now have been available for centuries; others are newer. Most of them can drastically reduce your energy bills. While there may be an initial investment to install an alternative heating system, you can generally recoup the costs within 2 to 10 years.

Types

Types of alternative home heating methods include geothermal, solar, wood burning and oil burning furnaces. These methods can use renewable resources such as heat from the earth, energy from the sun, fast-growing and sustainably harvested wood or waste vegetable oil to produce heat. However, wood burning furnaces are the most likely to cause damage to the environment, by depleting our forests, emitting pollution and by causing accidental fires. While some furnaces can use oil and biodiesel to create heat, they also will create emissions. Geothermal and solar heat are not only better for the planet, they're also more cost effective. There are two types of solar: passive and active.

Function

Geothermal energy uses heat generated by the decay of radioactive isotopes which is stored in the Earth's crust. Solar energy can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used to heat water or oil, which can then create steam to power electrical turbines. It can heat a space directly within a home through a passive solar gain system. Active solar energy can also be captured using silicon photovoltaic cells to produce electricity. Wood heating is used primarily by people who live in rural areas where free wood is abundant. Biofuel, such as recycled vegetable oil, can be burned in oil-burning furnaces to produce inexpensive, renewable heat.

Benefits

Using alternative sources of heat for our homes can help to solve the energy crisis. They can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and save resources. Some countries, states and provinces have tax incentives to encourage people to install alternative energy systems. Alternative heating systems can also produce major savings over the long term. Some people report that their heating bills have been all but eliminated by using alternative sources of heat.

Effects

There are several factors you must consider to decide whether alternative heating is right for your home. For example, before you install a solar photovoltaic system, you will need to know how many hours of direct sunshine per day your home receives. If you don't get enough sunshine to make the system economically feasible, consider getting a passive solar retrofit instead. When installing a geothermal system, you must consider the type of soil and rock in your area, and whether or not ground water is accessible. When using biofuel, you must determine whether a source of oil is available. The oil must usually be combined with lye and alcohol in order to be combusted to produce heat.

Considerations

Alternative heating sources often have a very high up-front cost. It can be difficult to earn back this investment. There are companies such as Green Mountain Energy that provide renewable energy for a monthly fee that is comparable to regular electric service. If your area's electrical service isn't regulated by your local government, you may be able to receive these renewable energy services.

Resources

• Map of Average Daily Solar Radiation Per Month, US Department of Energy
• Biofuel Resources
• Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium