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High Efficiency Electric Heating and Cooling Alternatives
Are there alternatives to traditional heating and cooling systems that work well in our area and offer comfort, safety and a low cost of operation while protecting the environment as much as possible? The answer is a resounding 'yes' and the best of the choices all happen to be powered by electricity.
Consumers today have two systems to select from when they want to save money through increased efficiency without sacrificing comfort or safety. And, when the solution is fueled by electricity you improve the local environment by removing an uncontrolled source of combustion. Admittedly, a single furnace doesn't add a huge amount of pollution but when you consider the thousands of furnaces operating, the impact is significant. Like any effective conservation method, individual efforts add up to real results.
Electricity versus Fossil Fuels - An Apples to Apples Comparison
Many people are convinced that electricity is the most expensive way to heat your home or business. Years ago, fossil fuels did enjoy an advantage. Today, with high oil and propane costs and the price gyrations these fuels experience, electricity is once again a viable alternative. Aside from the price changes, large gains in the efficiency of electric heating systems have made it the best choice for heating in additional to cooling.
There is no need to take our word for it. The following table presents a comparison of heating sources on an equal basis. The table compares our cost per kWh to what oil and propane must be to provide the same level of heat for the same price. Even the humble strip heater like baseboard electric holds its own against today's fossil fuel prices. When you use a high efficiency electric system, the results are terrific. For example, if you use a high efficiency heat pump in your home, you have to be able to buy oil at $.71 per gallon to be as affordable! Quite a difference.
Both the options described below provide heating and cooling in a single system. This alone can save you money in terms of system maintenance.
The first is the All Climate Heat Pump (ACHP) by Hallowell International. Yes, a heat pump. But not just any heat pump. This unit is designed specifically for cold climates, something conventional heat pumps are not. The ACHP operates on the same basic principle of using the air as a heat exchanger, using the difference between inside and outside air temperature to heat and cool your home. What makes the ACHP excel in climates like ours is on the inside. Taking industry standard components and assembling them in a unique manner then adding a sophisticated control strategy gives the ACHP efficiencies of 2.6 at 0 degrees (F) without the need for supplemental electric resistance heat.
What does this mean to you? You can heat and cool your home for a fraction of what you would pay using a conventional combustion heat source and traditional air conditioning solution. And you can do it without sacrificing comfort. Again, let the numbers do the talking. See how the ACHP performs right here in Sussex County. The following table is based on our climate data for a 2000 square foot home. The results are phenomenal.
You can download a copy of the Hallowell performance fact sheet for Sussex County with the table above and additional benefits spelled out. You'll need Acrobat Reader to open it.
Are you a candidate for the ACHP? The only requirement is that you have a centrally ducted heating / cooling system. If you do not have ductwork in your house already (and don't have plans to gut your home to add it), read about Electric Thermal Storage here.
The second alternative is the geothermal heat pump. The primary difference between this system and an air source heat pump is the heat exchange medium used. Rather than use the air temperature difference to heat and cool, the geothermal system takes advantage of the constant 50 degree temperature (F) of the earth to heat and cool. This operation is nicely described by the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium:
With geoexchange systems, there’s no need to create heat, hence no need for chemical combustion. Instead, the Earth’s natural heat is collected in winter through a series of pipes, called a loop, installed below the surface of the ground or submersed in a pond or lake. Fluid circulating in the loop carries this heat to the home. An indoor geoexchange system then uses electrically-driven compressors and heat exchangers in a vapor compression cycle--the same principle employed in a refrigerator--to concentrate the Earth’s energy and release it inside the home at a higher temperature. In typical systems, duct fans distribute the heat to various rooms.
In summer, the process is reversed in order to cool the home. Excess heat is drawn from the home, expelled to the loop, and absorbed by the Earth. Geoexchange systems provide cooling in the same way that a refrigerator keeps its contents cool--by drawing heat from the interior, not by injecting cold air.
The following two diagrams from the NYSERDA geothermal website, http://www.nyserda.org/programs/geothermal/default.asp, demonstrate how these systems use the earth to cool in the summer (graphic on the top) and heat in the winter (graphic on the bottom).
What are the implications of the geothermal system for you and are you a candidate? Geothermal systems typically produce the greatest operational savings for their owners with total energy costs often as low as $700 per year! They have quite low maintenance costs and are very environmentally friendly. Your best application is in houses with existing ductwork but there are baseboard options available. The drawback to a geothermal system comes from the very high installation costs. These are driven largely by the cost of the ground loops which are used to exchange the heat with the ground. And, if you are retrofitting the system to an existing home, the installation of the ground loops will wreck havoc on your landscaping.
Electricity is back as a fuel of choice for high comfort, high safety, low impact and low cost heating and cooling solutions. Let us show you how. Give us a call or email us at info@sussexrec.com.
