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 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.
The second system is electric thermal storage (ETS) paired with a high efficiency heat pump. If you have a forced air heating system to replace, consider using ETS for heat and a heat pump for air conditioning and preheating in the winter. This combination will boost the heating efficiency of the ETS by 20 - 30% and still take advantage of the off peak rates that make ETS cost effective in the first place.
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
