Many of us struggle with heating our homes in the chilly winters. Though many latest heating solutions are present, the majority of them come with a hefty price. Besides this, these heating solutions leave an adverse impact on the environment.
You must have heard about the traditional ways of heating homes through fossil fuels. Apart from being difficult and heavy on the pocket, they are highly criticized due to negative environmental impacts. Air pollution, acid rain, and the risk of oil spills are some of the main drawbacks.
Fortunately, we have some eco-friendly heating solutions today. I am going to share these with you so that you can adopt a green heating solution in this year’s winter. Here they are:
1- Pellet Stoves
Though pellet stoves sound similar to wood stoves, they are created through renewable resources. The sawdust from the wood mills, waste products, and switchgrass are its main material.
These materials are otherwise wasted and thrown away. Thankfully, pellet stoves make the most of such material and provide us a green and cost-effective heating solution. If you search for a pellet stove, you will see that you can easily get one for $2500 or even below. Besides this, these stoves are better than wood that is extremely bad for the environment.
One key reason is the fewer emissions. The amount of air pollution is way too less in pellet stoves as compared to the traditional wood stoves. Furthermore, you should have an idea about its coverage. On average, a single pellet stove can easily cover 1,500 square feet. However, if your covered area is more, you may need to buy two.
Purchasing two pellet stoves may look expensive, but it is still cheap than firewood. The total cost of pellets for one season is around $600, which is low than firewoods. Apart from it, these stoves take less room. Storing the pallets in your garage is easier in comparison to stacking up the woods and carrying them to the stove.
2- Solar Heating
Undoubtedly, solar heating is the greenest heating solution. All you need is to get the solar panels installed, and then you can always heat your home for free. However, an initial investment is mandatory.
Furthermore, you need to decide the type of heating system in a solar heating system plan. It has an air and a liquid heating system. But, it depends on the heating system already installed in your house. For instance, if you have a radiant heating system, you should go for the liquid solar heating system. Likewise, if there is a forced heating system, you should opt for the solar air system.
This consideration is very important for reducing the installment cost. It determines what your house already has. Thus, the remaining half is installed through the solar system.
Unfortunately, there is a misconception regarding the cost of a solar heating system. People consider it expensive, but many of us do not know that it costs $30 – $80 per square foot. Besides this, one solar collector costs $3500, and you will need one for every 400 square feet. But, this is a one-time investment. Once you invest in this heating system, you will never need to pay for heating your home.
3- Geothermal Heating
If we compare this system with the above-mentioned systems, we can easily see that it is the most environmentally friendly solution. Just like solar heating, it requires an initial investment in installing the geothermal system.
This system is also referred to as the earth heating system as it uses the earth’s constant temperature to heat the home. The heating system is installed below the surface of the earth. Thus, it uses less energy to heat the home at the level of your thermostat setting.
Though the system is ideal for the environment, it is a bit pricy. But, once you make an initial investment, you will notice a drastic decrease in your monthly bills. Additionally, they play a great role in increasing the resale value of your house.
4- Masonry Heater
Another great heating option is the masonry heater. It is also compact, just like the pellet stove, and looks similar to a fireplace. But, there is a slight difference if we compare Mansory heaters with fireplace and pellet stove.
These heaters work by trapping the brick heat of the smoke chambers. Consequently, they provide heat for up to 24 hours. Though these heaters also burn wood, their working system is slow as compared to other traditional heating methods. Therefore, they produce less pollution and produce a great amount of heat.
As far as the cost is concerned, you can easily purchase a Mansory heater from $2000- $5000. The more advanced versions of these heaters also provide customization options and can be adjusted as per your home design. Though you might find the latest Mansory heaters a bit pricy, they let you save a lot of bucks in the long run.
Note: No matter which heating system you are using, obtaining a gas certificate is essential. The gas safety certificate cost is justifiable as it protects you and your family from dangerous incidents. A certified engineer checks your appliances and provides a certificate that all your appliances are in proper working condition. This reduces the risk of gas leakage and sudden pipe bursting incidents.
Wrapping It Up
In short, adopting a greener way to heat your home is the best option to save your earth. Some latest methods include solar heating systems, geothermal heating, pellet stoves, and masonry heaters. Apart from being eco-friendly, these systems are cost-efficient. Though some of them require an initial investment, they save a lot of long-term costs.
If you are looking for a lifetime free system, a solar heating system is an ideal option for you. Similarly, analyze the current heating system of your house, decide a specific budget, and then decide which heating system suits you the best.
Have you tried any of these heating systems? What are the results, and how is your experience? Do share your reviews with us!
