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Heating your Home and NOT the Environment |
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Whether you are planning a new home or redesigning an existing residence the source of the energy to be used for heating is an important consideration. For those constructing a new building the best option is to incorporate new low-energy (passive) building techniques which can virtually eliminate the need for heating. However, for most people with existing homes steps can still be taken to achieve more efficient use of energy. It is generally more efficient to heat only those rooms which we use frequently. However, if you do need to heat the majority of your home ducted or central heating can offer a more environmentally friendly solution as it generally uses less resources than multiple open fires or single appliances. Typical efficiencies for central heating are: 85-97% for gas fired heating; 80-89% for oil-fired, and 45-60% for coal-fired heating. However, if you are in a part of the world where electricity generation is primarily undertaken using fossil fuels it is worth remembering that up to two thirds of the resulting energy can be lost at the power station and in the transmission process. More efficient options may be available from local green energy providers who generate electricity using wind or solar technologies.
Alternatively you may wish to consider solar panels for generating your own electricity, the excess of which can often be on sold to the grid, or hot water central heating systems which use water heated in or close to the building using high efficiency condensing boilers, biofuels, or district heating. Wet underfloor heating also offers the option of relatively easy conversion in the future to use new developing technologies such as heat pumps and solar combi-systems. See Green-Energy-Efficient-Homes.com for more information on options for energy efficient home heating.
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