| There are three exciting new technologies that | | | | steam back into liquid. During this process, energy |
| can help you heat your home this winter with | | | | is produced and recovered. This energy, in turn, is |
| less, or perhaps even no oil or gas. Each of these | | | | useful in powering the condensing boiler, so less |
| systems will pay for itself in just a small period of | | | | gas or oil has to be burned overall. In addition, |
| time, and after that you keep all the savings you | | | | given that the recovered water is already heated, |
| reap on lower oil and gas bills. Each of these three | | | | it can be recycled back into use within the boiler |
| products, condensing boilers, micro chp systems, | | | | right away. Condensing boilers usually pay for |
| and ground source heat pumps are already in | | | | themselves in two to three years. |
| widespread use around the globe, and poised to | | | | Geothermal heat pumps (often called ground |
| explode into the market in the US. | | | | source heat pumps) can both heat and cool your |
| Micro Combined Heat & Power (CHP) is the | | | | home, and the thing that sets these systems |
| cornerstone technology in what is called | | | | apart from both of the above is that they use |
| "cogeneration". Cogeneration is the process by | | | | zero gas or oil. In fact, the heat and cooling is |
| which electricity and heat are generated at the | | | | generated by something that you don't have to |
| same time, and micro chp achieves this in a way | | | | pay for and isn't going anywhere - the earth itself. |
| that maximizes the effectiveness of both | | | | Just under the ground, the earth's temperature is |
| processes. This, in turn, allows you to use less gas | | | | steady and warm. A ground source heat pump |
| or oil. As an example, some micro-chp systems | | | | pulls the earth's heat into the house in the winter, |
| are so efficient that they convert 70-80% of the | | | | while in the summer the system reverses itself |
| energy produced from the gas or oil into heat, | | | | and returns heat from the house into the ground. |
| and 15-25% into electricity. This leaves very little | | | | While ground source heat pumps are more |
| energy to be lost, 5-20% in most cases. | | | | expensive to install than regular heating and colling |
| Conventional systems, on the other hand might | | | | systems, they are often warranteed for 40-50 |
| also be able to convert 80% of the energy into | | | | years, and pay for themselves in a small fraction |
| heat, but electricity generation is a completely | | | | of that. |
| separate system. Thus, with micro chp, the | | | | Condensing boilers, micro CHP, and ground source |
| electricity generated in the home is basically free! | | | | heat pumps are technologies that are already |
| The savings on electric bills can cover the initial | | | | perfected and on the consumer market. |
| investment in the installation of a micro CHP unit in | | | | Therefore, the price is already reasonable and the |
| just a few years. | | | | technology reliable. These are not brand new |
| A condensing boiler captures energy normally | | | | "green" technologies - they are just relatively (and |
| discharged and lost through the exhaust chimney | | | | surprisingly) unknown products. Look into one of |
| during the process where the water is heated. Put | | | | the three products today to lower your heating |
| simply, the captured steam is changed back to | | | | bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and increase |
| hot water using a "heat exchanger" that cools the | | | | the resale value and desireability of your home. |