6 Ecological And Sustainable Options For Your Heating

Non-polluting hot water and heating systems help reduce climate change and allow savings in the medium and long term.

An average household in the United States consumes 9,922 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, which is equivalent to 0.85 tons of oil, according to the Institute for Diversification and Savings in the United States. In other words, it releases about two tons of CO ₂ (the main greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere each year.

That is its environmental cost, but we can reduce it: heating and domestic hot water (DHW) represent 66% of total energy consumption, and any action that reduces these emissions benefits our future and our economy.

To achieve an energy-efficient and clean house we must:

Clean And Sustainable Energy Sources

It is necessary to review which will be the most appropriate energy sources, within the clean and sustainable energy options that we have in our environment:

1. Solar Energy

Nothing gives as much energy as the sun and there are several possibilities to make the most of it:

Now is a good time because the Government has repealed the rates and impediments to the self-sufficiency of solar energy and the amortization period of the installation is reduced to about 8-10 years.

This energy is becoming popular thanks to the commercialization of plug-and-play equipment that hardly requires installation. With them, you generate your electricity and any electric heating system will stop being polluting.

A novelty in ecological houses is solar tiles. They can heat water for heating and DHW (thermal) or generate electricity (photovoltaic solar). Most are made of ceramic and incorporate photovoltaic cells. They cost between 30 and 40 a piece and installation, 7,000-8,000, depending on the surface. They reduce the monthly electric bill by 40-60%.

There are also SolTech Energy glass tiles, which produce heating in winter, cooling in summer, and DHW all year round. The last ones to arrive are the ones from Tesla: aesthetic, efficient, and expensive! For a 100 m ² house it costs around 52,000, including the battery.

The drawback is that 100% self-sufficiency with solar energy is only achieved with very extensive installations.

2. The Power Of The Wind

Small wind power is little known but it is powerful, renewable, and saves money and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The wind turbines offer from 400 W to 3.2 KW of power and their greatest productivity occurs with winds of 45 km/h, as they are paralyzed when reaching 100 km/h to avoid damage.

This type of energy compensates in areas with usual wind, but the regulations are very restrictive. It requires an investment of between 5,000 and 10,000.

3. The Heat Of The Earth

A geothermal system takes advantage of the fact that the subsoil remains at a stable temperature and saves more than 70% on heating, air conditioning, and hot water.

It is very suitable for houses with some land, although, with the drilling system at a great depth, it is also appropriate for a multi-dwelling building with little outdoor space.

“A house of about 200 m ² built requires between 20,000 and 30,000 depending on the climatic zone, the insulation of the house, and the conditions for drilling in the ground “, according to Margarita de Gregorio, coordinator of the English Geothermal Technological Platform.

4. Plant Energy

Biomass boilers use solid fuel of vegetable origin, such as pellets and forest residues.

CO ₂ emissions are considered neutral because the gas released by combustion forms part of the natural plant cycle and does not increase the greenhouse effect. At home, one of the most efficient stoves is the pellet stove, which outperforms the wood stove.

If you cannot install a self-consumption system, the alternative is to buy 100% renewable electricity, which can be cheaper. The system of Guarantees of Origin (GOs) certifies that the origin is clean.

Cooperatives producing and distributing renewable energy have already reached all of the United States. Som Energia is the pioneer and has 50,000 members. Another large cooperative is Zencer, with 32,000 members. At www.unionrenovables.the coop you will find them all.

Marketing companies make green energy available to everyone. In addition to the rate, it is necessary to find out about the business group behind it in case it is related to fossil energy.

5. Thermal Systems For The House

Once the appropriate energy sources have been determined, we must examine the heating systems and look for the most efficient options that best suit our needs. Some good options are:

As explained by Rafael Hernndez, from Healthy Architecture DinA5, ” the water heated by the sun does not reach high temperatures (between 40-50 C) and it is essential to choose an efficient heat distribution system at low temperatures in floors, walls or ceilings, such as makes radiant heating “, a network of pipes that transmit heat over the entire surface.

6. Ensure Good Insulation

Last but not least, ” it is essential to guarantee that the home has good insulation, without leaks in windows, doors, and ducts. As a result, poorly sealed enclosures can lose up to 30% of the heat”, according to Rafael Hernndez.