Living Green in Seattle

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Energy-Efficient Heating Systems You Should Know About.

Energy-efficiency is important these days.  Some heating systems are better than others.   If you are looking for a"greener"system, here are some you should know about:

Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient systems for heating and cooling because they use the earth's ability to store heat in the ground. A geothermal heat pump uses that available heat in the winter and puts heat back into the ground in the summer.

Hydronic (liquid) radiant floor heating systems are also quite energy-efficient for colder climates.  Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the floor.  Radiant heating creates more comfort and allows even heating throughout the house.  The operation is essentially silent in comparison to forced air heating since there is no noise from the air-flow or ducts.  Radiant heating also allows for better indoor air quality due to less dust particles moving throughout the home as with forced air heating.

Also, installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator recovers the heat energy in the exhaust air, and transfers it to fresh air as it enters the building, this in turn, improves climate control, while also saving energy by reducing the heating (or cooling) requirements.

When selecting heating and cooling equipment make sure to select Energy Star® products.

 

 

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