Choose the Most Energy-Efficient Heating Solution for the Upcoming Winter

There is no doubt that your home should be comfortable, relaxed, and a place where you will feel safe. This level of serenity and comfort can be affected by room temperature. Which temperature is considered as comfortable is a really debatable topic. The World Health Organisation considers 18°C to be the standard comfortable room temperature for healthy adults, who are appropriately dressed. This comfort zone varies slightly depending on body, health, and more.

That being said, home heating is an important aspect to consider during the winter months, even in areas that have mild temperatures. An average household energy budget can easily be consumed by heating expenses. That’s why energy efficiency is a major goal for those who want to reduce home comfort costs. No worries, there are plenty of energy-efficient home heating solutions accessible for every budget to help you stay warm and comfortable this winter.
Here’s your guide to the most energy-efficient home heating solutions.

Why High-Efficiency?

The simplest reason to settle on a high-efficiency heating solution is that it’ll cost much less for it to work than a lower-efficiency model. High-efficiency systems will surly cut ongoing expenses by half or more. If you choose the most efficient heating system solutions, you’ll rip bills by up to 70 per cent. Even though they are usually more expensive in the beginning, a more efficient system, in the end, can add up to major savings.

Keep in mind that whatever type of heating system you decide to buy, it must be properly sized to produce the level of heating you need. In this case, the system’s size is its functional capacity to generate heat. Have your HVAC professional conduct a heating load calculation on your home to work out what proportion heating is required. With this information, you can find a system that works best for you.

A warm introduction to radiators

As energy bills rise, finding efficient and effective ways of heating your space is becoming increasingly valuable. Energy efficient radiators are designed to provide maximum amounts of heat from the smallest amount of energy. The amount of warmth they release will depend upon the quantity of energy put into them.

The huge variety of radiators out there can be totally overwhelming to anybody whether they’re a seasoned pro or a first-time buyer. Every year, new designs join the market, and they are increasingly inventive in style, colour, and form. Although it is important not to lose sight of their main purpose – to heat up your home.

Solar heating systems

This is the cheapest and most earth-friendly way to heat your home since you’re using the sun’s free energy. However, one of the main issues with solar heating systems is that they need sunshine to work. If you live in a region where winter is cold and regularly cloudy, this type of system may not be a reliable source.

Solar hot air heating

Solar hot air heating systems are newer on the market and one of the easiest systems to install. They’re also the most cost-effective way of heating a home. It is best for heating a home in a temperate climate or when used as a secondary heat source because the system relies on steady sunshine. The solar collectors should be mounted on the sunniest, south-facing walls of the home. The sun will then heat them up and when the collector reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit, a small fan will turn on to pull cool air from the room into the collector, heat it and pump it back in the room.

Solar thermal heating systems

If you already have an existing baseboard hot water system installed, a solar thermal system may be a great way to upgrade it to be more efficient. The collectors should be mounted on the roof of a house and connected to an indoor water storage tank. Pumps will circulate the water from the tank to the solar collectors, heat it and pump it back to the tank to distribute the hot water to warm the house.

Furnaces

A residential furnace is a very efficient heating system. Furnaces are probably the foremost common sort of heating solution in use today. Older furnaces aren’t very efficient, but newer models contain new technologies and features which will boost efficiency to extremely high levels.
The three most common types are gas furnaces who work on a plentiful natural resource, oil furnaces that burn fuel oil to produce heat, and electric furnaces which warm the space by using electricity to power heating coils that generate heat.

Heat pumps

For homeowners seeking the foremost efficient heating solution available, heat pumps are the simplest candidate. Their work principle is based on capturing heat and moving it from place to place, removing it from your home to provide cooling in the summer and bringing in heat from the outdoors for warming in the winter. Heat pumps are often astonishingly efficient and are also very easy on the environment. Their high efficiency means they provide effective heating and, at the same time, use less electricity.

Reverse-cycle air conditioners

If you’ve got an area that must be heated often, an efficient option could be a reverse-cycle air conditioning. These devices work by extracting heat from the outside air and bringing it into your house. They can use as little as one-fifth of the energy of a typical electric fire. Some reverse-cycle air conditioners are more efficient than others, so do your research to confirm whether they match energy ratings.

Fireplaces and wood stoves

Then there’s the great old firewood, which is an alternative choice for heating your home. There’s also something homey and comforting about having a fireplace burning in a home. The downside? You’re going to have to buy lots of wood.

Stove technology has come a long way. While open fires have an energy efficiency of 10-15 per cent, modern wood combustion heaters are often 65-75 per cent efficient.

Long Story Short

Choosing to heat your home efficiently in a well-planned and environmentally friendly way will pay off in comfort, property value, and long-term savings. Make sure you do your research and weigh the pros and cons to be absolutely positive that your investment will pay off over time.