Things to Consider for Alternative Heating

Insulate First

• Ensure your building is well-insulated before installing alternative heating. Most energy used in a structure is lost to the exterior or wasted, so it is important that all exterior wall surfaces, roofs, slabs, and mechanical systems are insulated. This can be time consuming, but it is relatively low in cost, with huge gains in building performance. New structures require adequate insulation, but the structure's architects may also prefer to use the ground to insulate the structure. Areas of a structure at or below the ground surface have a consistent temperature throughout the year, relying on the ground's stable temperature.

Understand Your Context

• There are many sources of heat for buildings; research appropriate alternatives to your context. Every building exists in special conditions, as well as a particular climate. Effectively heating your structure with alternative sources requires you to understand the exterior environment and choose a location-appropriate form of alternative energy. For example; buildings in temperate and tropical zones can provide much more heat from the sun throughout the year. Also, structures near forests may prefer to use wood stoves for heating -- this is a traditional source of heating, and is extremely efficient.

Understand Alternative Heating Technologies

• Solar energy is one of the most efficient forms of heating a space, however the medium to provide the heat can change from application to application. For example; solar hot water heaters can be placed on the roof or southern exterior walls, and water can be circulated through the interior to heat up the space. Another option is using materials, such as concrete or masonry, to collect the heat from the sun and distribute it throughout the house by conducting, radiating, or blowing the heat through the interior.

  Heat pumps transfer heat from one side of a surface to the other. Buildings in the temperate regions of the world can use air-source heat pumps to gather heat from the exterior and pull it to the interior. Furthermore, the process can be reversed in the summer to provide a cooler interior. Heat pumps also can use the temperature of the ground to offset interior air temperatures by circulating air, water, or other liquid through a closed underground loop. Most structures are located on land that has a constant ground temperature a few feet below the surface, so this is a very effective alternative heating method.

Have Alternative Methods to Your Alternative Heating

• Alternative sources can be used in many ways, and you must choose one appropriate to your house and its architecture. The most effective heating solutions use a mixture of technologies to provide a consistently heated interior. Structures that provide only one heating method may suffer when the heating source's efficiency is reduced or the heating load is too great, such as during a winter storm. Have an alternative heating source to provide peace of mind when facing a particularly cold period of the year.