Choices for Heating Your Home

Forced-Air Furnace

• Forced air is probably the most common type of furnace heating in the typical American home. This type of unit uses natural gas or another source of energy to heat air that it then circulates through the house. Duct work throughout the house provides channels for the air to circulate. Warm air is put into rooms and then the furnace pulls in cool air to start the cycle again. The air is typically pushed through the house through the use of a fan system.

Boilers

• Boilers are a very common method of heating found in older homes. A boiler works by heating water instead of air. Then, either the steam created from the water or the water itself is circulated throughout the home in order to heat the air. Radiators can be used with water or steam boilers to transfer heat to individual rooms. Water boilers provide more options, as you can opt for a radiant floor heating system instead of relying on bulky radiators.

Heat Pumps

• Heat pumps draw heat from available sources and then move that heat into your home. A traditional heat pump sucks heat out of the air outside your home. This is not the most efficient heating method when outside temperatures drop in the winter. Geothermal heat pumps draw heat from the earth beneath your home, where temperatures are higher. Geothermal systems are quite efficient.

Alternative Energy Sources

• It's important to consider not just the method of heating the home, but also the source of energy used to power the chosen heating system. For instance, some heating systems are electric, which can be incredibly expensive. On the other hand, you can opt to power your heating system by using renewable energy such as solar or wind energy. You need to install an energy generation source of some kind, such as solar panels, and combine it with a compatible furnace. The high up-front cost is partially offset by long-term energy savings and by available grants and loan programs available for people pursuing green building and energy initiatives.