888.630.9224According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, seasonal snow cover, covers up to 33 percent of the Earth’s total land surface, and about 98 percent of the total seasonal snow cover is located in the Northern Hemisphere. That means, for many of us, heat is a necessary component in our lives.
When we live in a world that relies so heavily on the use of heat, from the heat generated to run our cars, to the heat we use to run our homes, it is important to know the characteristics of heat, as well as the good and the bad.
First, heat is the energy an object has because of the movement of its atoms and molecules which are continuously jiggling and moving around, hitting each other and other objects. When we add energy to an object, its atoms and molecules move faster increasing its energy of motion or heat. Even objects which are very cold have some heat energy because their atoms are still moving.
Imagine you’re standing outside in the cold and you’ve forgotten your gloves, how do you warm your hands? By rubbing them together, you create a friction and as well as a jumbling of molecules that generate warmth. It may not last very long, but it will probably help you remember to bring your gloves next time.
The Good
There are many ways to heat your home. A furnace may be fueled with gas, electricity, oil, and even coal and wood. Technology today has provided advancements in geothermal energy, solar energy, and wind energy. As far as non-renewable energy sources, natural gas is one of the most affordable forms of energy available to the residential consumer, and it is 97% efficient.
Even though most homeowners are relatively limited in their options for heating fuels, in the Northeast, the choices are largely fuel oil or electricity, natural gas is becoming available to more homes. While, people in most of the rest of the country have natural gas and electricity as their main choices, those who live in rural areas may be limited to propane and wood as their choices for heating fuel.
The good thing about heat is that the current cleanest fuel for heating your home comes right from the sun, and produces no pollution at all. Although for most homes, solar energy only supplements the main heating and cooling source, the Department of Energy is building homes that aim to consume net zero energy during the course of a year.
The Bad
Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 43% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling. If you’re living in an older home or a place with an older HVAC, you may be spending more money than you should to heat your home. Inefficient HVAC’s or problems can be the number one way to see higher utility bills, especially during those extra cold winter months.
What’s more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global climate change. They also generate about 12% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide and 4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.
How to deal with The Bad
Even though heating a home can be costly, there are at least six different ways to cut your spending. Homeowners and renters can save by turning the water heater down a few degrees, keeping the fireplace damper closed, using fans and curtains, turning down the thermostat at night and when gone during the day, and by keeping vents clear from rugs and furniture.
As far as improving your heating system, either to be more economical or more environmental, it may take time and it may take money, but most improvements will be very beneficial in the long run.
