Fired Up
Keep your energy dollars from floating up the chimney
BY JAMES DULLEY
An open masonry fireplace can cool your house and result in higher overall heating costs. What should you look for in an efficient wood-burning fireplace?
The fireplace opening attracts heated indoor air, then releases the warm air through the chimney. The resulting vacuum draws cold outdoor air into your house through windows, doors and gaps. You may feel comfortable in front of the fireplace, but your heat pump or furnace runs like crazy trying to keep the rest of the house warm.
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By James Dulley
How efficient is a geothermal heat pump and how does it work?
Geothermal heat pumps are extremely energy efficient and generally yield the lowest utility bills of any residential heating and cooling systems available. With the high cost of energy today — and the available energy tax credit — installing a geothermal heat pump could make economic sense for some families.
A geothermal heat pump operates similarly to a standard heat pump except it exchanges heat with the ground instead of the outdoor air, essentially using renewable energy from the sun’s rays that are stored as heat in the ground. The temperature of the outdoor air can vary 40 degrees or more from day to night and more than 100 degrees from the coldest winter night to the hottest summer day. In contrast, the temperature several feet below the ground surface varies relatively little.
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Energy-Efficient Window Awnings |
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Installing window awnings can significantly reduce the cooling energy usage in your home. There are also other benefits such as reduced fading of furniture, drapes and carpeting, as well as protection of primary windows from the sun and severe weather. The same UV rays that fade your furniture also slowly degrade window frame materials over time. |
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