Alternative Heating and Cooling Systems

If you are looking to replace or buy a new heating and cooling system but want something that may be more efficient or more environmentally friendly than a traditional furnace system, you have a few options to choose from. Keep in mind that each of these alternative heating and cooling systems can operate efficiently but it depends on your home’s location, size, and layout. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what your options are, but remember to talk with one of our professionals to get more personalized information about what kind of system would create the most energy savings for you.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Geothermal heating and cooling uses heat pumps to harness the Earth’s natural heat supply. This type of heating system offers high energy savings because the heat is already there. It only needs to be redirected into your home. The cooling process is similar, only the heat is directed out of your home and into the ground. This kind of heating and cooling system’s level of efficiency fluctuates based on the location of your home. After all, some parts of our planet are warmer than others, and in certain areas, this type of heating and cooling system competes very well with more traditional furnace systems. If you live in a region that often becomes quite cold, you may need to have another type of heating system to pick up the slack, but since a geothermal system features such low fuel costs, it may still pay for itself over time. Speak with our professionals about whether or not this kind of system is a good fit for your home.

Solar Heating and Cooling

While solar heating and cooling systems offer tremendous energy savings and extremely low fuel costs, they operate best in locations and times when they can get the most out of the sun’s energy. During the summer months when the sun is out and the solar panels can soak up a lot of sunlight, a solar cooling system will be able to run quite efficiently, but in colder and rainier months, when the sun is further away and often covered by clouds, a solar heating system may not be able to keep up with the heating needs of your home. Ultimately, you will need to consider if your home is a viable candidate for a solar heating and cooling system based on its location and whether or not it will be able to provide you with the required home comfort during the various seasons.

Infrared Heating

Infrared heaters produce radiant heat; so, unlike a heating system that circulates warm air through your home, infrared heaters affect the specific areas they are in. This type of heater runs on electricity, but it lowers all other fuel costs to zero unless you have a supplementary heating system, which may be necessary for larger living spaces. If you live in a smaller home or only need certain areas heated, infrared heaters can be very energy efficient, as they produce heat quickly and can be placed wherever they are most needed. Whether or not they are for you depends on your personal living situation, which you can discuss with one of our professionals to choose the best heating and cooling options for you.