Today's photovoltaic solar panels generate much more electricity per cubic foot, and geothermal or ground-source energy is now a viable alternative to conventional home heating and cooling systems.
Renewable energy sources: solar technologies
Special panels, called photovoltaic (PV) panels, are used to capture light from the sun, and a converter takes that energy and generates usable electricity. The advantages of solar power are proven: It is a clean source of power that produces no harmful by-products, and once you recover your investment in solar renewable energy source equipment through utility savings, the electricity supplied to solar-based appliances and home heating and cooling equipment is essentially free. In addition, you may qualify for government tax credits and rebates by switching to solar power.
In the world of HVAC equipment, solar water heaters are the most commonly used product. These water heaters use PV panels to generate the energy needed to heat hot water, reducing your reliance on the power grid and, potentially, greatly lowering the costs of home water heating.
Geothermal heating and cooling: alternative source
One of the most intriguing renewable energy sources is geothermal power. A geothermal home heating and cooling system draws on the latent heat energy below the surface of the earth, which is abundant and inexhaustible, using a network of loops, pumps and ducts to heat or cool your home.
During the winter heating season, warm air is pumped from the subsurface source to raise the indoor temperature of your home. In the summer, the system works in reverse, drawing the heat out of your home and releasing it underground. Geothermal systems use 25 to 50 percent less electricity than conventional central HVAC systems, allowing you to recoup your investment in a relatively short period of time. And because they rely on relatively few working parts, they also have longer average life spans; it is not uncommon to for geothermal system warranties to last 50 years.
If you'd like to learn more about home comfort technologies that use renewable energy sources, please contact us at Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about renewable energy sources and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Medway MA. . Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!