Exploring Eco-Friendly Options for Domestic Heating and Cooling

Energy Efficiency of Different Types of Heating Systems

There are many different ways to heat a home, with systems ranging in efficiency based on age and energy source. Some of the most common heating systems are…

1. Furnaces – Traditional forced-air heating systems range in efficiency based on the age of the equipment. Older systems typically range from 56% to 75% AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency), whereas newer systems range from 78% to 98.5% AFUE – the top of this range meaning that nearly all of the fuel used to power your furnace gets converted to usable heat. To illustrate the difference between an older and newer furnace in terms of efficiency, upgrading from 56% AFUE to 90% AFUE reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.5 tons each year when heated with natural gas, and even more than that if heated with oil.

2. Boilers – At Farr Mechanical we are fond of boiler systems, as they can be tied into a single system used for domestic heating and cooling, floor warming, pool heat, hot water and/or snowmelt! As technology advances, new boilers are becoming more and more efficient with the ability to condense and internally contain combustion, which results in reduced heat loss and increased safety. These new boilers have energy efficiency ratings over 95% AFUE, making them equally, if not more efficient, than forced air systems, especially when combined with other systems within the home.

3. Geothermal Heat Pumps – According to Energy Star this method is the most environmentally-friendly, as it extracts heat from the earth to provide domestic heating to a home. Since the temperature below-ground is warmer than the air, it requires less energy to heat than a forced-air system does. Geothermal systems are quite pricey, but they can significantly reduce your monthly heating bill and typically pay for themselves in under 10 years.

4. Air-Source Heat Pumps – Similar to geothermal heat pumps, air-source heat pumps use naturally-occurring elements to heat the home. However, where geothermal pumps use heat from the earth, air-source pumps use outdoor air as the heat source and heat sink. Since both of these pumps require only electricity (and do not require gas or oil), they are considered zero-emission systems and are very eco-friendly!

5. Solar Heating – Solar heating is a relatively new heat source which uses the sun’s energy collected via solar panels to power either a hydronic or air-source heating system. Solar heat requires no gas, oil or electricity and essentially reduces your heating bill to nothing. Due to the cost savings and environmentally-friendliness of these systems, we anticipate their growth in popularity over the next 10 years.

The Future of Heating?

In response to the impact of global warming and recent forest fires, Vancouver city council passed a bylaw in July of 2020 stating that all new construction low-rise residential buildings must install zero-emission space and water heating beginning January 1, 2022.

Although Ontario has not yet passed a similar bylaw, we believe zero-emission heating will become a requirement here eventually, too. We have already seen plans for electric-only vehicles by 2025 and Canada is always moving toward greener options and alternatives.

Other Factors that Influence Efficiency

When determining energy efficiency, it is important to look at the heat capacity of your home. Different heating systems work best in different spaces. Many factors come into play when determining a home’s heat capacity and heat loss, including: size of the home, year built, type of dwelling, construction material used, average winter temperature, other heat sources, windows, and so on.

Sometimes heat sources can be combined, as well. For example, in some circumstances you can connect your hot water tank and your in-floor heating, or your hydronic snowmelt system and your air-handler heating and cooling unit.

As you can see, choosing the proper heating system is a complex calculation. At Farr Mechanical, we take into account all of these factors when determining which combination of equipment will be the most comfortable and efficient for each individual home.

Call us today to get a free quote for your home or project!

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