switching from electric to.......?

Darin Cook_2

How green you would like your home to be is dictated by how much green you have in you wallet. The biggest bang for your heating and domestic hot water dollars right now is still to use use the highest efficiency fossil fuel burning appliance. You need to give out more info on the home. Square footage, existing insulation package, etc. Consider getting an energy audit done on your home to learn some valuable information on your homes exiting performance.

Darin

teamearth

help with conversion

Changing the heating operations in the new house from electric. It is a single floor ranch about 25 years old. I am looking for advice on what the new system should be. Ideally I would like to make it as "green" as possible but do not want be cold during the cold NE winters. I guess gas is what I am leaning towards at the moment. 1. Anyone have greener sugestions that are not extreme in price. 2. Can someone give me advice on what would be better in terms of oil,natural gas, or propane. 3. Forced hot air vs. hot water. Thanks for your input I look forward to what you have to say.

-C

jwade55_3

Here is a good article to read.

And you'll find the guy that did it here on the Wall.

http://www.wattsradiant.com/lit/CS_HO_hammer.html

J

J.C.A._3

Need more info.....

Biggest point being the "price point" you're willing to accept to provide a clean and green system.

My gut tells me that you'll be way more comfortable with hot water heat, and can save space and waste by doing A/C in only the areas that need it, via a split system.Using a modulating/condensing boiler will also go a long way to making the best use of gas, if you so choose. With oil, your cost will initially be a bit higher , and you'll have to dedicate space for a storage tank but dollar for dollar, it is still the price champion in most locals. (check the prices in your particular area, also check to see if oil service is available and done properly)

My advice is to use high mass radiant to make things the most comfortable and least expensive to run, but with quite a higher install price. If that isn't in the cards, panel radiators are the next best solution. Less wasted room space and 2 forms of heat to meet the demand.

1st and FOREMOST, is to get a real heatloss calculation and don't let anyone talk you into something you won't or don't need as far as bigger is better....IT ISN'T!!! Have the system designed appropriately for whichever medium you decide to go with. (heating with lower temperature water leads to significant savings)

Hope this helped. Chris

Maine Ken

What part of NE???

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chapchap70_2

Cost factor

You might want to factor in power venting, this way you do not have to have a chimney installed. Look for a boiler company that is behind the practice as some offer it but seem leery of the practice; especially if you choose oil as your fuel.

Wayco Wayne_2

Why put a price restriction on us?

We're artists and we need funding to express out creative solutions to comfort design. Arrg! Oh. Sorry. I've been doing a lot of dual fuel with gas. This uses a heat pump in the mild temps and a switches to a fossil fuel in the colder temps. The modern air to air heat pump has grown so much in efficiency while at the same time the price of Fossil fuels have risen, that it is more cost effective to run the heat pump when you can. Think of it a Hybrid car. Use electricity when it makes sense and gas when you have to. If you can afford a ground source Heat pump even better. (take two solar panels and call me in the morning.) WW

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teamearth

The NE location is the MA boarder on VT, and NH boarders if that helps. And I will get back on square footage and insulation. Thanks for all your help thus far. Great things for me to investigate

-C