|
Hybrid Home Heating
Why buy just an Air Conditioner for your home? Hybrid home heating systems offer homeowners a new, more efficient way
to heat & Cool their homes. Even better, hybrid heating systems are more comfortable than conventional systems. Let
me explain how hybrid heating systems work and why you should consider one.
Once you understand, I'll bet you'll want one for your family.
In fact, I know you'll want one!
From Hybrid Cars to Hybrid Heating:
Hybrid heating systems are like the hybrid cars everyone wants.
Hybrid vehicles use 2 energy sources, usally gasoline and electricity. And while everyone acts like the concept of hybrid
heating is new, it isn't.
The electric research Institute started pushing hybrid heating (known as duel fuel) in the 1980's.
What is "New" is a broad acceptance of the concept. Until recently, few people were interested in paying a little more
up front for a hybrid vehicle. After all, gas was abundant and cheap, but now record gas prices have consumers snapping up
hybrid vehicles off dealer lots faster than they can be built.
Even though hybrid heating has not recieved the same press as hybrid vehicles, the use of duel fuel heating is on the
increase.
Like hybrid vehicles, hybrid heating systems use a combination of fossil fuels and electricity.
People buy hybid cars because they are economical to operate and are better for the environment. Homeowners opt for hybrid
heating systems for the same reasons. Plus, hybrid heating systems are significantly more comfortable than conventional heating
systems.
Hybrid Heating Systems are more Comfortable:
Hybrid heating systems use electric heat pumps during cool weather and furnaces during extreme temperatures. As a heating
contractor, I hear plenty about the comfort of each type of heating system.
When it's cooler, people like heat pumps more than furnaces. Heat pumps deliver a consistent ''mellow" heat that most
people prefer.
Furnaces by contrast, deliver intermittent blasts of hot air during mild weather.
Of course, when it gets really cold people prefer furnaces. They enjoy the toasty feeling of the higher temperature air
a furnace provides. Because heat pumps deliver lower temperature air than furnaces, heat pumps can feel drafty during extremely
cold weather. If it gets cold enough, heat pumps can't keep up with the heating demand. They need a boost from the expensive
supplemental resistance heat.
Hybrid heating systems use each type of heating technology where it's most comfortable. When it's chilly, the system
operates off electricity and delivers the heat pump's steady, mellow heat. When it's really cold, the hybrid system automatically
switches to the gas or oil furnace for it's warmer, toasty air.
Hybrid systems offer the ultimate in comfort. Even better, hybrid systems cost less to operate.
Hybrid Systems use free Heat:
It can feel really cold outdoors yet there is still heat in the air. This heat, you can collect, and transfer it to the
inside. That's exactly what an electric heat pump does. It literally pumps free heat from outdoors into your home.
Example; at 17 degrees outside a heat pump can still be 270% efficient compared to a high efficiency furnace at 92%.
Although the Heat pump collects free heat, you do have to pay for the mechanical energy needed to pump the heat inside.
I'ts a relatively small price. During moderate weather, electric heat pumps are more economical to operate than furnaces.
As the temperature drops, a point is reached where the heat pump can no longer keep up with the heating demands
economicaly.
At this "Balance/Break Even Point'' it becomes more economical to use the furnace for heating.
We eliminate the concern over when the furnace should come on. We set the system to switch from heat pump to furnace
at a "comfort" balance point, which is a couple degrees above the economic balance point.
Your actual savings vary based on the efficiencies of the heating components selected, this months utility rates (they
do seem to go up each month), how you use your system and of course, the weather. A hybrid heating system should save you
between 30-50%. With todays skyrocketing energy prices, a 30% savings is nothing to sneeze at.
Yet when people ask me why they should consider a hybrid heating system, I tell them that the energy saving along with
the environmental benefits are simply bonuses. The reason I recommend hybrid systems is the comfort it provides in the home.
Spend one winter with a hybrid heating system and you will never return to conventional heating again!
That A/C unit outside your home now does so much more than Cool your home....a comfortable heat at a tremendous savings.
And the environmentaly responsible thing to do!
|
 |
|
