If you have an old heating system, it’s likely to be costing you a small fortune due to its lack of energy efficiency. You can spot old boilers a mile away for they will be covered in asbestos and there will probably be a pair of large doors in front of the boiler. New boilers are between 20-30% more efficient that their old counterparts and this will lead to you saving a small fortune. Add in a massive reduction in the amount of Carbon Dioxide emissions and you’re on a winner. Below are some further examples of new heating systems and how they are better than ones we have grown accustomed to.
We have being using fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal for decades and in the case of coal, hundreds of years. They have served the energy needs of the human race for generations but their environmental impact is significant. A number of homes still use natural gas furnaces in their living rooms. This is why the carbon dioxide emissions of natural gas is going to increase to 11 billion tons a year by 2030 according to detailed studies.
An alternative is to use wood pellets which are pieces of compressed wood made from sawdust and other wood which is deemed waste. As well as utilising all the wood gained from felled trees, the CO2 emissions of wood pellets are said to be significantly lower than those of natural gas. And with UK fuel companies intent on increasing their prices to record levels with price hikes above levels of inflation, wood pellets are far less expensive. Indeed, some UK families claim that they spend 50% less on wood pellets than they did on natural gas.
Coal is still commonly used for stoves and is a tangible cost. Basically, you know exactly how much you pay for a bag of coal. We also use oil in our heating systems and again, this is a luxury that is becoming more and more expensive. Oil prices have escalated in recent years and the energy companies increased their rates accordingly. Funnily enough, when the price of oil fell again, the prices did not fall with nearly the same speed. In effect, the consumer is still getting a bad deal and needs to consider alternatives before the energy price increases ensure we all freeze in the winter.
Geothermal heat systems are becoming popular despite their high initial cost to install. It works on the principle that anything which is located several feet underground will be warmer than anything at ground level. A geothermal heat pump uses underground heat to increase the efficiency of your heating system. The pumps use energy and move heat from underground into your home. This system could last up to 25 years.
We can no longer rely on old heating systems because they are not energy efficient and are also emitting huge levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Some of the new heating systems may seem expensive, but when you consider the fact that existing energy bills are set to double within the next ten years, new heating systems are worth thinking about.
