Every home should maintain thermal comfort without harming the environment. Today the heating market is saturated with ecological solutions for homes that do not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere. In addition, by choosing devices with high energy efficiency, you can save on heating bills. Are you planning to purchase a heater for your home? If so, read the following article, in which we will present eco-friendly solutions.
Which heating system is worth opting for today?
The choice of heating device should be tailored to the needs and preferences of the householder. However, care for the environment should also be taken into account. Ecological heating systems are an increasingly interesting solution for Poles, because they are, above all, economical. Manufacturers of the latest technologies are outdoing themselves in creating more and more new heating devices that use renewable energy. The market includes heat pumps, condensing boilers, solar collectors and many others. If you are wondering which of these solutions is the best choice for you, you can read a description of them below.
Heating systems in the traditional form - condensing boilers
The mechanism of operation of a condensing gas boiler - the flue gas recovery mechanism of a condensing boiler allows us to use the heat contained in the exhaust gases to heat water in the heat exchanger, which we can direct indoors, instead of radiating it through the chimney. This is much more efficient than a standard boiler, allowing us to reduce fuel consumption and, consequently, be environmentally friendly (due to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions).
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Currently, new gas and oil boilers use condensing technology during their operation. When fuel is burned, water vapor condenses in the flue and boiler exchanger. This translates into the possibility of recovering heat energy from the flue gas, thanks to which the efficiency of condensing boilers is determined to be more than 100%. In addition, this means that less fuel is consumed, compared to old-type boilers. Condensing boilers can not only heat the house, but also prepare domestic hot water. These devices can cooperate with photovoltaics, which not only increases the environmental performance of such a solution, but also significantly reduces bills.
It is worth considering such a heating system if you want to incur less installation costs and do not have much space for the device. However, it should be remembered that in a few years the use of oil boilers may be banned, because during their operation, carbon dioxide is emitted.
Heat pump - modern technology
The mechanism of operation of the air heat pump - the heat pump uses free energy from the environment, which leads to lower energy bills. In addition, heating with a heat pump is greener, generating fewer carbon dioxide emissions. In the long term, it can be more cost-effective and much friendlier to the environment than other heating methods.
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Heat pumps, regardless of where they get their energy from, are an environmentally friendly heating system. They draw energy from the environment - atmospheric air, ground or water - and transfer it to the building. They emit no exhaust fumes or other pollutants. These low-temperature heating devices do not take up much space, so they can be successfully installed even in a small room. They are used for both heating and producing hot water. They consist of an upper and lower heat source, where the upper is the central heating system and the lower is ground, air or water. A heat pump requires a small amount of electricity for its operation , as their heart is the compressor. Having a backyard photovoltaic system, electricity can be drawn just from them, which reduces the bills to practically zero.
Air-source heat pumps are the most popular, as they generate relatively low purchase and installation costs. They can also work in minus temperatures, but their efficiency may then be reduced. Therefore, air heat pumps are often used in cooperation with an additional heating device, such as a condensing boiler. When their efficiency significantly decreases, the condensing boiler is switched on.
Another solution is ground source heat pumps, recommended for houses with a large plot of land and those that are not yet built. This is due to the fact that these devices acquire solar energy accumulated in the ground. So, horizontal or vertical exchangers laid in the ground are needed for its collection. Horizontal collectors have a length of about 130 meters and are laid at a depth of about 150 cm. Vertical collectors, on the other hand, require two or three boreholes in the ground at a depth of 1.5 meters. Ground source heat pumps are the most stable and efficient because the temperature of the ground from which they draw energy is constant. So they do not need an additional heat source to support them.
The least popular solution are water heat pumps that use underground watercourses. This low popularity is due to the fact that the investor must have a source of water with sufficient capacity, which should last for about 30 years (such is the lifespan of water heat pumps) and the components of the circuit will be more prone to corrosion.
If you want to opt for underfloor heating, a heat pump is worth choosing. Remember, however, that the key to maintaining thermal comfort in the building and not having problems with, for example, freezing of the lower heat source, is the proper selection of the pump's capacity and its correct installation.
Solar collectors - a renewable energy source
Solar collectors (often confused with photovoltaic panels) collect solar energy by transferring it to the working medium, which flows through the absorber tubes. The resulting heat can be used to heat domestic water or directly in heating systems. Heating with a solar collector system contributes significantly to lower energy costs and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Note that this is more of a support system, such as a heat pump.
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Many people confuse solar panels with photovoltaic panels. However, these are two differently operating systems. Collectors take the sun's energy and convert it into thermal energy to heat hot water and help heat a building. This system is not able to be the only source of heat in our climate, but it is capable of supplying the house with 100% hot water for several months and can support the main heating system in the fall and winter. This solution is safe for the environment, but quite high in cost.
Which heating system to choose?
There is no definite answer to this question. It all depends on your preferences and budget. Choosing a condensing boiler, you will spend less on purchase and installation, but more on bills. Opting for a heat pump you will spend more, but you will feel the return on your investment in a few years or a dozen at most. Solar collectors are a tempting solution, but a booster. If you don't have a sufficient budget, keep in mind the Czyste Powietrze program , through which you can apply for subsidies for a heat pump, photovoltaics, solar collectors and condensing boilers.
Are you building a house? Check out our tips on heat pumps
Compiled by:MAŁGORZATA BUCHKOVSKA
