| Even if you owned a million dollar townhouse in | | | | water bill now costs him "chump change". |
| Boston's Back Bay, there just isn't enough room | | | | Let's not forget the lowly space heater. For many |
| on a 25' x 100' lot for a townhouse, small deck, a | | | | homeowners who spend most of their time in |
| couple of parking spaces AND a closed loop | | | | only one room of an eight room house, an |
| geothermal heating system. | | | | inexpensive space heater is often the first choice |
| However, a roof top solar system for hot water | | | | to supplement their conventional heating system. |
| would be doable if you could get the idea past the | | | | |
| Historical Preservation groups. | | | | Suburban Alternative Heating |
| If you live in high humidity Alabama, the | | | | Suburban lot sizes can run anywhere from |
| environmentally friendly swamp cooler will never | | | | ¼ of an acre to three acres. But even a |
| be a viable substitute for more expensive air | | | | quarter acre lot opens up the possibility of a |
| conditioning. | | | | vertical closed loop geothermal system. |
| Only when you narrow down the choices for | | | | A three acre lot will afford you the space to |
| alternative heating based on where you live, can | | | | install a slightly less expensive horizontal closed |
| you begin to focus your time and energy on the | | | | loop geothermal system, a wind turbine or even |
| most relevant, cost effective heating solution. | | | | an outdoor wood, pellet or corn furnace. |
| | | | At approximately $5000, the outdoor furnace is |
| Urban Alternative Heating | | | | your least expensive option. A quality 1,800 watt |
| Geothermal, outdoor furnaces and most wind | | | | wind turbine and tower can be purchased for |
| power are not suitable for urban or small-lot | | | | $7,000. If geothermal is your system of choice, a |
| suburban homes. Except for very small wind | | | | new, 3,000 sq. ft. home can be heated and cooled |
| turbines (i.e., with rotors one meter or less in | | | | for around $20,000. |
| diameter) on very small towers, a property size | | | | If you partner with a program such as Energy |
| of one acre or more is desirable. | | | | Crafted Home in Connecticut, it's possible to |
| Wood burning stoves have been used in urban | | | | receive a rebate of $713 per ton of geothermal |
| areas for as long as I can remember. I bought | | | | heating/cooling capacity. For the 3,000 sq. ft. |
| my first air tight stove in 1976. Corn and wood | | | | home just mentioned, it would mean a rebate |
| pellet stoves are quickly gaining acceptance as | | | | totaling $2,971. |
| new installations or replacements for existing | | | | Although wind, geothermal and outdoor furnace |
| wood stoves. | | | | systems are more expensive than the typical |
| One Connecticut pellet stove dealer I spoke with | | | | $2000 wood pellet stove, they are very efficient |
| said he sold so many wood pellet and corn stoves | | | | and pay for themselves in only a few years. |
| last winter he was forced to temporarily close | | | | The increasingly popular manufactured home is a |
| one of his two stores for lack of product. | | | | growing segment of the suburban real estate |
| An adaptation of the wood or pellet stove is the | | | | market, and fire safety codes are very specific |
| fully vented fireplace insert. They are comparably | | | | as to what you can use to heat your home. |
| priced to freestanding stoves and offer a simple | | | | Check with your local building department to find |
| way to turn an otherwise inefficient fireplace into | | | | out exactly which alternative heating appliances |
| a source of heat for multiple rooms. | | | | are permitted before you start shopping for the |
| Unvented gas log fireplaces or propane space | | | | best deal. |
| heaters are less expensive to purchase and install | | | | |
| but are controversial with respect to health risks | | | | Rural Alternative Heating |
| and are prohibited in some localities. Make sure the | | | | Just as the sky and landscape open up in rural |
| unit you purchase has an ODS (Oxygen Depletion | | | | America, so do opportunities for alternative |
| Sensor). This safety device turns off the heater | | | | heating. |
| when the oxygen in the room drops below 18%. | | | | With so much room to work with you could |
| (Normal is around 21%) | | | | design a CHP (Combined Heat and Power Unit). |
| Decorative gel fireplaces are nice to look at, but | | | | An obvious choice for homeowners in the Corn |
| aren't considered legitimate heating devices. | | | | Belt would be an outdoor corn furnace for heat |
| Electric and hydronic (hot water) radiant heat are | | | | and hot water. Couple this with a low maintenance |
| extremely versatile and can be installed anywhere. | | | | wind turbine for electricity and it's possible to |
| The hydronic application of radiant heat can be | | | | achieve a 70%+ reduction in energy costs when |
| fueled by anything from corn to gas and can be | | | | compared to fuel oil. |
| adapted to heat driveways, hot tubs and of | | | | If your property includes a shallow pond or lake, a |
| course, your home. | | | | closed loop geothermal system will heat and cool |
| Solar for hot water is on the rise in urban areas. | | | | your home for the cost of electricity to operate |
| A neighbor of mine in the Port Norfolk section of | | | | a heat pump. |
| Boston recently installed a solar array on the roof | | | | The choices for alternative heating are plentiful no |
| of his two family home. His contractor did a first | | | | matter where you live. It's just a matter of |
| rate job and it doesn't detract from the visual | | | | knowing where you fit in. |
| appeal of his house at all. He also says his hot | | | | |