Other Popular Heating Innovations:

Heat Pump Heating:
A heat pump works just like an a/c in the cooling mode, but in the heating mode it causes the refrigerant to move backwards. It takes heat from the outside, absorbs it into the refrigerant, and then releases it from the refrigerant into the inside air. A back up heat source (usually gas forced air or electric strip heat) is combined with a heat pump to assist with extreme temperature swings in the Midwest zone. A heat pump is three times more efficient than electric heat. It is close to the same efficiency as gas heat, but can save consumers considerable money because they usually qualify for a lower electric rate as a result of their heat pump.

Geothermal Heating:
Your own backyard has the potential to be an energy source for heating and cooling comfort. Ground temperatures about four to six feet below the Earth's surface remain relatively moderate and constant all year. A geothermal system circulates a water-based solution through a buried loop system to take advantage of these constant temperatures.

During the heating cycle, the fluid circulates through the loop extracting heat from the ground. The heat energy is transferred to the geothermal unit. The unit compresses the extracted heat to a high temperature and delivers it to your home through a normal duct system.

For cooling, the process is simply reversed. Because the earth is much cooler than the air temperatures on a hot day, the geothermal system removes heat from the home and deposits it into the ground. The fluid is cooled by the ground temperatures and returned to the unit for cooling your home.

A single piece of equipment has the ability to heat and cool your home, while providing some or all of your home's hot water as well. Geothermal systems can save you 30% to 70% on your monthly utility bills.

Radiant Heating:
Radiant heat systems work by circulating warm water through a network of tubing placed in the floor, walls or ceiling. Heating is gently radiated outward, warming the objects in the room, rather than the air to create a comfortable environment. It doesn’t dry the air, and eliminates any noisy fans used to circulate air throughout the home.

In-Floor heating systems are compatible with a number of floor coverings including hardwood, carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile, and marble. Radiant heating has also been successfully installed in tiled shower walls, dry-walled walls, and ceilings.

Radiant heat is very efficient because warming the objects in the room instead of the air allows thermostats to be lowered as much as 4 degrees without sacrificing comfort levels. This lower operating temperature can lead to some substantial savings. Zoning different rooms can also be easier with in floor heating.