Space Heating & Cooling
Heating and cooling can account for more than half of the energy used in your home. This can be a considerable expense, especially during the winter or summer months. The amount you spend depends on the type of heating and cooling system, the efficiency of your system, how well your home is insulated and air sealed, as well as other factors.
Understanding Heat Loss and Heat Gain
When it’s cold outside, your home loses heat because it naturally flows from warmer to cooler areas until the temperature becomes equalized. This is why heated air leaks out through an attic or windows, while drawing in cold air through the basement or leaks in the building envelope. During the summer, the opposite occurs. The heat absorbed by the outside of your home transfers to the cooler interior. If your home is leaky, your heating and cooling systems will be constantly battling to keep the air the way you want it. There are a number of simple things you can do to keep your home comfortable and efficient. Consider the following tips:
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Seal leaky air ducts, windows and cracks in your home
- Insulate your walls and attic
- Insulate heating system supply and return pipes
- Consider an energy audit to help you do all of the above
Heating
The most common methods are of heating are furnaces and boilers; however, there are also active or passive solar thermal heating, air source heat pumps, geothermal (ground source heat pumps), wood burning stoves, and space heaters (convective and radiant).
No matter what heating system you use, keeping it well maintained and improving its efficiency can save money and keep you more comfortable. In addition to the tips above, here are some ways to make your heating system more efficient:
- Seal leaky air ducts
- Insulate supply and return pipes
- Change the pilot light to electronic ignition
- Clean or change the air filters on a regular basis
- Clean vents and registers on a regular basis
If your heating system is over 12 years old, you may want to consider replacing it with a higher efficiency model. While a new system is initially more expensive, it will be cheaper to operate in the long run by using less fuel and lower energy consumption. Once you achieve optimal efficiency in your home, consider renewables!
Cooling
Keeping your home cool can be achieved in many ways - through passive cooling methods or by using conventional cooling systems. In addition to the types of cooling systems found in this section, first consider the following ways to cool your home efficiently with basic passive cooling techniques:
- Open the windows at night to let cool air in
- Minimize indoor heat generation (replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs, hang clothes outside to dry instead of using a clothes dryer, avoid using the oven)
- Close the window shades during the day to keep the sun out
- Optimize your attic's ventilation
- Use fans to help move air around
- Use your landscaping to shade your home from the sun
If passive cooling techniques aren't enough, there are a variety of home cooling systems you can install in your home. Choosing a cooling system depends on many factors. Costs vary but evaporative coolers are generally the least expensive whereas central air and geothermal systems can be quite costly. Whichever system you purchase, they operate most efficiently if well maintained.
- Evaporative Cooler These cool by drawing air over a wet filter. This type of system works well in the dry Colorado climate and is much more energy efficient than air conditioning.
- Air Source/Ground Source Heat Pumps (geothermal) Can be used for cooling or heating. Air source uses outside ambient air temperature; geothermal uses ground, surface water, or groundwater temperatures to cool.
- Air Conditioner Uses an evaporator, condenser and refrigerant to cool air.
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