11

Comparing Different Comparing Different Home Heating Fuels and Home Heating Fuels and

Alternative Energy Alternative Energy SystemsSystems

Saving Home EnergySaving Home EnergyPart 3Part 3

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Supplement Current Heating Supplement Current Heating System – System – Short Term OptionsShort Term Options

After servicing, cleaning and tuning up After servicing, cleaning and tuning up your current heating system you might your current heating system you might consider a supplemental heating consider a supplemental heating systemsystem– Electric space heater to use when you are Electric space heater to use when you are

in one roomin one room– Wood stove or pellet stove used when you Wood stove or pellet stove used when you

are home to heat one or more roomsare home to heat one or more rooms– Passive solar collector attached to a Passive solar collector attached to a

window to provide supplemental heat to a window to provide supplemental heat to a south facing room.south facing room.

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Pros and Cons of Different Fuels Pros and Cons of Different Fuels and Energy Sourcesand Energy Sources

Easy to useEasy to use Inexpensive to useInexpensive to use No additional No additional

equipment requiredequipment required Minimal mechanical Minimal mechanical

knowledge required to knowledge required to operateoperate

Low risk of fire, smoke Low risk of fire, smoke or carbon monoxideor carbon monoxide

Reduce carbon Reduce carbon footprintfootprint

Restricted to certain Restricted to certain sites due to sun, wind sites due to sun, wind or water resourcesor water resources

No widespread No widespread infrastructure to infrastructure to service equipmentservice equipment

Complicated operating Complicated operating understandingunderstanding

Physical needs to carry Physical needs to carry and store fueland store fuel

Insurance implicationsInsurance implications

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Compare Heating Fuels and Compare Heating Fuels and Heat Distribution SystemsHeat Distribution Systems

FuelsFuels– OilOil– Natural gasNatural gas– PropanePropane– ElectricityElectricity– HardwoodHardwood– SoftwoodSoftwood– Wood pelletsWood pellets

Heat Distribution Heat Distribution SystemsSystems– Hot airHot air– Hot waterHot water– Radiant heat Radiant heat

RadiatorsRadiators Radiant floor or ceilingRadiant floor or ceiling

– Space heatingSpace heating

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Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels 80% of homes use oil 80% of homes use oil

heatheat Huge infrastructure to Huge infrastructure to

support installation and support installation and maintenance servicemaintenance service

Low fire potential in Low fire potential in homehome

Emissions are low Emissions are low especially with new 90% especially with new 90% to 95% efficient systemsto 95% efficient systems

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Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels Not a renewable Not a renewable source of fuelsource of fuel

Increased Carbon Increased Carbon Dioxide in atmosphereDioxide in atmosphere

Negative impact on Negative impact on carbon footprintcarbon footprint

Huge fluctuations in Huge fluctuations in costs from $2.50 per costs from $2.50 per gallon to $5.00 per gallon to $5.00 per gallon in one year. gallon in one year.

These fuels must be These fuels must be imported into Maine imported into Maine

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Renewable FuelsRenewable Fuels

Firewood logsFirewood logs Wood pelletsWood pellets Other formed wood Other formed wood

productsproducts CornCorn Hay pelletsHay pellets Etc.Etc.

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Renewable Fuels - WoodRenewable Fuels - Wood

Firewood and wood Firewood and wood pellets are pellets are available available throughout Mainethroughout Maine

Wood can regrow if Wood can regrow if sustainable sustainable harvesting is harvesting is practicedpracticed

Firewood stoves Firewood stoves can provide heat in can provide heat in a power outagea power outage

Not dependent on Not dependent on sources outside of sources outside of Maine for woodMaine for wood

New technologies New technologies are making wood are making wood burning more burning more convenientconvenient

Outdoor wood Outdoor wood boilers less risk of boilers less risk of house fires but house fires but increased air increased air pollutionpollution

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Wood Heat SafetyWood Heat Safety Check chimney to be sure it can Check chimney to be sure it can

support your wood stove. support your wood stove. – Insurance companies require Insurance companies require

separate flue or chimneyseparate flue or chimney Install with proper clearance Install with proper clearance

from combustible materials.from combustible materials. Install smoke and carbon Install smoke and carbon

monoxide detectors to monoxide detectors to protect your familyprotect your family

Use dry hardwood to stoke your Use dry hardwood to stoke your stove stove

Use care when closing off the damper or air supply Use care when closing off the damper or air supply to the fire. It can cause excess creosote production.to the fire. It can cause excess creosote production.

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Evolution of Heating by Evolution of Heating by woodwood

FireplaceFireplace Fireplace stove insertFireplace stove insert Masonry Heater “Russian Fireplace”Masonry Heater “Russian Fireplace” Wood stoveWood stove

– 1990 EPA particulate emission standards1990 EPA particulate emission standards Catalytic converter wood stove Catalytic converter wood stove ““Secondary burn” wood stoveSecondary burn” wood stove Wood furnace – hot airWood furnace – hot air Wood boiler – hot waterWood boiler – hot water Outdoor wood boilerOutdoor wood boiler

– www.epa.gov/woodheaters www.epa.gov/woodheaters Pellet stovePellet stove

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Other Renewable FuelsOther Renewable Fuels

Corn Corn – Has a high heat Has a high heat

value per tonvalue per ton– Needs a special Needs a special

corn burning stovecorn burning stove– Most corn is grown Most corn is grown

in the mid-west and in the mid-west and needs to be needs to be imported into Maine imported into Maine

– Can be delivered in Can be delivered in bulk or in bagsbulk or in bags

Hay PelletsHay Pellets– Research is Research is

currently being currently being done on hay pellets done on hay pellets for heatfor heat

– Not readily Not readily available available

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ElectricityElectricity Most Maine Most Maine

homes are homes are connected to the connected to the power grid to power grid to power their power their electrical electrical appliancesappliances

Using electricity Using electricity for heating for heating homes is very homes is very expensive, expensive, suggest use suggest use another type of another type of fuel to heat the fuel to heat the homehome

Most sources of public Most sources of public power are from coal or power are from coal or natural gas burning plants natural gas burning plants that negatively impact our that negatively impact our carbon foot printcarbon foot print

Consumers can Consumers can opt to purchase opt to purchase “green” power “green” power that positively that positively affects our affects our carbon foot carbon foot printprint– Maine Public Utilities Maine Public Utilities

Commission linkCommission link

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Electric Electric HeatHeat

Better used Better used for for

supplementsupplemental space al space heating heating needsneeds

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Heat PumpHeat Pump

Ground source systems have usually been installed in Maine.Ground source systems have usually been installed in Maine. Air source systems may not work as well in our cold climate but Air source systems may not work as well in our cold climate but

new technology is being developed to make it more practical for new technology is being developed to make it more practical for Maine.Maine.

Need electricity to circulate heated fluidNeed electricity to circulate heated fluid

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How Heat Pumps WorkHow Heat Pumps Work

CondensingCondensing– From a gas to a From a gas to a

liquidliquid– Collects heatCollects heat

EvaporationEvaporation– From a liquid to a From a liquid to a

gasgas– Releases heatReleases heat

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Solar EnergySolar Energy

HeatingHeating– Passive Systems Passive Systems

South facingSouth facing Thermal massThermal mass

– Active SystemsActive Systems Circulate air or fluidCirculate air or fluid Storage systemStorage system

ElectricityElectricity– CollectorsCollectors– InvertersInverters– Battery storageBattery storage

OrganizationsOrganizations– Maine Solar Energy Maine Solar Energy

AssociationAssociation

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Passive SolarPassive Solar Building faces southBuilding faces south Unobstructed view of sunUnobstructed view of sun Consider with new Consider with new

constructionconstruction

Thermal storage & Thermal storage & ventilation needed to ventilation needed to moderate wide moderate wide temperature variationstemperature variations

Supplemental source of Supplemental source of heat for nights or cloudy heat for nights or cloudy daysdays

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Window Passive Solar Window Passive Solar CollectorCollector

www.builditsolar.comwww.builditsolar.com for more ideas for more ideas

Small window Small window units can units can provide provide supplemental supplemental heat during heat during sunny dayssunny days

Can be closed Can be closed at night or on at night or on cloudy dayscloudy days

Larger Larger Trombe or Trombe or solar walls solar walls can be can be retrofitted to retrofitted to older homesolder homes

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Attached GreenhouseAttached Greenhouse The dream of many The dream of many

gardeners is to gardeners is to have an attached have an attached greenhouse to start greenhouse to start plants early in the plants early in the springspring

It is true on a sunny It is true on a sunny day there will be a day there will be a net gain in heat net gain in heat from an attached from an attached greenhousegreenhouse

However at night However at night the greenhouse the greenhouse needs to be either needs to be either shut off from the shut off from the house or insulated house or insulated to prevent heat to prevent heat loss.loss.

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Active Solar HeatingActive Solar Heating

Whole house Whole house heatingheating

Domestic hot waterDomestic hot water

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Active Solar Thermal Active Solar Thermal HeatingHeating Need Need

electricity to electricity to circulate circulate heated air or heated air or fluidfluid

Can be used Can be used for space for space heating or heating or domestic domestic hot waterhot water

Need Need storage storage systemsystem

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Solar ElectricSolar Electric Solar electric systems, also Solar electric systems, also

known as photovoltaic (PV) known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight systems, convert sunlight into electricity. into electricity.

Solar cellsSolar cells—the basic building blocks of —the basic building blocks of a PV system—consist of semiconductor a PV system—consist of semiconductor materials. When sunlight is absorbed by materials. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms. This electrons loose from their atoms. This phenomenon is called the "photoelectric phenomenon is called the "photoelectric effect." These free electrons then travel effect." These free electrons then travel into a circuit built into the solar cell to into a circuit built into the solar cell to form electrical current. form electrical current.

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Solar Electric con’tSolar Electric con’t Replace appliances with most energy Replace appliances with most energy

efficient versions & assess efficient versions & assess consumptionconsumption

Calculate electricity needs and Calculate electricity needs and determine size of system to installdetermine size of system to install

StorageStorage– BatteriesBatteries– Grid (Net Metering)Grid (Net Metering)

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumhttp://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10720ytopic=10720

Maine Solar Energy Association Maine Solar Energy Association – http://ellsworthme.org/MESEA/http://ellsworthme.org/MESEA/

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Small Windmill for ME?Small Windmill for ME? You have enough wind?You have enough wind?

– Wind analysis of your site with a year’s Wind analysis of your site with a year’s worth of data (at least 9 mph wind worth of data (at least 9 mph wind speed)speed)

– www.windpoweringamerica.gov/www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ click on click on their wind resources maptheir wind resources map

Tall towers allowed in your area?Tall towers allowed in your area? You have enough space for your towerYou have enough space for your tower Certified Electrician may be necessary Certified Electrician may be necessary

for loans or rebates or if you plan to for loans or rebates or if you plan to connect your system to power gridconnect your system to power grid

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Small Windmill for ME? cont.Small Windmill for ME? cont. You determine how much electricity you You determine how much electricity you

need/want need/want – Current electric bill more than $150 per Current electric bill more than $150 per

monthmonth– Costs range from $15,000 to $50,000 Costs range from $15,000 to $50,000

depending on how much electricity needs to depending on how much electricity needs to be generated and the average wind velocitybe generated and the average wind velocity

Need battery storage and alternative Need battery storage and alternative backup for windless days unless you backup for windless days unless you connect to the gridconnect to the grid

Determine if it works economically for youDetermine if it works economically for you

A good reference for developing a home windmill site: A good reference for developing a home windmill site: http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/small_wind/http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/small_wind/

small_wind_me.pdfsmall_wind_me.pdf

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Micro Hydro PowerMicro Hydro Power Must have reliable running water with Must have reliable running water with

drop in height to generate energydrop in height to generate energy Need to obey laws regarding dam Need to obey laws regarding dam

development, water utilization, etc.development, water utilization, etc. Installation technicians are very rare. Installation technicians are very rare.

Need to be a self starter willing to learn Need to be a self starter willing to learn how to manage this energy source. how to manage this energy source.

Layman’s Guide to Developing Small Hydro Sites Layman’s Guide to Developing Small Hydro Sites http://www.microhydropower.net/download/books.phphttp://www.microhydropower.net/download/books.php

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Cost Analysis of Changing Cost Analysis of Changing Energy Source / System in the Energy Source / System in the

HomeHome How much are you How much are you

spending now?spending now?– OilOil– ElectricityElectricity– WoodWood

What quantity are What quantity are you using (mBTUs you using (mBTUs or Kwhs)?or Kwhs)?

How much per How much per mBTUmBTU

Reduction in Reduction in annual cost for annual cost for heat or Kwhs for heat or Kwhs for electricityelectricity

Cost of the systemCost of the system Estimated life for Estimated life for

the systemthe system Annual Annual

maintenance costsmaintenance costs Additional costs or Additional costs or

value of timevalue of time

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Fuel Fuel cost cost per per

mBTUmBTU

Amount Amount used used mBTUmBTU

Annual Annual maintenanmaintenan

ce costce cost

Total Total Annual Annual CostCost

Current Current System (oil)System (oil)

$28$28 8080 $150$150 $2390$2390

New System New System (pellets)(pellets)

$18$18 8080 $250$250 $1690$1690

Annual Annual savings in savings in energy costsenergy costs

$700$700

Total cost + installation = $2500 or 3-1/2 years Total cost + installation = $2500 or 3-1/2 years repaymentrepayment

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How Do I Pay For Energy How Do I Pay For Energy Improvements?Improvements?

Own savingsOwn savings Low income assistanceLow income assistance LoansLoans Alternate income (renting portion Alternate income (renting portion

of house)of house) RebatesRebates Tax IncentivesTax Incentives

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Financial IncentivesFinancial IncentivesState of MaineState of MaineWhen Funds Are When Funds Are

AvailableAvailable Solar Photovoltaic Solar Photovoltaic

– $2 per watt with $2,000 $2 per watt with $2,000 capcap

Solar Thermal Solar Thermal – 25% with $1,000 cap25% with $1,000 cap

Wind Wind – $500 per 500 watts $500 per 500 watts

with $2,000 capwith $2,000 cap– Additional $2,000 for Additional $2,000 for

site and height site and height

FederalFederal 30% No Cap30% No Cap

– Solar Solar PhotovoltaicPhotovoltaic

– Solar Hot Water Solar Hot Water SystemsSystems

– Small WindSmall Wind– Geothermal Geothermal

Heat PumpsHeat Pumps Conservation & Conservation &

EfficiencyEfficiency– 30% with 30% with

$2,500 cap$2,500 cap

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Rent a Room or Part of Rent a Room or Part of HomeHome

IssuesIssues– TenantsTenants– Insurance Insurance

premiumspremiums– Written leaseWritten lease– Duration of Duration of

leaselease

Resources for more Resources for more informationinformation– Ten Tips for Ten Tips for

Landlords – NOLO Landlords – NOLO www.NOLO.comwww.NOLO.com

– Tenants Rights in Tenants Rights in MaineMaine Pine Tree Legal Pine Tree Legal

Assistance Assistance http://www.ptla.org/tehttp://www.ptla.org/tenants.htmnants.htm

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Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources

http://http://www.extension.umaine.edu/energy/dewww.extension.umaine.edu/energy/default.htmfault.htm

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumhttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/er/

tips/tips/