What is Alternative Energy?

Alternative Energy refers to energy sources which are not based on the burning of Fossil Fuels - primarily Coal, Fuel Oil, or Natural Gas formed by the remains of dead plants and animals -  or Nuclear Power.  

Types of residential Alternative Energy

Solar Hot Water - click here for our solar hot water products.

Solar hot water refers to water heated by the sun. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage, and a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for home or business use, for swimming pools, or as an energy input for space heating and cooling and industrial applications.  A solar heating system can provide a very high percentage (50% to 75%) of domestic hot water energy.

Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting.  Hence, hot water is always available.

Photovoltaic system - click here for our photovoltaic products.

Is a system which uses solar cells to convert the sun's light into electricity. A photovoltaic system consists of several components, including cells, mechanical and electrical connections and mountings and means of regulating and/or modifying the electrical output.

Due to the low voltage of an individual solar cell, several cells are combined into photovoltaic modules, in turn connected together into an array. The electricity generated can be either stored or used directly, fed into a large electricity grid powered by central generation plants, or combined with one or more other electricity generators feed into a small grid. Depending on the type of application, the rest of the system consists of different components, depending on the load profile and the system type. Systems are generally designed in order to ensure the highest energy yield for a given investment.

Geothermal - click here for information on our geothermal systems.

No matter what climate you live in, the temperature throughout the year varies. For some climates that means blazing summers that cool to frigid winters. What many people don't realize is that the temperature below ground (regardless of climate or season) stays fairly consistent all year.

The ground is able to maintain a higher rate of temperature consistency because it absorbs 47% of the suns energy (heat) as it hits the Earth's surface. WaterFurnace geothermal systems are able to tap into this free energy with an earth loop. This technology is then used to provide your home or office with central heating and cooling.

Heating
During the heating cycle, a WaterFurnace geothermal system uses the earth loop to extract heat from the ground. As the system pulls heat from the loop it distributes it through a conventional duct system as warm air. The same heat energy can also be used for a radiant floor system or domestic hot water heating.

Cooling
In the cooling mode, a WaterFurnace geothermal system air conditions your home by reversing the heating process. Instead of extracting heat from the ground, it is extracted from your home and either moved back into the earth loop, or used to preheat the water in your hot water tank. Once the heat is removed from the air, it is distributed through the duct system in your home.

Geothermal vs. Geoexchange: what's in a name?
Geothermal energy has been used to heat and air condition buildings for several decades, and, during that time, these geothermal systems have been called many different things. Some of the more popular variations include geo-thermal, geoexchange, ground-water, ground-water assisted, ground-water-source, water-to-water, and even our company name, water furnace heating and cooling.

Wood fuel - click here for our wood stove products.

The burning of wood is currently the largest use of energy derived from a solid fuel biomass. Wood fuel can be used for cooking and heating.  Wood fuel may be available as firewood, charcoal, chips, sheets, pellets and sawdust. The particular form used depends upon factors such as source, quantity, quality and application.

Wood may be burned in a furnace, stove, or fireplace. Wood is the most easily available form of fuel, requiring no tools in the case of picking up dead wood, or little tools.  As in any industry, specialized tools, such as skidders and hydraulic wood splitters, have evolved to mechanize production.

Wind Power

is the conversion of wind energy into useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. In windmills, wind energy is directly used to crush grain or to pump water.  Wind currently produces just over 1% of world-wide electricity use.  Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007.

Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions when it displaces fossil-fuel-derived electricity. The intermittency of wind seldom creates insurmountable problems when using wind power to supply a low proportion of total demand, but it presents extra costs when wind is to be used for a large fraction of demand.

Radiant Floor Heat

Radiant floor heat provides numerous benefits, including increased comfort, even temperatures, cleaner air, no cold drafts, no unsightly ductwork and no floor vents, all while being quieter and more energy-efficient compared to forced-air heat.

In a radiant floor heating system, warm water flows through tubes located underneath the floors. That warmth radiates up from the floors and warms everything it comes in contact with — including people.

And radiant is compatible under any type of floor covering — carpet, wood, slate, tile, linoleum, and even concrete — making design possibilities endless.

Energy-Efficient Comfort
The water in a radiant system has a capacity to transport energy 3,500 times greater than air, so it can heat using less energy than a forced-air system. This amounts to greater comfort at a lower thermostat setting, which provides lower energy bills.

Additionally, a radiant heating system works in zones, allowing different areas of a home to heat at different temperatures. This allows typically chilly rooms, such as bathrooms, basements and entryways, to receive more heat when needed. At the same time, rooms with less traffic, such as a den or formal dining room, can be set to a lower thermostat setting, making the system even more energy-efficient.

Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Radiant Floor Heat.

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