Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home and provide hot water. More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of these systems, which tap the relatively constant temperature of the Earth a few feet underground, for both new homes and retrofits in existing houses. Why a Geothermal Heat Pump? The installation of a heating or cooling system is a decision that will affect a homeowner's comfort–and pocketbook–for years to come. One option to think about is a geothermal heat pump (GHP), which is one of the most cost-effective and longest-lasting heating and cooling systems on the market. Plus, GHPs provide free hot water as a byproduct of air conditioning for the household in the summer.
Also known as ground-source heat pumps or GeoExchangeSM systems, GHPs provide many benefits to the homeowner in both new and retrofit situations. Surveys by utilities illustrate a high level of satisfaction with GHPs compared to conventional systems. In fact, more than 95% of all GHP users would recommend a similar system to their friends and family. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), GeoExchange systems are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available (source: "Space Conditioning: The Next Frontier," EPA 430-R-93- 004, April 1993). Simply put, a GHP system moves the heat from the earth (or a groundwater source) into the home in the winter, and pulls the heat from the house and discharges it into the ground in the summer. The underground (or underwater) piping loops serve as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer. While many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes–from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter–a few feet below the earth's surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature.
Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45°F (7°C) to 75°F (21°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger rather than with the outside air as with air conditioners. For more information visit http:// www.eere.energy.gov/erec/factsheets/ghp_homeowners.html.
- U. S. Department of Energy
Purchasing Firewood for Winter Heating
The firewood season is here, which can mean questions about purchasing, burning, storing, and selecting the wood. Firewood can be purchased from dealers and retail stores, or many people cut their own firewood. The cost of firewood can vary. The best practice is to call several suppliers to compare the cost, based on factors such as quantity, quality for desired use, delivery, and other details. Quantity is the starting point for "comparison shopping". Be sure to find out if the price is based on a cord, face cord, truck load or some other amount.
A cord is a stack approximately 4 ft. high, 4 ft. deep, and 8 ft. long with pieces that are 4 inches or larger in diameter. A face cord is a less precise standard measurement, but usually means a stack equal in height and length, but less in depth compared to a standard cord. Quality is also a factor. Different types of wood have different characteristics, such as amount of heat, length of burn time, aroma, smoking, sparking, and other differences. Fireplace users often prefer the aroma and desire less sparking, but are not as concerned about the heating value. Wood stove or furnace owners look for types of wood with high heat energy. Quality considerations also include the age or dryness of the wood and the internal condition, such as solid or decayed.
The combination of high fossil fuel prices (natural gas and L-P gas) and low corn prices has resulted in considerable interest in burning shelled corn to produce heat for shops, garages, other out-buildings and even homes. Researchers have found that dry shelled corn can be an efficient heating fuel because it actually contains a fair amount of energy and is relatively easy to handle. University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Engineers have published a fact sheet which provides a way for comparing costs for using different fuels.
For instance, with shelled corn at $2.00 per bushel and burned in a stove with an efficiency of 65%, the cost is $7.85 per million Btu. For propane costing $1.00 per gallon and burning at 80% efficiency the cost would be $13.59 per million Btu. Natural gas at $.80/ccf and 80% efficiency would cost $10.00 per million Btu. Electricity at $.08/kWh and operated at 100% efficiency would cost $23.44 per million Btu. The above costs are for comparing fuel costs only. You also need to consider the cost for the burner, fuel storage, and other equipment needed to store, handle and use the fuel, equipment maintenance, and labor to handle the fuel and remove the ash. For a downloadable copy of this very interesting fact sheet, go to http://www.bae.umn.edu/extens/energy/cornburners.html.
Other questions that should be considered before purchasing a corn burner include: Will the corn burner be a primary heat source or act as a supplementary heat source? How and where will corn be stored? Are you prepared to clean out the clinker daily and clean the heat exchanger of ash on a weekly basis? Does your corn burner meet UL standards? What type of exhaust venting is required? Keep in mind that the price for corn and for conventional fuels will fluctuate over time and that the cheapest fuel today might not be the cheapest fuel in the future.
- Bob Frazee, Natural Resources Educator
Disposing of Pharmaceuticals
Timely and proper disposal of expired and unused medicines increase the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants and improve water quality. The best option for disposal is a community household hazardous waste collection program. Contact your local health department or state Environmental Protection Agency to find out if there is a program in your area.
If a household hazardous waste collection program is not available, there are two primary methods of disposal. The first suggests removing medicines from their containers and flushing them down the toilet or washing them down the drain (for liquids only). This method is strongly discouraged. Wastewater treatment plants were not designed to filter out these products and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals, such as acetaminophens and antacids, are now appearing in water quality reports. Households relying on a septic system should NEVER flush medicines down the toilet or the drain. These products upset the delicate bacterial balance needed to properly treat normal household wastewater.
The second, and more preferred option of disposal is placing expired and unused medicines in the trash. When placing medicines in the trash, keep them in the original containers. Add an absorbing agent, such as kitty litter or sawdust, to liquid medicines to discourage unintended use of the medicine. Finally, double enclose the containers in non-see through bags.
- Jodie Tate, Natural Resources Educator
Watersheds & Development
The development of new shopping centers, new houses, new roads and parking lots creates impervious areas. An impervious area is any surface in a watershed that does not allow water to soak into the ground, increasing storm water runoff.
The amount of impervious area in a watershed affects the health of the watershed and water quality, and thus can be used to predict the health of our streams. Water quality deteriorates as the amount of impervious area increases in a watershed. Watersheds with 10 percent or greater amount of impervious area have been shown to negatively affect stream quality. Our growing and changing communities can impact our water quality and the health of our streams.
As our land use intensifies with development it will have a direct relationship on our water quality as it reduces the amount of water available for groundwater recharge and affects the base flow (year round flow between storms, maintained by the slow seepage of groundwater out of the soil) of perennial rivers and total groundwater discharge into our rivers. Urban areas with a lot of impervious surfaces rely on storm water drains to carry storm water runoff to streams and rivers resulting in more pollution.
Before we make any decisions about development and land use in a watershed we need to think of the whole watershed, its resources and the needs of its inhabitants. A healthy watershed requires an ongoing level of protection. It is up to us to protect our greatest natural resource, water, for current and future generations.
- Susan Meeker, Natural Resources Educator
The Thermostat is in Control
A faulty thermostat may be running up your fuel bills and making your home uncomfortably cold or hot. So don't blame your heating equipment until you've checked out the thermostat. Old thermostats can lose their accuracy, misreading temperature settings and turning the heat on or off at the wrong time. A service representative can recalibrate and clean your old thermostat, but it might be smarter to buy a new one with a few extra energy-saving controls.
Reducing Your Water Heating Bill
If you think you need a bigger water heater because the last person in the shower gets left in the cold, you may just need a new showerhead. Low-flow showerheads can cut hot water use for showering by 75%, so everyone can have a hot shower.
