Solar energy is often used to heat water or generate electricity, but it can also be used to heat air. The SolarDuct is a new device that uses sunlight to heat air before it enter a ventilator. They are modular units that can be installed on buildings with flat roofs. (more…)

Tankless water heaters only heat water when it is needed. About 8% to 30% of the energy consumed by a standard water heater goes to keeping the water hot while it’s not being used. New tankless systems heat the water instantly when you turn on the faucet, rather than keeping a tank full of hot water 24/7 whether you’re using it or not. Tankless heaters run on either electricity or gas, just like regular heaters. They start out at about $300 for electric and $600 for gas.

There are two main brands of whole-house electric tankless water heaters: Stiebel Eltron and Powerstar. They come in various models, which are rated on the “gallons per minute” that they deliver.

These tankless water heaters are available from Amazon.

See more information about water heaters and electrical savings at Ask Mr. Electricity

Incorporating a Trombe Wall into a house is one of the most efficient ways to capture the heat of the sun. They work in the mildest to the most severe of climates.

Basically, sunlight strikes the wall through a window, and the Trombe Wall heats up, causing warm air to flow into a room.

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Using stone to capture heat from the sun is metaefficient.

People often think of using solar energy for producing electricity, but it is actually easier to harness the power of the sun to heat your home. It’s free heat that has been utilized since ancient times but few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. The Solar House, by Dan Chiras, explains architectural techniques that can be incorporated into a house to capture heat and store it. The techniques use ordinary building materials and work in both cold and warm climates. They add little expense to the overall cost of a home. See more about this book on the author’s web site. See also Passive Solar Home, which is another book that explains solar heating.

Available from Amazon for $19.77

These soapstone stoves are made by the Finish company Tulikivi. They use radiant heat to warm up your house, which is a highly desirable type of heat because it’s even and non-drying. Radiant heat passes through the air in a room, and warms all of the solid surfaces in the room that it “shines” upon. Tulikivi uses soapstone to build their radiant stoves because it holds heat very well, and releases it gradually. The stoves are also very effective at burning wood. Because the fire burns so hot, the wood is totally vaporized.

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Corn burning stoves are similar to pellets stoves but use corn kernels as fuel instead. Most corn suppliers are located in the interior states, so these stoves are most useful in those areas. Corn is a fuel that burns clean and does not require a conventional chimney. You can vent corn stoves outdoors by using a type “L” or “B” double wall vent. Golden Grain sells stoves that have a range of 13,000 to 40,000 BTUs. Their corn stove models 1101 and 2004 are capable of heating most average homes. Northern Tool and Equipment also sells a corn stove for about $2000. Backwoods Home has a good but dated article about a first-hand experience with using a corn stove. Popular brands are: Brixby and Harman.

Radiant flooring has been in use since the days of the Roman Empire when they channeled hot air under the floors of their villas. Basically, radiant systems heat an entire room evenly — not just in localized spots. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because no energy is lost through ducts. Radiant systems are also unobtrusive and quiet.

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Wood pellet stoves have become very popular this year, due to the fact that heating oil costs have risen 31% and natural gas is up 46%. Pellet stoves are small electric stoves that burn small pieces of recycled sawdust, that have been compressed into pellets. There are a number of advantages to using wood pellet stoves: they are extremely efficient, produce very little waste, and use inexpensive fuel. A 40-pound bag of pellets sells for less than five dollars, with discounts available for those who buy in bulk. On the Sam’s Club web site, pellets sell for about $187 a ton. A homeowner can expect to go through up to three tons of pellets a season, or $560 worth. In contrast, heating oil will likely cost owners of bigger homes in the Northeast several thousand dollars this winter.

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Masonry heaters very efficient heating devices because they burn wood rapidly, without smoldering. The heat is stored in the masonry thermal mass, and then slowly radiates into your house for the next 18 to 24 hours. The house is never overheated, and air pollution is reduced dramatically.

The other benefit of masonry heaters is that they produce radiant heat rather than conventional convection or forced air heat. With radiant heat, the air temperature is less important, the heat is felt in a similar way to the radiant heat of the sun. Because of this, the air inside the house is not dried out and it is not recirculated through a furnance.

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Woodstoves can indeed be a metaefficient way to heat your home.

Modern woodstoves are an economical and environmentally sound choice for home heating. Wood has a much higher BTU capacity than gas, and wood is a renewable resource.

Older, conventional woodstoves emitted between 30 and 80 grams of particulate matter (smoke) per hour, while the new EPA-approved stoves have reduced emissions to between 3 to 6 grams per hour (a reduction of over 90%).

There are some woodstoves available that achieve a burn efficiency of 70-80%. Many of these efficient stoves can be found for sale at Chimney Sweep Online. This Washington-based company has a lot of information online about stove efficiency, because Washington state has stringent woodstove laws which exceed even the new EPA Phase 2 requirements.

Pellet stoves are automated stoves that burn pellets produced from waste sawdust. Pellet stoves burn about three times cleaner than the efficient woodstoves mentioned above. HearthNet has more information about pellet stoves. There is also a book available on wood pellet stoves — “Wood Pellets: As a Fuel, Stoves, Buyer’s Guide, User’s Handbook”

Cool Tools recently posted an article about “Extremely Tiny Woodstoves” — stoves that fit into small spaces in your home, and other portable woodstoves.

If done correctly, a very efficient form of heating. See this guide to efficient wood burning. See also woodheat.org.

Notes from Manufacturer:

Comfort Glow Blue Flame Vent-Free Natural Gas heater
with thermostat. Heats an area up to 1000 Sq. Ft. No outside venting
required. Has a built in safety-Oxygen Depletion Sensor.
Push-button piezo ignition for matchless start. Has 2 heat settings
15000 BTU and 30000 BTU.

Purchase from: Buy
Online or Heater
Shop ($179)

Notes from Manufacturer:

Mr. Heater’s Portable Buddy radiant heater provides
safe heat for chilly garages, tents, patios, porches, cabins, fishing
shanties, truck caps, barns — anywhere you want to stay warm. The Buddy
may also be used inside your home, in case of a power outage.

Certified by CSA International (American Gas Association), Mr. Heater’s
Portable Buddy heater uses new heating technology to provide
safe, reliable propane heat indoors. When using a 20 lb. tank, place cylinder
outdoors.

Specifications:

• Model No. MH9B
• Output: 4,000 - 9,000 Btu/Hr.
• Gas: Propane
• Operating Position: Vertical
• Valve Position: Pilot, Lo and Hi
• 1 lb. Cylinder: 3 - 6 Hours
• 20 lb. Cylinder: 48 - 110 Hours
• Overall Dimensions (LxWxH): 14 in. x
  7 in. x 14 in.
  Shipping Weight: 8 lbs.

Purchase from: Amazon ($80) or Ebay

Notes from Manufacturer:
Very
powerful & cost effective propane convection heater by Dayton
Propane Heating - 200,000 BTU. This Powerful high output propane convection
heater is perfect for workshops/sheds, outdoors, or construction heating.
Variable burning rate - Dimensions: 30/15/16
Uses two 100 pound propane cylinders (not included).

Specifications:

• Net Weight: 16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 30″ x 15″ x 16″
• 200,000 BTU
• This propane heater uses 100 pound propane cylinders for
  powerful heating
• Safety shut off valve
• Propane heater is shipped assembled

Purchase from: Heater
Home ($169) or Heater Shop

NOTE: Intellitemp Heaters have been recalled, due to an issue with a faulty “crimp” in the UL certified insulated connector component. Please see more information here.

Notes from Manufacturer:
Vornado’s portable heater generates just the right amount
of heat to meet your particular need. You can set it to keep your feet
warm under your desk or to heat an entire room. No need to fiddle with
a thermostat, because this electronic heater automatically maintains
your desired comfort level with a continuous stream of uniform heat (no
hot or cold blasts). And Vornado’s electronic IntelliTemp™ is so
quiet you’ll hardly know it’s there.

IntelliTemp features variable heat control and fan speed and a lighted
power switch. It has a cool-touch exterior, includes tip-over and over-heat
protection, and is energy efficient.

This compact electronic heating unit measures 11.25"x 9.75" x
11.75". Weighs appx. 5 lbs. Maximum output is 5,122 BTU/hour. Current
draw is 12.5 amps max. 125VAC 60 Hz. Made in USA. 1 year mfg. warranty.

Purchase from: Amazon ($74.99)
or Ebay

Solar space heating can be used in small rooms, RVs, campers and boats. All
day heating will cost less than one cent, or free if it is plugged into
a solar electric panel or rechargable 12 volt battery.

We call it a "thin film" style solar air heating
panel because the solar heat absorber is made of tough, thin, flexible,
high performance polycarbonate plastic suspended inside a virtually unbreakable
insulated heating frame.

And just like our indoor only panel that model this replaces, they are
UV and heat resistant and durable enough for years of trouble free operation.
This is the first truely portable, lightweight solar heater in the industry.

Active forced air heating is the fastest way to heat a closed space,
compared to passive heating from incoming sun or radiant electric or fireplace
heating. It provides more consistant room heat and fills the room with
warm air faster and eliminates cold spots and "stratified air layers" that
creates cold air at the floor and warm air at the ceiling.

The entire heating panel weighs only 10 pounds and measures about three
inches thick! In fact it’s so lightweight, you can take it room to room
wherever the sun is shining, or take it on the road.

Used indoors it can hang vertically from included suction cup hooks or
sit on the floor behind sunlit windows or glass patio doors that are free
from shadows, untinted and without screens. South or East facing is best.
It should receive at least four hours of constant sun for the best indoor
heating.

It will instantly increase incoming cool air by at least 25 to 30 degrees
during sunny midday heating with an air flow in excess of 9 miles per hour
(about 85 CFM). The filtered intake vents are positioned behind the clear,
unbreakable twin-walled polycarbonate front panel, and the heat out vent
is 4", which can be connected to an insulated vent to send inside
your closed room.

This innovative solar space heater takes less than a minute to set up
indoors to recirculate room air, or outdoors for adding warm fresh air
when temperatures are 50 degrees F or higher. It will heat at least 100-150
square foot closed rooms as long as the sun shines directly on the panel.
Slightly larger rooms can also be heated with only a slight drop of room
temps. Use additional panels for larger size rooms or try our super-tough
exterior mounted heat collectors or new radiant solar heating drapes visible
on our homepage.

Best of all is the low purchase price and cost per month to operate this
nearly 2′ X 4′ renewable energy marvel. It’s the same price as the indoor
panel it replaces. The highly efficient 4" attached fan uses less
than 25 cents per month of 110 volt home power, using the 12 volt, 1 amp
power supply running six hours a day .

Price: $239 plus $35 s&h from ClearDomeSolar

This sturdy 2′ X 8′, 40 pound anodized aluminum solar space
heater will increase 500+ square foot room temps by 12-15 degrees F or
more if room is well insulated. Incoming air temps will increase 40-45
degrees F, no matter what the temperature is inside or outside. Exiting
air flow is fast at 9+ MPH with an included 88 cfm 12 volt fan and plug
in power supply. An interior panel thermostat automatically turns the fan
on and off so cold air is never blown in at night or on stormy days. Use
a digital wall thermostat (available at home supply stores) or plug in
timer for more precise room heat control. These panels can be roof or wall
mounted using a professional solar installer or handyman. We suggest a
south facing wall mouting for better long term weather protection and maximum
heating.

Add backup power with our optional 21-watt unbreakable Unisolar electric
(PV) panel. Or use power from a rechargable battery or your car. The highly
efficient 12 volt, .6 amp, fan is used to recirculate and warm room air
and comes with 12 volt, 1 amp power supply. Both vents are 4", and
will attach to standard flexible or hard insulated ducting. Short smooth
duct runs close to the room are suggested. Your heating costs per panel
are less than one cent per day using the 110 volt power supply.

It will consistently produce as much hot forced air on a sunny day as
a 1,000- 1,200 watt electric space heater that costs about $25 per month
to run. And it equals the amount of heat $15,000 worth of installed solar
electric panels will generate. It even generates 10-15 degrees F of hot
air on light overcast or partly cloudy days.

Price: $895.00 plus $195.00 s&h from ClearDomeSolar