Zone Heating – Lower Your Energy Usage

With winter fast approaching and fluctuating fuel prices, now is the perfect time to save money heating your home. Instead of heating your entire house, including the rooms you are not using, consider Zone heating. Zone heating heats the rooms you are using instead of the whole house.

There are a number of ways that you can accomplish zone heating. You can install a unit(s) to heat different areas of your home. Alternatively, one can use a single furnace with mechanical zone dampers to direct airflow via the ductwork. People practicing zone heating often realize a 20-30% saving in energy. With very attractive and inexpensive fireplaces, many people are adding a gas or electric fireplace to their home to supplement central heating systems.

People with forced air central heating systems should realize less energy usage by lowering the house temperature and using a gas or electric fireplace or heater to heat common area rooms. This is because central forced air heating systems distribute heat via ducts throughout the house. The central furnace cycles on and off until the proper temperature on the thermostat is reached. Room temperatures will fluctuate until the thermostat is at the appropriate temperature.

Temperature fluctuations coupled with heating rooms that are not in use will result in higher fuel usage and fuel wastage. In order to save money and the environment, one solution is to place an efficient gas (or electric) fireplace or heater in a common room of your home. These units warm the space you wish to heat with essentially no cycling losses. Gas stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts utilize ceramic and lightweight steel components which heat up quickly and maintain specific temperatures in minutes. The temperature output they provide will be detailed on the information on the unit itself. The temperatures are calculated in BTU?s.

In North America, the term “BTU” (British Thermal Unit) describes the heat value (energy content) of fuels. It is the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. It is used to describe the power of heating and cooling systems.

The next question: How many BTU?s will you need? The amount of heating you require will be dependent upon a number of factors including but not limited to: windows (size, type, etc.), insulation levels, climate, elevation, time of day, season, and the heating systems currently in the home.

As a general guideline, please review to the chart below.

HEATER OUTPUT RATING*

*Areas shown are approximate sizes and are based on an average home.

An important note is that a “Bigger is Better” mentality will only result in overheating.

With the above in mind, perhaps a gas or electric heater will help you save money and the environment.