Heating and cooling

Wood stove and biomass heat

These wood pellet stoves for off-grid heating don't need electric to operate

Short of a wood stove, pretty much all heating systems require power to operate. So in the event of an apocalypse (zombie, climate, asteroid, etc) these two pellet stoves can keep you warm when the power goes out. These wood pellet stoves need no electricity Burning wood to heat a home does not make you an…

Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

How mini split heat pumps work in a LEED or Passive House high efficiency zero net energy home - video

Heat pumps can heat a house three times more efficiently than other heating types. When paired with a heat pump water heater this greatly reduces the cost of heating and domestic hot water. How well does a mini split heat pump work in a LEED or Passive House certified home? Really well as it happens, see a great…

Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized

DIY radiant floor tubing installation video

Radiant heated floors add comfort to a home and can help you heat more efficiently. How to lay your won hydronic under floor heating tubes There is some debate in performance building circles, particularly in the Passive House community as to whether or not you can add enough insulation below a concrete floor to…

Heating and cooling

Heat pumps: Ground source geothermal GSHP or air source ASHP, what's the difference?

Comparing the performance of air source heat pumps and ground source geothermal heat pumps using the example of the Living City Campus Archetype Sustainable House to discover which is the best option. Air source heat pumps, and are ground source heat pumps "geothermal?" Let's clear up some confusion on terminology…

Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

Increased efficiency with heat pumps working in tandem

A high efficiency mini-split heat pump feeds a heat pump water heater which will take a big bite out of the future energy bill of the Demo House. Our previous update covered aspects of the building envelope, which allowed us to reduce the annual heating requirement to about the Passive House standard of 15 kWh per…

Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized

DIY radiant floor tubing installation video

Installing a hydronic radiant floor system in a slab-on-grade floor. Here is our DIY video of how to lay down tubing for our radiant floor in the Edelweiss House. We have a 10 zone system, allowing floor temperatures in each room to be controlled independently. HePex tubing was provided by Uponor, who also use…

Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

Heat pumps: what they are and how they work

What is a heat pump? An energy efficient home heating system that can save money and reduce fossil fuel use. Read on to find out how heat pumps work and if they make sense for in your home. Are heat pumps really more efficient? When it comes to residential heating and cooling systems, few types of heating systems…

Heating and cooling

How to keep homes cool without air conditioning

Some techniques that will help you reduce your A/C needs, and certainly help you stay cool in the absence of having one. How to cool a home without AC While it's true that no matter where you live, be it urban, suburban or rural, the hottest days and nights of summer may have you dreaming of coolers climates…

Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

Heat pump efficiency explained - The definitive guide to SEER vs HSPF vs (S) COP heat pump ratings

Heat pumps are everywhere; online, newspapers, television with grants to offset their cost. Heat pumps are used as a heating system in colder climates or in central air systems for cooling, but how is the performance of heat pumps measured and compared. SEER v HSPF v COP (& SCOP) - understanding heat pump ratings…

Heating with electricity

Electric resistance heating converts almost 100% of its energy into heat. Ultimately though, the true efficiency and environmental impact of heating with electricity is determined by the source of its production. Is electric heating eco-friendly? Determining whether or not electricity is an efficient and…

Heating with gas and oil

Heating with natural gas furnaces, boilers and fireplaces

During the combustion process, natural gas is the most efficient and least harmful of fossil fuels. How affordable or ecologically responsible it will be in the future depends largely on supply, sourcing and the supply network. The cleaner burning process (than diesel fuel) and price has made heating and cooking…