Heating Systems
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A variety of methods can be used to heat an energy efficient home. Effect provides recommendations depending on the home’s requirements and homeowners’ preferences. Depending on your lot’s location and your unique requirements, the following heating systems may work for you.
Air-Source Heat Pump
An air-sourced heat pump uses electricity to energize a refrigeration process, extracting heat from outside air and transferring it to the home’s interior.
Heat is distributed via a forced air or hydronic system and are used in homes not connected to the gas grid.
There are low-temperature models available capable of operating efficiently in Alberta’s harsh Canadian winters.
Boiler Heating
Boilers use gas or electricity to heat fluid for fan-coil and in-floor radiant systems and can be up to 97% efficient in gas-fired units.
Fan-Coil Systems
In a fan-coil system, air passes through through a radiator and is heated by hot-water.
This heating method can be used in boiler heating, micro combined heat power, air source heat pump, and ground source heat pump systems.
Ground-Source Heat Pump (Geothermal)
This advanced heating method collects and transfers heat from the earth into the building through pipes buried in the ground. Once inside, it is concentrated for inside use by a refrigeration process.
The heat is distributed via a forced air or hydronic system and is used in homes not connected to the gas grid.
High-Efficiency Furnace
High efficiency furnaces are gas-fired appliances with efficiencies up to 98%.
Micro Combined Heat Power (Co-Generation)
This heating method uses gas to generate both heat and electricity simultaneously.
The resulting heat is distributed via a forced air or hydronic system. The electricity can be used immediately in-building, be exported into the electrical grid, or used to charge batteries.
Micro Combined Heat power can be used in regardless of whether or not they are connected or not connected to an electrical grid.
Passive Solar Heating
Passive solar power is used to supplement the heating systems described above. It uses south facing windows to allow winter sunlight to heat a thermal mass, such as a concrete floor.
