Getting to Net Zero – Home Heating
Second only to transportation, heating homes in Central Vermont is our largest contribution of greenhouse gasses to the global climate.
And, you can do something about it.
In fact, there are at least six different strategies that many people in our area have followed and one or a combination may work for you:
Weatherize
By increasing insulation and decreasing leaks, you can reduce fuel use up to 50%.
To learn more – https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/services/renovation-construction/weatherization
Advanced wood heat
If your boiler is kaput, or you are otherwise fed up with using oil for your central heat, there are wood pellet boiler experts in our area that have installed hundreds of these locally and renewably fueled systems.
To learn more – https://feelgoodheat.org/ or https://www.revermont.org/go-renewable/heating-cooling/advancedwoodheating/
Modern wood stoves
New wood stoves are more efficient and less smoky than older models. You can see examples and ask for installation services at our local wood stove dealers.
To learn more - https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/products-technologies/heating-cooling-ventilation/stoves-fireplaces
Burning wood without the dust, without stacking and often times with automatic start and thermostatically controlled is the current technology for wood pellet stoves.
To learn more - https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/products-technologies/heating-cooling-ventilation/stoves-fireplaces
Modern wood pellet stoves
New heat pump technology uses clean electricity (including solar generation) to provide building heat with far greater efficiency than old-style electric space heaters. Heat pumps can also be used to heat your hot water – more efficient than traditional, electric resistance hot water heaters, and no burning of fossil fuels if you currently have an oil or propane hot water heater.
To learn more – https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/products-technologies/heating-cooling-ventilation/heat-pumps
And for heat pump hot water heaters: https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/heat-pump-water-heaters
Heat pumps
Biodiesel for home heating is available through a variety of local fuel suppliers. You can transition your oil boiler to use this renewable product relatively easily. This could be a transition for you as you look to other low-carbon fuels while your boiler is still functioning well.
Learn more: https://www.netzeromontpelier.org/blog/2018/10/8/biodiesel-for-home-heating
Biofuel
We do not promise that each of these will save you money. Some will, and some won’t. For most of the strategies above, there are incentives that will reduce the costs. And, the upfront costs for each can be spread over several years by getting a loan from a bank or credit union that provides financing for energy-related home improvements. If the price of oil and propane goes up, you will have protected your household or business from those cost increases. And if the prices don’t go up, you will have done the right thing and helped slow down the still increasing rate of greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting impacts of climate change.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not someone else’s job, it is yours. Please consider changing the way you heat your home or business.
If you need help with moving forward on these recommendations, contact us at the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee. We are volunteers that are glad to provide support for your efforts in reducing fossil fuel-based heating.