Around the world, energy costs are rising. As demand on the grid increases so do costs. In a bid to lead a greener life and reduce costs, many homeowners installed rooftop solar panels. Another way of going green and reducing energy bills is to install a heat recovery system. Here are three types of heat recovery system.
Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems
Usually, ventilation units are placed in the attic, with the pipes leading down into individual rooms so that it can suck the stale air out of the room, to be replaced with fresh air. There are a couple of different ways of achieving this with newer systems operating by creating a convection current. When a home is designed with such a system in mind from the very beginning, it is relatively simple to implement the optimum system.
It is certainly possible to retrofit these systems into older homes; however, this comes with an important caveat, namely that older homes aren’t as airtight as newer properties. The less airtight a property is, the less effective a heat recovery system will prove to be. This doesn’t mean that such a system should not be retrofitted to an older home, just that there are likely to be additional preparation and installation costs.
Boiler Flue Economisers
The purpose of a boiler, as the name heavily implies, is to heat the water in the home. However, not all of the heat a boiler produces is used in a useful manner. Much of the heat is lost as waste energy. The good news is that it is relatively simple to reclaim a significant portion of this heat and repurpose it. This can keep the home comfortable throughout the colder parts of the year.
A boiler flue economiser is designed to capture some (between 7 and 40% usually) of the heat lost from the boiler and feed it either into a new tank, or more commonly back into the original boiler. This type of heat recovery system is relatively straightforward to install, and the costs are low. This low cost becomes even more attractive when considering the amount of money to be saved in the long run.
Heat Pumps
There are several types of heat pump, each of which is designed to extract energy from a source, (this source can be water, air, or a solid surface) then use this to heat a property. As with other types of heat recovery systems, it will work more efficiently when the building is well insulated.
Worthwhile Investment?
The decision to invest in renewable energy is something that can be worked out in a spreadsheet. There is more to the calculations when considering heat recovery systems, because there are a number of property-dependent issues. For one thing, how well insulated and airtight the property is will help determine if there additional preparation work is needed. If the property is not very airtight at all, most heat recovery systems will be rendered ineffective.
Some investigation work can be carried out by a competent DIY homeowner, but some things may need a more experienced investigator. Thorough up-front research will help determine if there is a need for preparatory work – either a little or a lot. Assuming little to no work is needed to prepare the home prior to installation, adding a heat recovery system to a home can reduce energy bills and lead to a more energy-efficient life.
