Topic: Household heating

Household heating 

Having noticed talk in this forum about different heating options, the one that most crops up is heatpumps, and well, they appear to be one of the more efficient options out there. This is often backed up with numerous calculations by forum users. Heat pumps and any other electrical heating devices are reliant on electricity to work at the end of the day. So, my point is, what happens when we have a natural disaster of any kind, for example like what has happened in Christchurch and its the middle of winter? Yes, we loose the ability to keep ourselves warm! It can happen anytime anywhere.
So, why do so many people rely on electricity, i know its the easy out, but being able to be more self sufficent in the event of a disaster makes more sense after observing recent events.
What other alternatives are out there beside pellet fires and firewood? Is it right that there is a solar heatpump option?
Be interested in other peoples thoughts.
M

Re: Household heating 

solar heat pumps are not operated by solar electricity, and didnt work well anyhow which is probably why they are no longer made. But even solar requires electricity to work, as do most gas systems as a water pump is required to move the water.

If your that concerned, you should look at photovoltaics and generate your own electricity.

Re: Household heating 

diesel generator

Re: Household heating 

How about the WhisperGen, designed in NZ and manufactured overseas for the European market.

see
http://www.whispergen.com/main/acwhispergen/

http://www.whispergen.com/main/dcwhispergen/


Mike

Re: Household heating 

I was quoted NZ$10000 for one of those - but they didn't really want to sell into the NZ market at that stage.

And it runs on gas: so you will still need to rely on some kind of gas supply. The primary use of the machine seems to be for heating; and when you have a gas supply, I couldn't figure out why you wouldn't just use a gas boiler and not have the power generation side with the additional cost?

Re: Household heating 

Actually my old age is getting to me: I can't remember whether it was 10,000 british pounds (which would make it NZ$30,000 at that time) or NZ$10000. Perhaps someone on the forum has also managed to get a quote.....

Re: Household heating 

The WhisperGen is a great concept, but its a shame we have to go off shore for manufacture and sales.
The concept of the old stirling engine has so may possiblities in this day in age. There is no reason why we couldn't run a power producing stirling engine off a domestic woodfire somehow, with the heat being the fuel to produce electricity. Any heat source will operate a stirling from gas to fire to the suns rays.

Re: Household heating 

Here is another alternative. IMHO an 'ideal' solution would be a ground source heat pump putting nice very cheap low level heat into a insulated floor slab. The electrical demand for these is quite low as its generally just a pump moving fluid around.
The price of free heat from under the ground will not go up like gas or electricity ;)
Back this up with an efficient solid fuel burning stove for looks/emergency, rig in a wetback and then you have emergency hot water too.

I would say avoid heat pumps - as very inefficient when you need them most - when its very cold outside. I am dubious about the efficiency calculations of heatpumps bandied around on here as they often seem to come from those with a vested interest in the heatpump market. Of course, to them they ARE the best solution ;)
As real users what their power bills are in winter.

Given that and my personal dislike of the hairdryer-like heat from heat pumps made it an easy choice for us to go for an external pellet boiler heating radiators around the house. Its lovely heat, push button controllable, and no cold damp rooms or halls. Burning pellets is reasonably 'eco'. But still not as eco as getting free heat from the ground.