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Electric radiant flooring
Generally considered the most energy efficient way to heat a home, electric radiant floor heating features a series of electrical wiring under the flooring. You get a far more efficient distribution of energy with this system because the warmed up floor transfers energy directly to people and objects in a room evenly. You can see a reduction in energy costs by as much as a third due to the steady temperatures and improved heat retention. Maintenance costs for this kind of heating are nearly non-existent and you don’t have to fret about changing filters, replacing worn out valves or cleaning out ducts. You won’t experience the same draft and dust issues with this method of heating as you would with traditional forced air systems, which frequently bring in a lot of dust and allergens from outdoors. There aren’t any noisy fans or rattling pipes with this system, and in time you may forget its there, unless you walk around in your bare feet, that is. The material you use for flooring is very important, and you should choose either porcelain, ceramics or stone, but stay away from hardwoods that expand and contract.

Radiant heating
Environmentally sound, easy on the budget, and safer for people and pets, radiant heating systems must be seriously considered by all homeowners. Radiant heat is accomplished by a series of cables, or a series of panels and pipes, conveying heat straight to the walls, ceilings and floors of homes, which then heat other objects prior to heating the air. These systems are in direct contrast to the more prevalent forced-air heating systems which push hot air pushed into a room where it heats the ceiling while the floor remains colder. The two most common forms of radiant heating are electrical systems which use a series of cables, and water or oil based systems in which the hot liquid is pumped through an array of pipes. Officially called hydronic heating systems, hot liquid radiant systems involve a network of pipes spread out over concrete floor slabs, or can be sandwiched between plywood sheets. Hot air type radiant systems are outdated (the Romans had them) and rarely used since air is inefficient as a medium and cannot hold large quantities of heat.

Attain energy efficiency in your home with radiant heating and cooling
Hot water radiators in the 1940′s saw the first popular usage of hydronic radiant heating applications, while hydronic radiant cooling technology has lagged behind and is only now coming into its own. Hydronic radiant heat utilizes steam or hot water to heat a surface which then warms the individuals or objects in the surrounding area or room, instead of simply warming the air around an object, which is what happens with conventional heating systems. Radiant cooling, however, occurs if a cool object takes in heat, as when the heat of your body is absorbed by the colder surface of a radiant cooling system. Hydronic radiation works identically for both cooling and heating, with cold or hot water running through an array of pipes installed in the ceiling, floor, or walls. Since heat naturally rises, the most efficient location of radiant heating is the floor, and the recommended place for radiant cooling is in the ceiling where heat is more easily absorbed. Hydronic radiant cooling systems call for more elaborate installation because you have to handle humidity, deal with ventilation issues, and let fresh air to enter the room. Traditional cooling and heating systems rely on ductwork and blowers, and undergo a loss of energy since the heat or cold will disperse with the currents of air. As a do-it-yourself home project the installation of radiant cooling or heating systems are probably too difficult to accomplish, so you would be well advised to contact a professional to do the work.

The subject of heating and cooling is quite large and there can be many websites which cover a specific topic. Here are a couple of suggestions which should be of help. Click on this link to learn about oil furnace care. If you are curious about the best pellet stove, go to The Best Pellet Stoves.