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.
Air-Source Heat Pump

- Uses electricity to energize a refrigeration process, extracting heat from outside air and transferring this to the home’s interior.
- Heat distributed via forced air or hydronic system.
- Low-temperature models available capable of operating in Canadian winters.
- Used in homes not connected to gas grid.
Boiler
- Uses gas or electricity to heat fluid for fan-coil and/or in-floor radiant systems
- Up to 97% efficient in gas-fired units
Fan-Coil
- Air passes through radiator, heated by hot-water.
- Used in boiler, micro combined heat power, air source heat pump, and ground source heat pump systems.
Ground-Source Heat Pump (Geothermal)

- Collects and transfers heat from the earth through pipes buried in the ground into the building, where it is concentrated for inside use by a refrigeration process
- Heat distributed via forced air or hydronic system
- Used in homes not connected to gas grid
High-Efficiency Furnace
- Gas fired appliance with efficiencies up to 98%.
Micro Combined Heat Power (Co-Generation)

- Uses gas to generate both heat and electricity simultaneously.
- Heat distributed via forced air or hydronic system.
- Electricity can be used immediately in building, be exported into the electrical grid, or charge batteries.
- Can be used in homes connected or not connected to electrical grid
Passive Solar

- Passive solar is used to supplement the heating systems described above. It uses south facing windows to allow winter sunlight to heat a thermal mass.
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