Climate change is a global challenge, and a significant source of emissions is housing, which accounts for about a third of Finns' carbon footprint. Most traditional heating methods, such as oil heating, use fossil fuels, which produce large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. The use of these fossil fuels is one of the biggest reasons why the carbon footprint of housing is increasing. Fortunately, there are alternative solutions that can help reduce the carbon footprint of housing, whether you live in a detached house or in a housing company.
Pellet heating is an environmentally friendly option both for detached homes and as a heating method for housing companies
Pellet heating is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating systems, because pellets are made from densely compressed biomaterial, such as wood shavings and sawdust. Such a densely compressed granulate emits very few fine particles when burned, for example compared to wood.
Pellet heating is an energy-efficient option, because pellets have a very high calorific value. Pellet heating systems, such as pellet boilers and pellet stoves, are designed to efficiently burn pellets and produce heat with less energy than traditional systems. In practice, this means lower emissions and, in the long run, also lower heating costs.
Pellets are an environmentally friendly choice, because they are manufactured from local raw materials, and their transport causes almost no environmental impact. Pellet heating has many advantages that reduce the carbon footprint of housing.
With solar collectors, you heat domestic hot water in an environmentally friendly way
Solar collectors function by utilizing solar radiation to produce heat and electricity. The thermal energy captured by the solar collectors is excellent for, for example, heating domestic hot water. Combined with another heat source, such as a water-circulating pellet stove, a pellet boiler or a wood boiler, solar collectors can also be used as part of a home's heating system.
In Finland, solar collectors are most useful from March to September, when the sun is visible for several hours per day. During the darkest months, the benefit of solar collectors is lower, and then you prepare to use more of the primary heat source.
Solar collectors are long-lasting and require almost no maintenance. In practice, it is enough to remove most of the snow and debris from the collectors in the spring. Since solar energy is clean and renewable and its utilization does not cause carbon dioxide emissions, solar collectors are a very environmentally friendly choice. Especially if solar energy is combined with the combustion of bioenergy, such as in a pellet stove, you get a nature-friendly, 100% renewable heating method.
The housing company's carbon footprint can be reduced through the choice of heating method
In housing companies, the most common heating method is district heating. The carbon footprint of a home heated with district heating is influenced by the fuel used by the district heating company. Sometimes the housing company's district heating needs to be replaced with a more environmentally friendly heating method, such as hybrid heating. Hybrid heating combines two different energy sources, which can be, for example, a traditional heating method like district heating and an connected renewable energy source, such as pellets, wood, wood chips or solar energy.
A hybrid heating system works by primarily utilizing renewable energy. When renewable energy is not available in sufficient quantities, the system automatically switches to the traditional heating method. Hybrid heating offers flexibility and efficiency, as it can adapt to varying conditions and energy availability. Hybrid heating is flexible because it can take advantage of price fluctuations for different heat sources and thus reduce energy costs in the long term.
Reducing the carbon footprint of housing involves daily decisions
Reducing the carbon footprint of housing requires long-term commitment and a combination of many small measures for change to occur. With small daily decisions, however, you can reduce your own carbon footprint for the benefit of the environment. Kardonar Bioenergy Solutions will help you choose the heating system that best serves you, so that you can reduce your own housing-related carbon footprint. Contact us – we are happy to help!