[FLPERMACULTURE] heating systems

[Margaret McCasland]

I have a high efficiency propane boiler that provides hot water heat 
for one apartment (in floor and in baseboards) AND domestic hot water 
for 4 apartments.  It was pricey to start with (ca $7,000 including 
controls and installation) and I assume the price has gone up since 
2004), but it has been efficient since then.  BUT its efficiency 
comes partially from computerized controls that don't like living in 
a damp basement--which I have. I was one of the first people in the 
area to have a Munchkin installed, and it has turned out my basement 
(old farm house) was not an optimal location for one.  According to 
Dave Mountin at Weatherization/TCA, "Munchkins don't like moisture." 
I had already had one control failure when he told me that., and the 
computer shut the system down for no good reason twice since then.  A 
friend with a Munchkin in Fall Creek (which also tends to have wet 
basements) has had similar problems.

In a previous location I went from forced air heat to a boiler for 
hot water heat and was very happy with it (quality of heat and lower 
bills, even tho forced hot air is generally efficient).

Both propane and natural gas are likely to only get more expensive in 
the future, so a non-petroleum system seems like a good idea if you 
can afford the up-front costs.

Don't heat pumps also provide cooling in the summer?  That may be an 
important consideration with climate changes.

Margaret

>I'm wondering if anyone has any experience, advice, or thoughts on 
>using a ground source heating system in this climate (ithaca)?  We 
>currently have a natural gas baseboard hydronic system. We really 
>like the heat it puts out, but the furnace will have to be replaced 
>at some point. So we are pondering what would be the most 
>economically and ecologically thoughtful replacement - a high 
>efficiency natural gas furnace? Ground source heat pump? Something 
>else?
>
>We'd appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thanks.
>Charlotte