Heating is a necessity during cold winters, and homeowners have several options to choose from when it comes to keeping their homes warm. Two popular heating systems are gas ducted heating and reverse cycle air conditioning. While both heating options have their advantages and disadvantages, understanding the differences between them is essential to make an informed decision.
Gas Ducted Heating:
Gas ducted heating is a heating system that uses natural gas to heat up the air, which is then distributed throughout the house through a network of ducts. The system comprises a gas furnace or heater, a thermostat, and a ducting system. The furnace heats the air, which is then pushed through the ducts and into the rooms through the vents.
One significant advantage of gas ducted heating is its cost-effectiveness. Natural gas is cheaper than electricity, and gas heaters have a lower operating cost than other heating systems. Gas ducted heating is also more efficient than other heating systems, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
Another advantage of gas ducted heating is that it provides instant heat. The furnace can heat the air quickly, and the warm air is distributed immediately, making it ideal for colder climates.
However, gas ducted heating has some drawbacks. For one, it requires regular maintenance to ensure it operates safely and efficiently. The ducting system also requires regular cleaning to prevent dust and allergens from circulating through the home. Additionally, gas ducted heating can be noisy, and it can be challenging to regulate the temperature in individual rooms.
Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning:
Reverse cycle air conditioning is a heating system that uses refrigeration to heat or cool the air. The system comprises an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a ducting system. The outdoor unit absorbs heat from the air outside and transfers it to the indoor unit. The indoor unit then heats the air and distributes it throughout the house through the ducting system.
One significant advantage of reverse cycle air conditioning is that it can also be used for cooling during hot summers, making it a year-round heating and cooling option. It is also quieter than gas ducted heating and provides more precise temperature control, allowing for different temperatures in individual rooms.
However, reverse cycle air conditioning is more expensive to install than gas ducted heating. It also has a higher operating cost, particularly if electricity prices are high in the area. It is also less efficient than gas ducted heating in extremely cold temperatures, which means it may struggle to keep up in particularly cold climates.
Conclusion:
In summary, gas ducted heating and reverse cycle air conditioning are both effective heating options, but they have significant differences. Gas ducted heating is cost-effective, efficient, and provides instant heat, but it requires regular maintenance and can be noisy. Reverse cycle air conditioning is a year-round heating and cooling option, quieter, and provides more precise temperature control, but it is more expensive to install and has a higher operating cost. Homeowners should consider their individual needs, climate, and budget when choosing between these two heating options.

Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating System Easy installation with little disorder or disruption to your life.

• Installing our system is easy for a contractor.
• We offer different styles of indoor unit options to meet your personal needs.
• Our outdoor units have a small footprint and can be placed conveniently or even hidden by foliage to complete the system.

Typical installation

One of the great features of the Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating system is its ease of installation. A qualified contractor can usually install it in about a day. There is little to no ductwork required so you don't have to worry about disorder in your home interrupting your life or costly remodeling expenses. The sleek indoor unit mounts discreetly within the space, and a pair of refrigerant lines plus power and control wiring connect it to the outdoor unit through a small three-inch opening in the wall.





Different styles of indoor units

Ducted style. When a ducted model is selected as the indoor unit that best fits your need, it can easily be installed either in the ceiling or beneath the floor in a crawl space or basement. This style accommodates the use of short duct runs and registers to deliver and return air from the space to the unit.

Wall-mounted style. A wall-mounted unit mounts high on a wall and is unobtrusive to the visual area within a room. The wall unit models are similar in white color but come in two different designs that have different features that enhance their functions within the space.

Floor-standing style. The floor-standing model attaches to the wall six inches above the floor in areas where there is minimal or no wall space.

Click here to view our Product Showcase for more information on the indoor unit models.

Outdoor units complete the system

The outdoor units for each of the systems have a small physical footprint to take up as little space outside as possible and can even be hidden by foliage. With the use of LINE-HIDE™ line-set cover accessory, the lines connecting the indoor to outdoor unit can be cleanly hidden.  The PVC material of LINE-HIDE can be painted to match the exterior so that as little visual change as possible will be apparent.

Plumbing tips for saving water and energy.  Most of these plumbing problems represent an opportunity to conserve money and energy.

Here are a few ways your plumber can help you save money and energy

1. Repair leaky plumbing fixtures, one drip can cost up to $70 a year
2. Install low-flow showerheads, save up to $265 a year
3. Switch to a low-flow toilet, save up to $90 a year

Your water heater may be burning excessive energy

1. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand; an endless supply of hot water without energy waste
2. Keep water heater temperature at 120 degrees and insulate hot water pipes; your water heating energy costs will go down
3. Replace your water heater if it is over 8 years old; better efficiency will pay off in energy savings
4. Tankless water heaters do not waste energy heating and re-heating stored water which saves significant energy

Change the way you use water around your home

1. Do not pre-rinse dishes for the dishwasher
2. Do not water landscaping during peak sunlight hours

What is truly staggering is the amount of water and energy that can be saved if all the households in the local area were to repair a simple leaking plumbing fixture. One leaky tap can waste up to 2 gallons of water per day. That adds up to a lot of wasted water every day.

There are huge opportunities all around us to improve water conservation and energy savings. We can all start small, literally one drop at a time.


This was originally posted on http://4rooterguy.com/blog/plumbing-tips-saving-water-energy/

01.Home insulation In brief

• Insulating your roof or ceiling will help keep your home a pleasant temperature, save you money on energy bills, and pay for itself over time.
• Several different materials are available — the best one for you depends on your particular circumstances and preferences.
• With non-renewable energy resources dwindling, insulation is even more crucial nowadays, and mandatory if you’re building a new home — see Mandatory energy ratings.

How insulation works

Heat always travels towards cooler areas. Insulation works by reducing the amount of heat entering from outside your home when it’s hot, and trapping warmth inside when it’s cold outside. The highest percentage of heat transfer occurs via the roof and ceiling, so it’s most important to insulate here. Insulation materials work by affecting some or all of the below three ways of heat transfer.

• Conduction is the direct transfer of heat through solid materials. A metal poker put into a fire is heated through conduction.
• Convection involves the transport of heat via the movement of gases or liquids. You’ll feel convection taking place in a two-storey house — the heat rises from the lower floor to the top.
• Radiation is the transfer of heat across space from a warm body to a cold one — an example is the heat emitted by a bar radiator.

Materials
Insulation can be grouped into three categories:

Bulk Bulk insulation contains fibres that trap tiny pockets of air, which resist heat flow because these air pockets are poor conductors.
Types of bulk insulation available include:

• Glasswool. (fibreglass)
• Rockwool*
• Natural wool* (often mixed with polyester)
• Polyester*
• Polystyrene boards
• Loose fill (made of shredded or granulated material)

Some examples are:

• Cellulose fibre (made from recycled paper)
• Natural wool
• Granulated rockwool

* All come as batts or blankets.

Reflective Reflective insulation dramatically reduces infrared radiant heat transfer from a hot surface to a cooler one. It's available as:

• Foil sheets laminated onto paper
• Concertina-style foil
• as a multi-cell foil product (silver batts) — a structure made of two to four layers of foil with air spaces in between
• To reflect heat, foil insulation needs to face an air space of at least 25 mm.

Composite Composite materials combine elements of the two other types.
These include:

• Batts or blankets with foil backing (foil side facing out)
• Foil-faced boards

Which is best? While manufacturers of each type tend to talk up their product, experts say any insulation is preferable to none, and every material has its place. The product chosen usually depends on personal issues, such as:

• Price
• Whether it’s made from recycled material
• Where the insulation is being installed
• Who’s doing the installation (DIY or professional installers)

Read more: http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/heating-and-cooling/home-heating/home-insulation-buying-guide.aspx#ixzz30VxRKAdU