Eco-Friendly Heating Options

The pellet stove heats your home while saving you money.

I don’t know about you, but my electric and gas bills have both increased in the last year. Although I live in Florida, I’m interested in finding the most eco-friendly options for heating my home. To my surprise, there are some great options that are perfect for people living in the dead of winter in Wisconsin or the crisp winters of Texas.

In my unofficial research, I found the most affordable way to heat your home and support sustainability is a pellet stove. Pellet stoves are very much like wood burning stoves, but they use small pellets made from wood that would otherwise be thrown away (like sawdust). Pellet stoves are more energy efficient and they are able to heat your home with less fuel. The best part: They emit a minimal level of pollutants (much less than the power plant making your electricity). The average-sized home can stay warm with one pellet stove, and they cost between $1,200 and $2,500, depending on the size.

Another eco-friendly way to heat your home is with the sun. This type of solar energy, called space heating, doesn’t convert the sun’s rays into electricity; instead it uses the heat from the sun to heat the air in your home. These systems can heat up to 80% of a home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Obviously, this system doesn’t produce any pollution, making it a very attractive option. It is 100% clean energy. These systems are pricier, costing about $20,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home.

There are affordable ways to cut the dependence on your local energy source and begin making a difference in your home. Most eco-friendly heating systems have a hefty upfront cost, but they can be much cheaper in the long run. Heating your home can be earth friendly, just like the rest of your lifestyle.