Wisconsin Aids Homeowners in Rolling Out Solar

Oftentimes when we think about solar energy, we assume it’s primarily harnessed in sunny states like Arizona, New Mexico, or Nevada. In Wisconsin, we rarely consider our state to be overtly sunny. However, Wisconsin is actually in a geographic location optimal for maximizing the energy of the sun. Wisconsin surprisingly receives a full 75% more of the sun’s energy than Arizona. The government of Wisconsin recognizes this and is fully behind utilizing the sun’s energy to improve the planet and the lives of its residents.

The Wisconsin government is committed to solar energy: they plan to install solar systems in all of their buildings to channel the sun’s power and reduce its use of electricity. Wisconsin has also developed programs to encourage its residents to install solar energy in their homes and commercial buildings. If you’re concerned about the financial hit that might accompany installing solar power, you’ll be pleased to know that the state has decided to ease that burden for its residents.

To offset the costs of installation and set-up, incentives are being provided to promote the technology. The state is also offering rebates if residents are willing to upgrade to solar energy. You don’t have to encase your home in solar panels to participate in the programs: start small by installing a solar hot water system. This is above and beyond using energy efficient water showerheads and aerators for your faucets to cut down on energy costs. Not only does this energy and government program aid in conserving the environment, it saves you money.

A few more details about these government programs: if you install a solar hot water energy system in your home, you can receive a rebate of up to 25% of the cost of installation. You may also receive a $2,500 reward. On top of that, if your system produces in excess of 250 therms per year, you may get an additional reward of up to $35,000. Contact Earth Energy Systems today for a free estimate and be on your way to clean, efficient, and pocketbook friendly energy.

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Alternative Heating Solutions to Keep You Warm this Winter

With another Wisconsin winter upon us, we’re now settled in for the coldest months of the year. In order to keep our homes cozy and well-defended against the arctic cool, we must be diligent about maintaining our heating systems. Very little will cause more angst than returning home mid-January to find your heating system malfunctioning. If this misfortune knocks on your door, contact Earth Energy Systems for an assessment.

Energy prices are volatile and though you can stymie costs by keeping the thermostat down, this isn’t the answer. With today’s technological advancements, a home can be kept at a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank. At Earth Energy Systems we pride ourselves on the ability to evaluate your home and how you live in it and then strategically use that information to choose the most energy efficient heating system designed specifically for your needs.

Radiant In-Floor Heat

Families typically congregate in certain rooms of their house the majority of the time that they’re home. The family room, kitchen, a child’s bedroom, or the bathroom might be well-used rooms. The spare bedrooms, the basement, and the home office maybe aren’t primary activity hubs, but with traditional heating systems they are kept warm regardless of the bodies present. You pay for that unused heat. Radiant heat is an excellent solution to this issue.

Radiant floor heating is relatively inexpensive to install and offers huge benefits that will quickly pay for themselves. With radiant floor heating, the heating coils used to warm your space can be installed in a variety of ways based on your home’s design. A wall thermostat can be installed in each room to control the heat settings room by room. If you aren’t using a specific room, the heat can be turned down and then adjusted accordingly (or set on a timer) when you need the room warmed back up. In addition, you can have a “weather sensitive control” installed that adjusts the panel temperature to work in concert with the outside temperature which offers additional savings.

Wood Pellet Stove

Another energy-saving heat source is a wood pellet stove. This gives you an advantage because you would no longer be at the mercy of volatile energy prices or power failures. Pellet stoves are also environmentally friendly. Fueled by pellets made from sawdust and timber byproducts (about the size of pencil erasers) you would be assisting in the efforts to recycle waste from industrial timber activities. Pellet stoves can hold 50 lbs. of pellets and can operate for 60 hours on one fuel load. The blowers are whisper-quiet and emit no smoke. Depending on the model you choose, you can have a five-year or limited lifetime warranty on the appliance and have either four heat settings and two thermostat modes (high/low or on/off) or a digital control panel. Pellet stoves are 81 percent fuel efficient and they keep you off the grid.

Outdoor Wood Stove

Yet another alternative heating solution is an outdoor wood stove. A wood stove is ideal for those who have scrap wood sources or the ability to cut their own firewood. Earth Energy Systems offers multiple models, but all of our options are energy efficient: no fuel or byproducts enter your home keeping you safe from smoke, soot, and fumes, and each model is designed to deliver the maximum BTUs. This translates into less time spent cutting wood and filling your stove. Insulated underground pipes move the heated water into your home’s heat exchanger and heating system and you simply control the temperature with a thermostat inside your home.

Whether you need to replace your current system now or are thinking about the future, give us a call. An Earth Energy specialist will come in and evaluate your heating needs. They will thoroughly check your windows, doors, walls, floors, insulation and ductwork and discuss how you use the various areas of your home. That information will be crunched in order to recommend the most efficient and cost effective system for you. Earth Energy Systems serves Polk and Burnett Counties and portions of Washburn and Barron Counties. Our estimates are free and we offer a wide variety of financing options at favorable terms. Contact us today!