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| Monday, November 13, 2006 |
| Power Plant in your Basement? |
The Christian Science Monitor article: It heats. It powers. Is it the future of home energy? describes 'micro-combined-heat-and-power' gas furnaces that generate electricity along with heating your house and water. Down in Bernard Malin's basement is a softly thrumming metal box that turns natural gas into hot water and generates $600 to $800 worth of electricity a year - a bonus byproduct of heating his home.
"It's like printing money," says Mr. Malin, the first person in Massachusetts - perhaps in the nation - to own a residential "micro combined-heat-and-power" system, also known as micro-CHP.
But he's not likely to be the last. While this technology looks interesting, roof top solar shingles still have more appeal for me.Labels: Saving Energy |
| posted by Boston Gal @ 10:03 PM *
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| 2 Comments: |
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Hi Boston Gal,
I looked into this when they started the program. Only works with forced hot air right now, but they do plan on models for hydronic (hot water) systems. I'm on their email list for future.
It complements solar - It only works when the heat is on (i.e. winter), so solar would be more likely to help out in non-winter months.
In the future we will all probably have multiple alt energy sources in our homes.
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Ah! Thanks CB,
It makes so much more sense now. But wow, buying one of these systems as well as the solar system - that is a pretty big investment.
But I can see how they complement each other now that you have pointed it out :)
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Hi Boston Gal,
I looked into this when they started the program. Only works with forced hot air right now, but they do plan on models for hydronic (hot water) systems. I'm on their email list for future.
It complements solar - It only works when the heat is on (i.e. winter), so solar would be more likely to help out in non-winter months.
In the future we will all probably have multiple alt energy sources in our homes.