How to Heat Your House...

Source: "Warm Up How to heat your house—not the outside." By Meaghan O'Neill and treehugger.com Updated Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at 12:26 PM ET

More than 20 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United States come from energy use in homes. A major source of the problem is heating, and even though we're heading toward summer, heat is still an essential element in reducing your carbon load for the year. Some of us keep our homes warmer than we need to—if yours feels like an icebox in summer and a toaster in winter, you're probably in this group. In addition, most houses leak some hot air (and, in the summer, cool air) from every window, doorway, and air duct, which means that they're constantly wasting energy, and thereby upping CO2 emissions.

According to O'Neill there are always the alternatives to regular energy use. The article cites solar and wind energy, as well as geothermal heat sources - which are very "green" and will help your wallet in the long run. However, the article also gives suggestions if you are heating your home through traditional methods of gas or oil furnaces. Here are some suggestions:

• Chimneys of traditional fireplaces are designed to remove the byproducts of a fire by creating a draft. That means they suck heat from your home, even when they're not in use. It's a good idea to keep the damper closed. Better than a fireplace (or you could install one inside it) is a wood-burning or pellet stove. They supplement your regular heat source, are more efficient, and use fuel that's much cleaner and cheaper. • OK, so you're really stuck—you live in an apartment and can't choose where your heat comes from, or maybe even what temperature the thermostat is set to. You can still deal with your carbon sludge by purchasing carbon offsets for your home through programs like TerraPass. Your home won't get a direct delivery of green energy. But you'll be investing in it.

There are many different options for heating your home, ranging from pellet stoves to under-floor heating pipes to traditional furnaces and even space heaters. Whatever the method for heating your home, the goal is always to be comfortable and not break the bank. It might be time to start looking into some greener alternatives that will give you more comfort in home and maximize their efficency.