EGEE 102
Energy Conservation for Environmental Protection

Review and Extra Resources

PrintPrint

Review Sheet Lesson 8 – Home Heating

  • Home Heating Systems
    • Most commonly used heating fuel
    • Types of heating systems
      • Operating principle of the various types of heating systems
      • Advantages and Disadvantages of the various types of heating systems
    • Heat pumps
      • Operating principle
      • Efficiency
        • COP calculation when inside and outside temperatures are given. Remember to convert temperatures to K in these calculations.
        • What happens when one temperature changes (either inside or outside) the COP?
      • Geothermal heat pumps
        • Operating principle
        • Classification – Difference between open loop and closed loop, vertical and horizontal loops
        • Benefits
    • Passive and Active Solar Heating methods
    • Ways to improve the energy efficiency of the heating systems

Test Yourself

The questions below are your chance to test and practice your understanding of the content covered in this lesson. In other words, you should be able to answer the following questions if you know the material that was just covered! If you have problems with any of the items, feel free to post your question on the unit message board so your classmates, and/or your instructor, can help you out!

  1. Compare and contrast the three conventional heating methods (forced air duct, hydronic floor, and baseboard heating systems).
  2. Describe any five methods (total) to reduce home heating/cooling costs, and explain how each step reduces the energy consumption.
  3. Explain the operation principle of a ground source heat pump. Explain the difference between an open-loop and a closed-loop GHP.
  4. What is the difference between active and passive heating systems?
  5. With a neat sketch, describe how an active solar heating system works.
  6. Describe any three passive heating methods.
  7. Explain how a geothermal heat pump works and why it is so efficient.
  8. Explain clearly how an air-to-air heat pump works. List the main components used in the heat pump.

Extra Resources

For more information on topics discussed in Lesson 8, see these selected references:

  1. Aubrecht, G.L. Energy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.
  2. Christensen, J.W. Global Science: Energy Resources Environment. 4th ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 1996.
  3. Fay, J.A, and Golomb, D.S. Energy and the Environment. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
  4. Hinrichs, R.A. Energy. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishers, 1992.
  5. Space Heating by Climate Zone
  6. Forced Air Furnace
  7. Bob Villa Home Improvement
  8. HomeTips
  9. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable energy
  10. Orange and Rockland