Alternative Home Heating Technologies Have Arrived

The Future is Now for Home Furnaces and Heating Systems!

As our world continues to contemplate the efficiency of existing heating technologies and more and more homeowners become concerned about depleting natural resources, especially fossil fuels, there have been several new innovations in home heating. Here we outline three of the leading alternative heating technologies.


Solar Panels:

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to change sunlight to electricity. To use this technology effectively, a home needs a south-facing roof with a precise pitch so that the cells are exposed to maximum sunlight. While other heating sources like traditional furnaces and hybrid heating systems are still cheaper for most homeowners, solar panel heating systems are growing in popularity every year thanks to government subsidies and enthusiastic advocates.

According to one source, solar panel installation has increased nearly ten-fold since this time last year. For most homeowners, however, the cost of solar panel installation remains prohibitive. From start to finish, installation costs can run anywhere from $25,000 to more than $75,000 depending on geographical location and the size of the home. Even with government incentives and credits—which can often supplement almost half of the installation cost—it will take years for most homeowners to recoup the cost of initial installation.


Solar Furnaces:

Like solar panel heating systems, solar furnaces harness the power of the sun to heat your home. These devices work like a giant magnifying glass, concentrating sunlight on a single point to generate powerful heat. Highly reflective mirrors reflect the sun’s rays, creating temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for a standard furnace and more than 3000 degrees Fahrenheit for larger units. This heat can be converted to energy capable of powering a variety of other applications. Surprisingly, solar panels provide more efficient heating for residential furnaces, and solar furnaces are more effective at powering other things like ovens and other electric appliances.

The cost of a solar furnace is hard to pin down exactly. A crude solar furnace can be put together for as little as $10, while large commercial systems can cost millions. At this point, there are few middle-of-the-road options for homeowners who want to explore solar furnace heating, though there are several solar-powered oven ranges currently on the market. It is expected that this technology will experience rapid growth and development over the next five to ten years.


Geothermal Heating Systems:

The most tangible and efficient source of alternative home heating comes from the ground. More than half of the sun’s energy is absorbed into the ground, where it creates a nearly constant temperature that can be transferred to your home. Currently, geothermal heating has a much brighter future than most solar heating options available right now. Geothermal heating is an attractive choice for new home construction and green renovations, as it is much more affordable initially than solar options and pays for itself in just a few years with increased utility savings.

Interested in Alternative or Traditional Heating Solutions?

Contact the heating professionals at Horizon Services, Inc. Our experienced Comfort Consultants can perform a FREE, no-obligation In-Home Energy Analysis of your home to assess your home's heating and cooling requirements AND recommend a variety of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that will both maximize your comfort and reduce your utility bills.


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Brownies Almond



Wihhh uda rada lama nih ga bikin brownies panggang.

Sempet booming taon kmrn, masi keinget capenya ngerjain orderan brownies setiap hari bisa 20 loyang. Tapi so happy banget, kan tandanya lola's kitchen nya disayang banyak orang ^_^

Ini pesenannya Ci Lisa di Kedoya,katanya mau dikasi ke saudara2nya yang baru dateng dari Papua.

Pesennya 5 loyang , minta jangan manis n yg nyoklat plus yg banyak almond nya

Siang2 diambil ke rumahku..maap ya Ci Lis, bakul kue nya belom bisa full time.jadi kalo hari biasa belom bisa nganter..hehehehe.

Sore2 lagi ngantuk, terima bbm " non, Brownies lo enyakkkk. bener-bener nyoklat..trus kok bs ya, crunchy tp dalemnya lembut.tar minggu depan pas pada pulang ke Papua, aku pesen lagi ya"  wahh langsung deh seger lagi..

Wokehhhh..bakul kuenya mah siap selalu..Makasi ya Ci Lis..

MIXED PULAO:

Very long time ago, I have learned this from a friend. It will be more delicious than any other pulao as it has so many ingredients in it like dal, sago, rice flakes, vermicelli and rice. It takes a little more time to arrange every thing but the final result will be very tasty and worthy.

கதம்ப புலவு

Ingredients:

Rice flakes- half cup
Cooked basmati rice- half cup
Tuar dal- half cup
Finely sliced Onion-2
Chopped tomato—4 cups
vermicilli- half cup
Sago- half cup
Red chillies-3
Asafetida- half sp
Turmeric powder- half sp
Salt to taste
Shredded coconut- 1 cup
Cashew nuts-2 tbsp
Ghee- 2 tbsp
Oil- 4 tbsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Cumin seeds- half sp
Black gram- 1 tsp

Fry the following ingredients in a tsp of oil and then grind coarsely:

Green chillies-6
Coriander leaves- a handful,
Curry leaves-1/4 cup
Ginger- 1 tsp

Procedure:

Boil the sago in lots of water.
When it is ¾ th done add the vermicelli with enough salt.
When they are cooked, drain them in a colander.
Soak the dal in enough water for half an hour.
Then drain the water and grind it with the red chillies, asafetida and salt to a coarse paste.
Heat a pan and pour a tbsp of oil.
Add the coarse paste and fry them on slow fire until it turns like bread crumbs [usili].
Wash the rice flakes, drain the water thoroughly and keep it away.
In a pan pour a tbsp of ghee and fry the cashew nuts first and then add the coconut and fry for a few minutes until it turns golden brown.
Heat a big pan and pour the remaining oil and the ghee.
Add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add the cumin seeds and the black gram.
Fry them for a few seconds.
Add the onion slices and fry them to golden brown.
Add the tomato with the turmeric powder and fry them until they are mashed and the oil floats on top.
Add the rice flakes with a little salt and mix well.
Then add the cooked rice and mix well.
Cook for a few minutes.
Then add the dal mixture and cook again for a few minutes mixing well.
Add the ground mixture and mix well.
Lastly add the sago and the vermicelli.
Cook for a few minutes mixing them thoroughly.
Add the coconut and the cashew nuts.
Mix well.
The delicious mixed pulao is ready now!!