Did you know that the average person generates 4.3 pounds of waste per day? That is 1.6 pounds more than in 1960.
Household waste is a growing problem in North America, and even with recycling and composting, the number above continues to grow. There are many ways to reduce your household consumption and waste, but did you know that heat pumps can also help you reduce your household waste? Here are several ways a geothermal heat pump or air to water heat pump can help you reduce your household waste.
No Filter or Reusable Filters
If you have a forced air home heating system, your furnace probably uses a filter to remove dust and debris from the air that goes into the machine to be heated. It’s important to change these filters often to ensure your system is in optimal condition. In some cases, this can mean changing your air filter as frequently as every three months.
A water to air heat pump also requires a filter, but you can use an electrostatic filter. Electrostatic filters electrically charge dust and debris as it passes through the filter, causing it to stick to the filter instead of traveling through to the heat pump. Electrostatic filters have a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, which is a rating to determine how well they clean the air that travels through it. An electrostatic filter has the same MERV rating as a disposable pleated filter, which means it works just as well as a disposable filter.
The big pro with an electrostatic air filter is that it can be cleaned using soap and water, which means it’s reusable and doesn’t have to be replaced every few months. This reduces your household waste and saves you money.
If you have a radiant in-floor heating system run by a geothermal heat pump, high temperature heat pump, or air to water heat pump, there are no filters to change which will eliminate this household waste from your heating system altogether.
No Combustion, No Waste
Heat pumps are a closed system that is run purely on electricity. Whether you choose a geothermal or air source heat pump, the principal is the same: heat is moved from either the ground or air into your home using the principles of refrigeration. Heat pumps do not create smoke, ashes, moisture or any other waste material for you to remove. There are no deliveries from oil trucks and there are no trips to the shed for wood or pellets.
Long Lasting
A big part of a household’s consumption is the purchase of goods, not just regular everyday consumption like gasoline and food. Replacing appliances like refrigerators and electronics add a significant amount to your daily consumption, so purchasing products that will last a long time is a good way to curb your household waste.
Heat pumps are no exception to this rule, and buying a high-quality, Canadian-made heat pump is an excellent strategy for reducing your household waste.