There may be no free lunch - but there's definately "free" heat!  Most of our traditional heating technology involves 2 stages - one to generate the heat, the other to circulate it where it's needed.  With green heat technologies - the heat is free.

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Solar Air Heating - If you've sat in a car waiting for someone on a sunny day in December - you've felt the power of solar air heating.  One of the most efficient green heat technologies, solar air heating systems are available to heat small homes, schools, rec centers, manufacturing plants - they can even be used in agricultural applications for drying crops like spices or tea. (where would we be without a good cup of tea?).

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 Passive Solar Heating - Before you look for free and easy ways to heat - you need to make sure your building is as efficient as possible - anything less would be like filling a bucket with holes in it.  What 20 years ago typically conjured images of trendy or avante guard architecture is now integrated in homes across the world because its just good common sense.  Find as many ways as you can to keep heat in a house - and find as many ways as you can to take advantage of the "free" heat from the sun.   Many of the principles of early passive solar design are now considered common practice - high performance windows with low-e and argon, high insulation levels,  heat recovery, air circulation, windows on the sunny side, etc. 

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Solar Water Heating - In many parts of the world it is becomming a requirement that new homes have a solar water heating system in the building plans or they don't get a permit.  The technology has evolved and matured and  it is receiving greater attention these days - but there are many home and building owners who have happily been benefiting from free hot water for close to 20 years.  Solar water heating systems can be used to heat domestic hot water for showers and washing in homes or in hospitals, hotels, car washes, dairy farms - anywhere that needs to run a hot water faucet.  They can also be used in conjunction with hydronic radiant flooring systems to provide part of the heat load for buildings.

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GeoThermal Heating - almost 50% of the suns energy is absorbed into the earth every day of the year.   The farther you go underground, the less that temperature changes with the seasons.  Geothermal heat pump systems take the heat from the ground and use it to create more heat for your building.  (sounds complicated but it's not really)  Electricity is required in the process to convert the earth heat into room heat or hot water - but at a fraction of the cost of generating heat with a traditional system.

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**** site under construction - more descriptions and case studies coming soon ****