Interesting article on heating homes in Europe...

[K Frame]

but without burning fossil fuels.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200204-what-is-the-most-sustainable-way-to-heat-homes

The first one is the most interesting, in which heat exchangers are being put in sewers to grab heat in the tunnels and move it to homes. Sort of like a geothermal system without the wells.

[Hawkmoon]

Sewers?

The nearest sewer to my house is miles away, in another town.

[charby]

Sewers?

The nearest sewer to my house is miles away, in another town.

pull heat from your septic system

[K Frame]

Jesus wept... it's not an article advocating a "one system for everyone" kind of thing... Obviously it's where sewers are a thing... 

[charby]

Jesus wept... it's not an article advocating a "one system for everyone" kind of thing... Obviously it's where sewers are a thing... 

"If I can't use it, it won't work for anyone"

[makattak]

As I recall, Europe (Western, at least) has much milder temperatures than, say, the U.S as a whole. And, for example, the Midwest, specifically.

Might not even be the lack of sewers that would preclude Charby from using it.

[charby]

As I recall, Europe (Western, at least) has much milder temperatures than, say, the U.S as a whole. And, for example, the Midwest, specifically.

Might not even be the lack of sewers that would preclude Charby from using it.

A few years ago I toured a turn of the century house in Ames, IA that an architect was rehabbing to try to make it energy neutral as possible for HVAC. He drew outside air through a tube buried in the ground as his main source of climate control. It was the middle of the winter and the house was quite comfortable. I didn't see any forced air electric/gas furnace or boiler in the basement either. He was self experimenting to see of older homes could be rehabbed this way.

[lupinus]

Sewers?

The nearest sewer to my house is miles away, in another town.

Well, I guess you're just screwed then.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[brimic]

pull heat from your septic system

Doesn't the septic system need the heat in order to work effectively?

[lupinus]

Doesn't the septic system need the heat in order to work effectively?

I believe so. But would you be siphoning enough heat for it to impact it doing it's things wonder?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[charby]

Doesn't the septic system need the heat in order to work effectively?

Septic should be below the frost line so the heat of the earth keeps the bacteria happy. Warmer temps move to cooler temps, so shouldn't be a problem keeping the poop eaters happy.

[Doggy Daddy]

Septic should be below the frost line so the heat of the earth keeps the bacteria happy. Warmer temps move to cooler temps, so shouldn't be a problem keeping the poop eaters happy.

Then why do Dems always look so ill-tempered.

[WLJ]

Then why do Dems always look so ill-tempered.

An over abundance of E Coli

[Hawkmoon]

Jesus wept... it's not an article advocating a "one system for everyone" kind of thing... Obviously it's where sewers are a thing... 

Thank you for clarifying that, Captain Obvious. 

[charby]

Then why do Dems always look so ill-tempered.

Side effect of TDS

[K Frame]

Doesn't the septic system need the heat in order to work effectively?

Septic systems get heat from both the ground and from the activity of the bacteria.

Depending on how much heat you tried to take out of the system I think you could run into problems with slowing the bacterial action down.

I know some large commercial septic plants have been designed so that they can harvest both excess heat and methane gas.

[K Frame]

A few years ago I toured a turn of the century house in Ames, IA that an architect was rehabbing to try to make it energy neutral as possible for HVAC. He drew outside air through a tube buried in the ground as his main source of climate control. It was the middle of the winter and the house was quite comfortable. I didn't see any forced air electric/gas furnace or boiler in the basement either. He was self experimenting to see of older homes could be rehabbed this way.

Interesting concept, but I can't see how it would work to provide the primary source of heat without either a heat pump or some sort of additional boosting. 8 to 10 feet under ground the temperature is pretty steady 50 deg. F. That's simply not going to cut it for providing primary heat to a home in the middle of an Iowa winter.

The fact that ground temperature is stable year round is what makes geothermal heat pumps so damned energy efficient.

[K Frame]

Thank you for clarifying that, Captain Obvious. 

Well, then, what the hell was the point of your comment? Anti-virtue signaling? A momentary spell of retardery? 

[charby]

Interesting concept, but I can't see how it would work to provide the primary source of heat without either a heat pump or some sort of additional boosting. 8 to 10 feet under ground the temperature is pretty steady 50 deg. F. That's simply not going to cut it for providing primary heat to a home in the middle of an Iowa winter.

The fact that ground temperature is stable year round is what makes geothermal heat pumps so damned energy efficient.

Probably did, I was seeking out a gas furnace and not looking for a heat pump unit.

[dogmush]

Septic systems get heat from both the ground and from the activity of the bacteria.

Depending on how much heat you tried to take out of the system I think you could run into problems with slowing the bacterial action down.

I know some large commercial septic plants have been designed so that they can harvest both excess heat and methane gas.

Perhaps drop some electric heating coils in the septic tank to make sure the bacteria stay warm enough while allowing you to use a green renewable form of heating for your house?

[Pb]

I sounds like really interesting technology.  I wonder how cost effective it is?

[K Frame]

"Perhaps drop some electric heating coils in the septic tank to make sure the bacteria stay warm enough while allowing you to use a green renewable form of heating for your house?"

I can't really see that being very effective. The energy you'd put into the tank would be largely withdrawn to go to the house.

Seems like it would be less hassle, more efficient, and a less shitty job to just put those electric coils to work heating your home.