Hydrogen is flammable and potentially explosive, but can it be used to heat Raleigh homes? Yes. Read more if you’re curious:
The technology
Especially with the new year 2022 finally here, Weather Master is always looking for new ways to improve our homes by researching into the latest technology. Now, it is time for us to take a look at a renewable energy technology that may be the solution.
Powerful hydrogen boilers can be used as a means of heating Raleigh homes instead of electricity or natural gas. Although there are some significant technical challenges that must be overcome if hydrogen heating technology is to be rolled out in all our homes. Although hydrogen heating is a great alternative to fossil fuels that burn greenhouse gases like carbon and release them into our atmosphere, using hydrogen fuel to heat our homes is unfortunately not very realistic right now …
The roadblocks
The main obstacle preventing everyone from having hydrogen boilers in their homes and using way less energy and emitting far less carbon? The simple fact that gas lines use natural gas, not hydrogen gas. If the existing gas network coming into our homes doesn’t support hydrogen, then it makes sense why it’s going to be at least a decade or two before we can expect to see this technology in Raleigh homes.
The existing technology
But, there’s still hope for a quicker solution! There’s something called a “hydrogen-ready boiler,” which burns natural gas and hydrogen together. This is a more realistic solution for the short-term, because it’s 80% natural gas and 20% hydrogen, and could feasibly be used in current gas lines with current gas boilers. That way, we’d be slowly working towards saving the environment, while not having to completely end reliance on fossil fuels.
Other technology
Despite the fact that hydrogen boilers replacing gas furnaces is a pretty far-off solution, it’s not the only renewable energy source out there that can help heat our homes. Solar thermal panels, for example, use the sun’s energy to heat water, which is then circulated through a heating system in your home. Geothermal technology also exists, using the Earth’s natural heat to warm our buildings.
And also, here at Weather Master, we are always taking a look at the most efficient furnaces and air conditioners on the market. We even have a furnace efficiency calculator on our website so you can see how our most efficient furnaces can save you money in the long run! Even if hydrogen boilers don’t become mainstream in the near future, there are still home heating options that save you money, and help save the environment too!
If you want to learn more about furnace replacement options for your Raleigh home, schedule an appointment online or call now: (919) 853-7910