To: Winona I. Zard, Mayor of Emerald City
From: (Insert Name), Consultant, Natural Habitat
Date: (Insert Date Due)
Subject: Report on Environmentally Friendly Home Heating Solutions for Mr. Sell
a) Background Information
In a recent letter to the Mayor’s office, Mr. Colin Sell, a purchaser of an old house in Emerald City, requested for consultancy services concerning the update of his house. Sell wanted to know about the available options that he could choose from when updating his home to make it an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home. Being a new employee of the Natural Habitat, I have not yet enjoyed a long working relationship with Mr. Sell. However, my aim is to make the available options of updating the home heating system so that he can compare the options before choosing the most suitable ones that he shall use for updating his home’s heating system
b) Model Problem Statement
The city of Emerald faces the current problem of shortage of housing. Consequently, most of the newcomers in the city choose older homes with the aim of upgrading them to the current standards. The challenge with the old structures, however, is that they do not have modern heating systems that are environmentally friendly. There is the need to understand the ways of upgrading the home heating systems to comply with the current requirement for heating systems that are environmentally friendly. This report contains information that is specific to the area of home heating because it is the area where I specialize as per my appointment.
According to the statistics from the National Fire Protection Association 2011 report, many homes in USA do not use safe and environmentally friendly heating systems. The statistics show that 81% of the civilian deaths in USA were results of the use of space heaters in the homes. Water heaters and chimneys each contributed 6% of the deaths while central heating units contributed 4% of the deaths. There is need to upgrade the heating systems in the homes to comply with the safety and environmental health requirements.
c) Analysis of the options that Mr. Sell can use in Updating his Home’s Heating system
I am happy to inform Mr. Sell that he has four options to choose from our company. Our company offers a variety of home heating systems that are cost effective an environmentally friendly.
i) Option 1: Boilers versus water radiators
In terms of the heating system for the water, Mr. Sell has two options from which to choose. He can choose to use boilers or water radiators. However, I would like to inform Mr. Sell that water heaters or radiators are more cost-effective than boilers. A high quality water heater is more cost-effective and environmentally friendlier than boilers. Mr. Sell also needs to know the advantages of water radiators and boilers. The good thing with water heaters is that they have high efficiency of up to 95% (Radiantech.com, 2014). The water heaters that our company offers can assist in various functions at the same time. While heating the domestic water in the home, our heaters also provide space heat. The water heaters that we offer are durables because they are made of stainless steel. We also offer energy efficient boilers. The boilers are reliable for maintaining the heat-water system. However, the limitation of the boilers is that Mr. Sell shall not benefit by having his space system receiving heat when heating his water. This is an ability that is only in the water heaters.
ii. Option 2: Furnaces (Gas vs. Oil vs. Electric)
Our company offers a variety of furnaces that Mr. Sell can use for updating his home’s heating system. The company offers three types of furnaces. The gas furnaces that the company offers have high energy efficiency. The other advantage of gas heaters is that they have lesser impact on the environment compared to the types of heaters (Enlightenme.com, 2014). The heaters are cost-effective because they maintain the home’s temperatures better than other types of furnaces but at a low cost. Mr. Sell can also get the electric furnaces from our company. However, electric furnaces promote overreliance of electricity and Mr. Sell should know that when he uses electric furnaces, he will increase the electricity costs of his home. Oil furnaces rely on oil for them to produce the heat that the home needs. Compared to the other types of furnaces, oil furnaces are not cost-effective and environmentally friendly because they promote overreliance on oil, which is a non-renewable source of energy (Enlightenme.com, 2014).
iii. Option 3: Electric radiators vs. Wall heaters
Mr. Sell can also choose between electric radiators and wall heaters. Both options use electricity. The wall heaters are mounted against the wall to provide the house with heat. However, Sell should understand that the disadvantage of the two options is their lack of cost-effectiveness (Radiantec.com, 2014). They rely on high consumption of electric power and the meaning is that the amount of energy his home consumes shall increase.
iv. Option four: Geothermal heaters
Our company can also develop a geothermal heat system at Mr. Sell’s home. The advantage of the geothermal heat system is its high efficiency in cutting the electric costs at the home. Geothermal heaters are self reliant because the energy that the home shall use shall come from its underground. Geothermal power is also clean energy because it involves no combustion and, therefore, no pollution effect on the environment. However, the limitation is that it is costly to install it. Also, geothermal heaters shall derive at least a third of their heat energy from electricity, and this shall be expensive for Mr. Sell. However, it shall generally reduce the dependence of Mr. Sell’s home on electricity (Eco Heat Solutions, 2014).
d) Next Step in the Consultation Process
1 week after the submission of this report, I will visit the Mr. Sell’s home to give him a detailed explanation of the report and the recommendations for the client’s need to update the home energy system. The report has only given the detailed discussion and analysis of the update-options for Mr. Sell. I shall give the specific recommendations that are tied to the energy update needs of the client.
May I thank the Mayor for giving me the opportunity to Inform Mr. Sell about the available options for updating his home’s heating system. I believe Mr. Sell has benefited from the consultation.
References
Eco Heat Solutions. (2014). “Heating Solutions: Geothermal,” Retrieved on November 15, 2014
from http://www.ecoheatsolutions.com/heatingsolutions/geothermalheat.html
Enlightenme.com. (2014).“Benefits of Gas Heaters,” Retrieved on November 15, 2014 from
http://enlightenme.com/gas-heaters/
Hall, J.R. (October, 2013). “National Fire Protection Association: Home Fires Involving Heating
Equipment,” Retrieved on November 15, 2014 from http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fire-causes/appliances-and-equipment/heating-equipment
Radiantec.com. (2014). “Use Water Heater to make Radiant Heat instead of a boiler,” Retrieved
on November 16, 2014 from http://www.radiantec.com/systems-sources/domestic-water-heaters.php
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