Re: New paradigm for home heating automation and control

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

Pat,

I think Marc was just trying to be humorous!  With the energy cost situation
*temporarily* upside down, the spill heat from from leaving something like
the fridge door open is likely to reduce the demand for more expensive gas
or oil because the open door and ever-running compressor  would help to heat
the house via cheaper electricity.  As you point out, there are other,
hidden costs.

With gas and oil as pricey as they are, it's almost an economic certainty
the price of electricity will rise.

It does give rise to an interesting question:  Does it pay to have two types
of heating systems if there's a tremendous flux in availability of fuel
sources?  How would that be manageable from an HA standpoint?

--
Bobby G.




"Pat Farrell" <pfarrell@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BXJpf.66337$sg5.21260@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Marc F Hult wrote:
> > For example, leaving lights turned on 24x7 and the fridge door open both
> > have the potential of _reducing_ my total bill from my utility during
the
> > heating season.
>
> Leaving the fridge door open does what? Causes the compressor to
> run constantly and food to spoil? You are using the compressor to
> generate heat, colder on the shelf side of the fridge, hotter
> on the back and top.  A big toaster does it better
> and doesn't have expensive parts to wear out.
>
> Leaving the lights on is exactly the same as running a
> resistance heater or as the heat pump folks call it
> "emergency heat". Except that the light bulbs burn out
> and all the lights help keep you up at night and fade
> colors.
>
> Use a well to provide heat to your heat pump year round.
> Well established technology.
>
> Assuming you can tolerate the luke warm air that a heat
> pump puts out.
>
> On topic, zoning is probably a useful area for home automation.
>
>
> --
> Pat
>
>