Last month, we looked at a piping approach for adding a pellet boiler and panel radiators to an existing two-zone baseboard system. The system’s original oil-fired boiler was being retained as an auxiliary heat source. 

Over the last several years, I’ve been reviewing submittals for proposed heating systems using pellet-fired boilers. The submittals come from heating professionals ranging from contractors to professional engineers. They’re required for a state incentive program that offers significant rebates to encourage growth of the biomass heating market.

Nearly all systems using cordwood gasification or pellet-fueled boilers perform best when the system includes a thermal storage tank. 

Geothermal energy has been making big headlines recently, and the consensus is clear that geothermal offers a path toward clean energy goals.

It’s been a while since this column addressed solar thermal applications. 

There is an increasing awareness — among consumers and governments alike — that climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have a severely harmful impact on the environment. 

Whenever a hydronic system is divided into several zones, it’s worth considering a buffer tank between the heat source and distribution system.

There are sorted opinions about using expansion tanks within closed geothermal earth loops.