• More solar energy falls to the earth in an hour than is used by everyone in the world in a year.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Considering alternative sources of heat makes more sense than ever before. Nonrenewable sources of energy such as crude oil and natural gas are being depleted at an alarming rate, and governments everywhere are addressing different ways to power and heat homes and businesses. From woodburning stoves to geothermal pumps, there's a wide a range of alternatives to choose from, depending upon your heating needs.
  
  

Wood and Pellet Stoves

• Today's newer woodburning stoves meet emission and efficiency standards put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1988. Catalytic, high-tech non-catalytic and pellet stoves all meet these standards, states the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Information Center. Unlike older woodstoves that waste heat by sending it up in smoke, catalytic stoves burn all the gases generated by the fire, resulting in little waste of fuel. High-tech non-catalytic stoves operate less efficiently and need to be filled more often. Pellet stoves make use of recycled wood sawdust, resulting in less waste. They are less labor-intensive than woodstoves from the standpoint of buying, and stacking wood.
  
  

Solar Energy

• A passive solar heating system called direct gain works on the basis of heat collected and stored in special materials built into the walls and floors, and released when the sun isn't shining. Houses equipped with direct gain materials usually have large south-facing windows to take advantage of the maximum amoung of direct sunlight. Passive solar heat can also be created by adding a sunspace or a trombe wall on the south side of a house. The sunspace acts like a greenhouse, while the trombe space is a thick solid wall made of materials that collect heat and painted black with a glass panel in front of it. The wall releases its heat inside the building during the night or on cloudy days.
  
  

Geothermal Heat

• Geothermal heat relies on the earth's ability to trap heat and maintain temperatures year-round. The heat is collected in pipes beneath the soil or under a pond or other body of water. It is carried to the home by liquids, where a compressor and heat exchanger raise its temperature and release it into the living space via duct fans. The pumps are usually located in basements or attics, but some are small enough to be installed on a closet shelf. About 70 per cent of the energy used by the pump is renewable, with about 30 per cent coming from the electricity needed to power the pump and the duct fans.
  
  

Emergency Heating

• No discussion of alternative heating sources would be complete without including information on short-term heating emergency solutions. These can result from a power outage, problems with your main source of heat, or temporarily running out of fuel. Electric space heaters and kerosene heaters can keep you warm during these emergencies, but a few words of caution must accompany their use. Both types of heater should be located a good distance away from all combustible materials, and should be monitored constantly. If you must use an extension cord with your electric heater, be sure it is a heavy duty model marked #14 or #12, which indicate the thickness of the wire inside the cord. A kerosene space heater should carry the Underwriters Laboratory or UL listing indicating that it meets all safety codes. Store kerosene outside away from the home and always keep a window slightly open when using the heater.