After yet another hot summer, the weather forecast shows a gradual drop in temperature, which will soon become more noticeable. This also signals the beginning of the heating season. In the past, the decision on how to heat a home was based on the availability of a particular energy source and which was the most cost-effective. Today, we face the additional dilemma of which energy source is more environmentally friendly, alongside the various options available to each household. As colder days approach, we will be met with challenges, but aside from bundling up in warm scarves and jackets, we will also face something that our school textbooks did not teach us. Let’s remember those school days when we learned that air has no color, smell, or taste. Now, we increasingly encounter the opposite – we can see the air through smog, and we can smell its unpleasant odor.
As the official heating season in Serbia is about to begin, and many homes have already started heating independently, I would like to briefly outline some of the most important energy sources we use. It’s difficult to cover them all, especially considering the fact that some households burn anything they can find. By this, I mean the information I learned at a lecture – certain citizens use used diapers, tires, books, and other “suitable” items found in their homes as energy sources.
The Most Commonly Used Energy Sources
In this category, we could include coal, wood, fuel oil, electricity, pellets, gas, heat pumps, and heating oil. Each of these has a different impact on financial costs and the environment. Among them, coal stands out as the largest polluter, while natural gas and heat pumps are at the lower end of the pollution scale. When it comes to electricity, its environmental impact depends on the energy source used for its production.
As I previously mentioned, coal is a fossil fuel and one of the biggest polluters among energy sources. During combustion, significant amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 particles, and other pollutants are released. It has a significant impact on climate change, global warming, and air pollution. The reason it is still widely used is its easy availability and low cost. It is important to highlight the problem of using lignite, a type of coal that contains a high moisture content, making it a less energy-efficient fuel. It is well-known that lignite is widely used in our country, and despite its lower efficiency, it heavily pollutes the environment.
Fuel oil is another energy source classified as a major polluter. This liquid fossil fuel is a byproduct of oil refining. Its combustion emits high levels of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particles. Although it is less harmful than coal, it remains high on the list of the biggest polluters. Worldwide, efforts are underway to shut down power plants that use these two energy sources. Another fossil fuel is heating oil, which emits harmful gases and particles, though in smaller quantities compared to coal and fuel oil. This makes it a more efficient energy source.
The use of wood is considered one of the oldest methods of heating. Readily available, it remains a common energy source, especially in rural areas. Wood is a renewable energy source and can be more environmentally friendly if used sustainably and properly. If burned improperly, it can lead to higher emissions. This happens when it is burned at low temperatures or in inefficient, old stoves, or when the wood is wet or contains chemicals like paint or glue. Pellet, a byproduct of wood, can be considered a descendant of wood. It belongs to the biomass category, produced from wood residues. Special stoves or boilers are required, and pellets emit fewer emissions and particles during combustion than wood. If sourced from trees grown in sustainably managed forests and if the stoves are of high quality, pellets are considered an efficient and environmentally friendly solution.
Natural gas emits fewer harmful emissions than other fossil fuels, but it should not be forgotten that it contains methane, a potent greenhouse gas. When it comes to electricity, there are no direct emissions during its use. Whether it is an environmentally friendly energy source depends on the energy source used for its production. If it comes from renewable sources such as wind or solar power, then the use of electricity is an environmentally friendly option for heating.
Lastly, I would mention heat pumps. They are an efficient and environmentally friendly way of heating, as they use natural heat sources from the air, ground, or water. What is important for them to be eco-friendly is that they are powered by electricity generated from green energy sources. However, the reason they are still not widely used is the high initial costs required for their installation.
The choice we make regarding energy sources for heating in households plays a crucial role in preserving the environment. If you decide to switch to a different heating method, you should be well-informed about the balance between costs and environmental impact. Choose an energy source that aligns with your means and that pollutes less.
