Replacing an old filter can save as much as 5 percent on your heating costs.

Did you know that houses produce more air pollution than cars? You can save the planet while you save on heating bills by choosing energy efficient heating appliances for your home. Some of today's 85% efficient boilers feature super insulation to prevent heat loss, computerized ecomatic control to make sure it only works when needed, and advanced corrosion protection.

The existing basement floor was a cold concrete slab that will now have ceramic tile floor installed over radiant heat mats. Bob talks with Kevin Murray from NuHeat Inc. about the electrical radiant heating pads. The pads go underneath the tile and can reach a temperature of about 92 degrees. Using the pads to heat a room uses about the same amount of electricity lighting the room. The pads plug into a programmable thermostat so the heating can be set to come on at regular times during the day. Murray then demostrates how the pad is installed. First, it is dry-fitted to the floor and set to fit the general area. The pad is then affixed to the floor using an adhesive mud. After the mud has been put on the concrete and the pad set in place, a float is used to press it down. The pad is made of a porous polycarbon fabric. After all the pads are put in place, the tile setter can put in the mastic and tile. Mike Blangiardi from Portsmouth Quality Flooring set and grouted the tile after letting the thinset sit for 24 hours. The homeowners selected a DalTile ceramic tile for the laundry and bathroom area. The homeowners should wait another 24 hours once the grout is complete before using the room.

Bob meets with Meredith Schelp from Mitsubishi Electric HVAC to learn about the City-Multi HVAC system that will heat and cool the Manhattan Brownstone floor-through apartment. This system allows for simultaneous heating and cooling of separate zones throughout the apartment, so that a busy kitchen can be cooled while a quiet den or bedroom receives heat. The system uses outdoor and indoor units with variable drives to accommodate delivery demands. There will be three units installed in the apartment, each above the ceiling in vestibules where the ceilings can be dropped to hide them. Joseph Yannaco of Polar Mechanical Corporation explains that the interior units control the temperature and delivery of the conditioned air. The thermostatic controls run on sensors, so there's no need to keep the panels mounted visibly on interior walls. Ducts carry the heated or cooled air throughout the apartment.

Bob meets with Erling Andersen of AIM (Andersen International Marketing) in the basement of the modern Colonial to discuss the heating system. The Boiler Room in a Box has just arrived in its crate, fully assembled and ready to hang on the wall. Although the gas-fired system has a very small footprint, it has a 175,000 btu boiler and can heat a 4,000 sq. ft. New England home. The water heated by the boiler is distributed throughout the house in two ways: through radiant baseboard and in-floor radiant tubing. The slimline baseboard is made of aluminum and copper with the water distributed through PEX tubing. In rooms with no space for baseboard, such as the kitchen, the heated water runs through special PEX tubing with an aluminum core that is suspended between the floor joists using plastic nail clips. Bob points out that the home's structural system comes with pre-drilled holes to facilitate the tubing installation. Once the radiant tubing has been run between all the joists, reflexive insulation is nailed up into each void effectively creating heat ducts between the joists.

Bob meets with mechanical contractor, Frank Iadarola to watch the installation of the Heatway hydronic radiant heating system in the slab of the automotive side of the "dream garage". The Heatway system uses a flexible hose called Entran for piping. Water is the agent that transfers heat from the boiler to the radiation. Water is pumped through the supply manifolds at 120 degrees, passes through the radiation (Entran hoses) where it gives up much of it energy and returns through the return manifolds to it source where it is reheated.

John Martin from WarmZone is on hand to show Bob how the medium density fiberboard (MDF) faced with reflective aluminum shielding and precut channels for the Pex hot-water tubing comes together to create a layout for the in-floor radiant heat system. One key advantage to radiant heat is the comfort level, since it is steady heat that is evenly distributed and free from the blowing, particulate matter that can come with forced-air systems. Martin explains how the WarmZone system comes ready-to-install with complete layout diagrams and directions that make it simple for do-it-yourselfers. The panels are set in adhesive, with spacers to temporarily align them and line up the tube channels until the panels are nailed in place. The heat panels then become the substrate for finish floor coverings. Unlike gypcrete, which is a skim-coat concrete application, these panels add very little weight to the floor. Since it is a 5/8-inch product, there is also no need to alter existing door openings. WarmZone specifies a 3/8-inch Pex tubing to deliver the heated water. Martin fits and taps the tubes in place in the channels to complete the installation. Bob then looks at the heat distribution system with supply and return pipes that come directly from the boiler room below. WarmZone has specified three short runs and circuits, which will give steady even heat throughout the space even with the heat loss calculations they have figured. Michael Willburn from WarmZone shows Bob the preassembled boiler-room manifold board and radiant-zone board that are created match the application and arrive ready-to-install from WarmZone. WarmZone takes the information directly from the homeowner, creates the system to fit the job, and then ships it to the site. The homeowner or installer can do all the work without the aid of a plumber until the system is connected to the boiler, at which point a professional installer should verify the connections and operation of the system before firing it up. Initial costs are about double the cost of a traditional baseboard-heat installation, but the operational savings are approximately 30 percent annually.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While it s hard to argue with the romance of a crackling fire on a chilly night, your fireplace might be costing you more in energy dollars than you know. A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent. While wood burning is becoming less viable in heavily populated areas, if it s still your fuel of choice you should invest in an EPA-rated wood stove with a catalytic combuster. And only burn seasoned wood or wood that s been split and stacked in the sun for about 6 months. Green wood makes for a smoky fire that pollutes more and coats your chimney with resins, which can lead to chimney fires. If you re tired of shoveling ashes and hauling wood, a gas-burning fireplace insert is a more efficient option that also saves space. A built-in fan distributes heat into the room and a thermostat allows you to set a target temperature. Some models even have a timer so a roaring fire welcomes you when you get up in the morning. One gas fireplace insert can heat a whole small house in all but the coldest weather, which can save you a lot if your main heating system is oil-fired or electric. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob Vila and building consultant Steve Easley examine how hot water is efficiently used and distributed in the EnergyWise House. Eemax tankless, on-demand water heaters supply hot water for bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Seamless PEX tubing from Vanguard Industries is used to distribute hot and cold water around the house. Radiant heat for the home is supplied by a zoned Wirsbo in-floor radiant heating system.

The EnergyWise House's fireplaces use state-of-the-art technology to produce clean, efficient heat. Ross Morrison from Heat-N-Glo joins energy expert Steve Easley on location for a preview of a few of the heating technologies that will be used in the home. On display are 33,000 Btu direct-vent model capable of heating up to three rooms, and indoor/outdoor model that does not require a flue, and a portable "campfire" style that can run on propane or natural gas.