Unlike an analog thermostat, which is only able to set a general temperature range for the climate control system, a programmable digital thermostat provides the ability to set the system at a specific temperature. A programmable digital thermostat also allows users to set specific start and stop times for the climate control system. With this type of thermostat, users can program the thermostat to keep the temperature of their home warmer in the morning when they wake up, cooler during the day when no one is home and warmer again in the evening when they get home.

 

Hydronic baseboard heaters use heated water or another liquid to control the temperature in a room or area. Positioned along the base of a wall, these heaters draw in cool air at the base, which is heated and pushed out of the top of the heater to warm the room. Low external operating temperatures allow them to be installed flush against a wall or baseboard without damaging the structure.

The technology behind hydronic heaters has been used since the 1940s and has evolved from cast iron radiators. Modern heaters of this type are lighter and easier to install than their predecessors. In a built-in system, water is piped from a central boiler to the baseboard heaters, with a return pipe channeling cooled water back to the boiler for reuse. Heaters can be separated into zones, with thermostats for each area, allowing for better control over the temperature. A range of baseboard heater covers are available to coordinate with a room's decor without obstructing their heat.

The advantages of geothermal energy in the commercial power plant industry are similar to those in the private sector. Geothermal power plants release approximately 1-3% of the carbon dioxide emissions and 97% less acid rain than a fossil fuel plant. They also take up significantly less space from an acreage standpoint.

A remote sensor thermostat is generally a thermostat system that uses sensors to collect data on temperature. These systems are usually on the high-tech end of the heating and cooling spectrum, and offer specific advantages to the homeowner or other building manager. Remote sensor thermostats are part of the most modern solutions for heating and cooling a space efficiently, and producing more carefully targeted outcomes.

Geothermal heating harnesses natural thermal energy from within the Earth’s crust for water and space heating. This method of heating is hailed for its energy efficiency, lack of pollution, and financial benefits. Areas such as Iceland with abundant geothermal sources, called hot spots, can freely use the energy for heating. Regions lacking hot spots can also achieve geothermal heating, however, using a geothermal heat pump.

Gravity furnaces are heating equipment that employ the use of gravity to conduct warm air to various parts of the structure. At one time, this type of furnace was a common means of providing heat in homes and apartment buildings. While this type of furnace has been replaced in many case by devices such as the heat pump, there are still many homes that continue to make use of a gravity furnace.

Baseboard heaters are a good option for basement spaces where additional heat is required and cannot be obtained from the central furnace. They are relatively inexpensive and can be installed in most basements, although, since they employ electrical resistance to generate heat, they may not be a good option for basements with a history of moisture problems. 

Valves on chemical process equipment may be a long distance from control rooms, or high in the air on towers or elevated tanks. An electric valve actuator can be used to remotely control them without the need for manually turning the valves. Although all of these actuators run on electricity, the designs can vary greatly, and they come in a variety of sizes to fit different valve applications. Power can be direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) depending on the plant design. A key factor in all electric actuators is available torque, or the force available from the electric motor for opening and closing the valve.

When valves are seldom used, or handle sticky or abrasive materials, the valve may initially be hard to turn. Plant designers will specify valve actuators with extra torque to prevent these control problems. Manual control wheels or handles can be added to actuators to help free stuck valves.

Similar dampers can be installed on fresh air vents entering the furnace to control air used for burning gas or fuel oil, typically connected to sensors that monitor gases leaving the furnace. Adjusting inlet air and flue vent flow rates can provide maximum combustion efficiency.