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Parent Category: Lower-Intermediate News Lessons

Category: Environment Lessons

Written by Chris Cotter

David Mears and his wife haven't paid a heating bill in 25 years. They haven't received a bill in 25 years. Mears, who is a professor of Bioresource Engineering at Rutgers University, used his knowledge of alternative energy sources to build a new heating system for his home.

In the 1970s, he installed a space beneath his floor that was filled with water. He put in solar panels to heat the water. And on cloudy days, he could use a traditional woodstove to heat the water. He kept his old fossil fuel system just in case, but he has never used it.

According to the US Department of Energy, more than 85% of all energy used in the US comes from fossil fuels. This means coal, oil, and natural gas. In addition, 2,700 pounds of carbon per year per person, which is about 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, comes from homes. Usually, heating and cooling requires the most energy.

Mears has been able to keep his home at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 C) or above for 25 years. It demonstrates that his energy ideas aren't crazy or impossible. Anyone can use the technology. Green living is a real possibility.