6
minutes
outdoor heating
learn smart ways to utilize outdoor heating and increase efficiency by minimizing it.
energy lessons
Outdoor heating is highly inefficient in Big Sky due to the cold climate, heat loss, inefficient devices, and environmental impact. Our harsh winters are cold and require a significant amount of continuous energy to heat outdoor appliances, and with no insulation, the heat dissipates into the air, making them incredibly inefficient.
why outdoor heating isn’t recommended
in a climate as cold as Big Sky, outdoor heating is highly inefficient. Heating outdoor spaces requires 2-3 times more energy per unit area than heating indoor spaces due to constant exposure and lack of insulation.
outdoor heating includes
in a climate as cold as Big Sky, outdoor heating is highly inefficient. Heating outdoor spaces requires 2-3 times more energy per unit area than heating indoor spaces due to constant exposure and lack of insulation.
hot tubs
hot tubs require a significant amount of energy to heat and approximately 500 gallons of water to fill. By Montana law, the water must be changed out for each renter if you have a rental unit.
pools
pools are strongly not recommended for Big Sky for three primary reasons:
- heating a pool requires a great deal of energy as the majority of the year it must be heated in our cold climate.
- Big Sky has limited water resources in our aquifers and any potable water available should be purposed for drinking. Filling a pool requires a great volume of water.
- it is only practical to utilize a pool for less than ⅓ of the year due to weather conditions.
many Owners Associations prohibit the installation of pools, and those that do not are beginning to implement such regulations.
mitigating inefficiencies:
minimize heated areas: limit the amount of outdoor space you heat and use it only when necessary, such as when ice dams threaten the safety of your roofline.
utilize advanced technologies: consider new technologies like Powder Watts, which can significantly reduce energy use for roof heat tape. SNO will continue to research new and updated technologies that minimize energy utilized to heat the outdoors and update them here.
