Around Alabama

OCTOBER

2Ozark Claybank Jamboree Arts and Crafts Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Ozark. Food vendors, arts and crafts, live music, children’s activities and more. Ozarkalchamber.com

2Hoover 58th annual Bluff Park Art Show, The Park at Shades Cliff, 517 Cloudland Drive, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music, food trucks, handmade art from regional artists and interactive hands-on activities for children. Bluffparkartassociation.org

6-9 Montgomery Holiday Market, the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. This annual shopping extravaganza features more than 70 merchants from across the Southeast. Hosted by the Junior League of Montgomery. Tickets $5 to $40. See the event’s page on Facebook. 16 Millbrook Angelfest 2021, held at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church, 5941 Main St. Favorite vendors as well as new special new vendors this year. Local artisans will have items for sale; also a silent auction. Homemade goods at the bake sale and pre-ordered Boston butts available. Food trucks will have lunch options. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

16 Dothan Fall Farm Day, Landmark Park, 430 Landmark Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See how peanuts were harvested more than 100 years ago, as well as cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, soap making and other traditional farm activities. Music, antique tractors, wagon rides and a large quilt display. LandmarkParkDothan.com

23 Stapleton Stapleton Bluegrass Festival, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Stapleton School, 35480 Harriot Ave. Food trucks and family-friendly activities; bring blankets or lawn chairs. $10 adults, $5 children ages 5 to 12. Performers include The Amanda Cook Band, Dave Adkins, The Cotton Pickin’ Kids and more. Event benefits the town’s elementary school. StapletonBluegrassFestival. com or find the event’s page on Facebook.

23 Mobile Boo at Bellingrath, Halloween fun in the gardens, 3 to 6 p.m. Shop with local vendors, purchase dinner and snacks from food trucks, and of course trick or treating. The movie “Hocus Pocus” will be shown on the great lawn from 7 to 9 p.m. $16 adults, $10 ages 5 to 12. Bellingrath.org

23 Troy Oktoberfest, downtown Troy, 2 p.m. A day full of live music, TVs for football, food and drink specials at downtown eateries, inflatables and games for children. Search for the event’s page on Facebook. 23-24 Prattville 40th annual Spinners Arts and Crafts Show, 390 West Sixth St. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts and crafts vendors, antique car and motorcycle show, jack-olantern contest, drawing for a quilt, entertainment, food alley, activities for children, door prizes and baked goods for sale. Free. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

30-31 Cullman Fifth Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ arts and crafts festival, on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School. More than 125 artisans from across the Southeast, plus live music, a children’s area and the south’s finest barbecue. Prizes of more than $12,000 will be awarded. Admission donation requested. Proceeds benefit St. Bernard Preparatory School. www.stbernardprep.com

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations. Call or verify events before you make plans to attend. Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, some events may change or be canceled after press time.

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Which heat pump option is right for my home?

By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen

Q:I’ve heard heat pumps can be a good alternative for heating my home, but it looks like there are several types available. Can you explain a few of the most common options?

A:I think it’s a good idea to consider a heat pump for your home. The technology has improved a lot over the past 1020 years and is likely to be at least 20% more efficient than what you have now. Heat pumps can also cool your home during summer months, which is an added value!

Newer models of heat pumps can operate effectively in sub-zero weather, but sometimes they do so by switching to electric resistance mode, which is much less efficient. In a colder climate, it may be worth investing in a dual fuel system where propane or another fuel provides supplemental heat on extremely cold days.

Here are a few situations where you might use the different types of air-source heat pumps.

1. Ducted heat pump

• If your home has a forced air furnace, a centralized airsource heat pump can work well. A compressor outside your home that looks like an A/C unit is connected to your home’s existing duct system. Like your furnace, the temperature is controlled through one main thermostat.

This is a solid solution if your system has quality ductwork that heats and cools every room evenly, which is rare. • Ductwork in most homes is not designed to heat or cool every room evenly. Long supply runs provide little air to some rooms, and it’s typical for some rooms to lack return air registers. Also, ductwork is often leaky, which creates comfort issues. If leaky ducts are located in unheated areas such as crawl spaces or attics, it will increase your heating and cooling costs. Poor ductwork will render any kind of central heating or cooling system much less effective.

Some HVAC contractors can repair ductwork problems if the ductwork is accessible. • Heat pumps vary in efficiency, and this is measured in two ways. The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) rating measures heating efficiency and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating measures cooling efficiency. The minimum ratings for a new heat pump are

HSPF 8.2 and SEER 14. Heat pumps with the ENERGY

STAR®-rating are significantly more efficient than the minimum standard. The quality of the installation also matters, and some contractors will have more experience and training than others.

2. Mini-split heat pump

• If your home does not have ductwork or the ductwork is poorly designed or leaky, a ductless mini-split heat pump might be your best bet. With a mini-split heat pump, tubes connected to the outside compressor carry refrigerant to one or more air handlers, which are mounted high on a wall to distribute air. Thermostats regulate each air handler, providing control of different zones in the home. • In climates that don’t experience extreme cold, a ductless heat pump could supply all the heating and cooling in a small home. They are often used in combination with a central heating and cooling system. Ductless mini-splits are an excellent option if you don’t have central air ducts, your ducts are leaking or you only want the new ductless heat pump to heat or cool part of the home.

3. Geothermal (or ground-source) heat pump

• Several feet underground, the temperature remains constant year-round, typically between 45 degrees and 75 degrees F, depending on latitude. Heat is transferred into or out of the ground by pipes buried in a loop 10 feet underground or drilled up to 400 feet into the earth. The pipes carry water to a compressor, which uses a refrigerant to transfer the heat to or from your home’s ducts. • A geothermal heat pump system is extremely energy efficient since the earth’s temperature is warmer than the outside air in the winter and cooler than the outside air in the summer. But I should note this efficiency comes with a high price tag, which is the initial cost to install the pipe loop or drill the hole for a vertical pipe.

I hope this information provides a good starting point in your research of heat pumps. Check with your local electric co-op for additional information and guidance. If you have a qualified energy auditor in your area, an audit could be a great next step, especially if it includes a duct leakage test. Then you’ll be ready to reach out to contractors and request a few quotes. Good luck!

Patrick Keegan writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. Write to energytips@collaborativeefficiency.com for more information. A homeowner shows off his energy efficient ductless heat pump. PHOTO

COURTESY MARCELA GARA, RESOURCE MEDIA