Compare Alternative Heating Systems
NOTE: This chart is best understood after reading the article "Choosing A Backup Heating System." It is will also be helpful to read "When the Sun Hides: Backup Heating Systems for Passive Solar Houses."
| Heat Source | Heating System | Pollution Rating | Ease of Installation | Cost | Annual Operating Cost | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric Resistance |
baseboard or wall heaters | low to nil | homeowner / professional | $75-200 room | low to free if net metered (very expensive if not) | uses wall space / best placed beneath windows for good heat circulation |
| radiant floor | low to nil | homeowner (using kits) | $10-12 per sq foot (materials only) | low to free if net metered (very expensive if not) | generally used for small spaces such as bathrooms or kitchens | |
Electric Heat Pump(200-300% efficient) (average 15 year life span) |
forced air ducts | low to nil | professional required (homeowner can help with ducts) | $6,000 - $12,000 (with ducts) | low to free if net metered | most cost effective as whole house system / can replace existing furnace in remodels (using existing ducts) |
| hydronic radiant floor | low to nil | homeowner (using kit) | $15-20 per sq foot (materials) | low to free if net metered | most cot effective for area of 1500 sq. ft. or more | |
| hydronic wall radiators | low to nil | professional | $150-800 per room | low to free if net metered | most cost effective as whole house system / uses wall space / best placed beneath or near windows / many new, attractive designs available | |
Waste Biofuel(sawdust or corn) (82-88% efficient) |
pellet stove (20-30 years life span for unit) |
low (pellets burn almost completely) |
professional | $1,800 to $3,500 (installed) | $300-600 (1.5 to 3 tons pellets per year at $250/ton) |
larger capacity stoves can heat up to 2,000 sq. ft.
originally speced by EPA to use waste sawdust Attractive, visible flame to a gas fireplace. Requires hearth and venting to outdoors |
Notes: Efficiency rates the conversion of energy to heat. Vrtually 100% of the electricity forced into an electrical wire is converted to heat. A heat pump, which moves heat rather than producing it, will deliver 2 to 3 times as much heat using the same amount of electricity. Pellets burn very efficiently, converting about 95% of their potential calories to heat, but the overall effficiency, meaning the potential calories in the wood to the calories in the room, is in the 85% range.
Pollution Rating is for household systems only, and assumes that residential PV panels contribute to the operation. Power grid electricity can be very polluting, if generated with coal, for example, or clean if generated by alternative means.
Costs column reflects the approximate cost of the heating system only, not the PV array and associated wiring.
All numbers and ratings are approximate and will vary with specific conditions over time.
NOTE: This chart is best understood after reading the article "Choosing A Backup Heating System." It is will also be helpful to read "When the Sun Hides: Backup Heating Systems for Passive Solar Houses."