heating costs-hydro vs propane - Page 6 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Jim418 · 2012-06-03, 03:08 PM

I've been working through the same issue as OP: Propane vs Ground Source Heat Pump, since I won't have access to NG for my new home in Kingston.

As others have noted, the answer is always dependent on your variables so I created a spreadsheet to work them through. It has many of the variables "57" noted above.

Here are the worksheets I've developed to compare the long-term costs of different systems.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...VJQb013TlBrRGc

The first tab (Cost by Energy Source) has data on energy use and the current energy/operating cost by equipment type.

The second tab (Long Term cost per year) calculates the discounted cost of equipment and operating cost over the life of the equipment. It then divides that total number by the life of the equipment by the number of years and compares the results.

Anybody care to look for logic errors? If anyone would like the Excel version emailed to them, just PM me your email address.

The main result that I am struggling with is the annual heating cost of geothermal. Seems crazy low, but is consistent with this website's result when I change the energy use to their value and the COP to 3 (it doesn't say what COP it used).

Thanks in advance for your help.

276YT · 2012-06-23, 02:24 PM

... Based on what collected data are the estimated o.p. savings are calculated?

Annual estimated o.p. savings can also be quoted based by a blueprint from a home not build jet?.

276YT · 2012-06-29, 10:10 PM

http://www.retscreen.net/ang/ground_...ok_chapter.php

..... this may answer some of your concerns.

276YT · 2012-07-18, 09:19 AM

http://www.geo-exchange.ca/en/profit...estimation.php

mikec · 2012-07-18, 02:37 PM

Our house is roughly 30 years old. It's a side split (basement, main floor, and half a second floor). Natural Gas isn't available, but possible in the distant future. We were heating with baseboard heaters, and an air right wood burning fireplace on the main level. We try to burn wood 24/7 but the baseboards would always kick on in the middle of the night, or when we were at work.

A few years ago we took advantage of the energy audit and rebates and I installed a 98% propane forced air furnce with 13 seer central air. Obviously I had to run ductwork as well. I did the majority of the work myself after paying a company to do a heat loss/gain and load calc. I ran all the ductwork, and had a pro come in to run the gas lines and line set for the a/c. It's been 2 years and we are really happy.

We are paying $0.69 for propane, and the price hasn't changed in years apparently. If NG does come our way it's easy enough to switch the gas valve back to NG. We still try and burn wood as much as possible, but we find the propane as a backup has been cheaper. Plus the AC has been a very nice addition.

Our hydro bills have been split in half from about $300 a month equal billing, to around $150 on average. I know we don't spend $1800 a year in propane.

My water heater is still electric tank. I have looked into switching it to tankless but we are on a well. But even propane water heater, everyone keeps saying to keep what I have.

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2012-06-03, 03:08 PM	#76
Jim418 Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1	I've been working through the same issue as OP: Propane vs Ground Source Heat Pump, since I won't have access to NG for my new home in Kingston. As others have noted, the answer is always dependent on your variables so I created a spreadsheet to work them through. It has many of the variables "57" noted above. Here are the worksheets I've developed to compare the long-term costs of different systems. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...VJQb013TlBrRGc The first tab (Cost by Energy Source) has data on energy use and the current energy/operating cost by equipment type. The second tab (Long Term cost per year) calculates the discounted cost of equipment and operating cost over the life of the equipment. It then divides that total number by the life of the equipment by the number of years and compares the results. Anybody care to look for logic errors? If anyone would like the Excel version emailed to them, just PM me your email address. The main result that I am struggling with is the annual heating cost of geothermal. Seems crazy low, but is consistent with this website's result when I change the energy use to their value and the COP to 3 (it doesn't say what COP it used). Thanks in advance for your help.

2012-06-23, 02:24 PM	#77
276YT Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 17	... Based on what collected data are the estimated o.p. savings are calculated? Annual estimated o.p. savings can also be quoted based by a blueprint from a home not build jet?.

2012-06-29, 10:10 PM	#78
276YT Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 17	http://www.retscreen.net/ang/ground_...ok_chapter.php ..... this may answer some of your concerns.

2012-07-18, 09:19 AM	#79
276YT Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 17	http://www.geo-exchange.ca/en/profit...estimation.php

2012-07-18, 02:37 PM	#80
mikec Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 320	Our house is roughly 30 years old. It's a side split (basement, main floor, and half a second floor). Natural Gas isn't available, but possible in the distant future. We were heating with baseboard heaters, and an air right wood burning fireplace on the main level. We try to burn wood 24/7 but the baseboards would always kick on in the middle of the night, or when we were at work. A few years ago we took advantage of the energy audit and rebates and I installed a 98% propane forced air furnce with 13 seer central air. Obviously I had to run ductwork as well. I did the majority of the work myself after paying a company to do a heat loss/gain and load calc. I ran all the ductwork, and had a pro come in to run the gas lines and line set for the a/c. It's been 2 years and we are really happy. We are paying $0.69 for propane, and the price hasn't changed in years apparently. If NG does come our way it's easy enough to switch the gas valve back to NG. We still try and burn wood as much as possible, but we find the propane as a backup has been cheaper. Plus the AC has been a very nice addition. Our hydro bills have been split in half from about $300 a month equal billing, to around $150 on average. I know we don't spend $1800 a year in propane. My water heater is still electric tank. I have looked into switching it to tankless but we are on a well. But even propane water heater, everyone keeps saying to keep what I have.