New Brunswick Climate Change Hub

Reducing GHG in New Brunswick

Mark Butler

Reducing GHG in New Brunswick

Mark Butler

Reducing GHG Emissions From Buildings Picking the Low Hanging FruitPicking the Low Hanging Fruit

Fuel Switching?Fuel Switching?

oror

Conservation?Conservation?

Fuel switching conserves energy and is the Fuel switching conserves energy and is the most cost-effective means of reducing GHG.most cost-effective means of reducing GHG.

GHG Reductions – Buildings

Energy In Heat Out

1. Heat Loss

2. Heating system Efficiency

3. Fuel Type

FurnaceFurnace

BoilerBoiler

Heat PumpHeat Pump

1. Reduce Heat Loss

Insulation

1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation• Air sealing

1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation

• Air sealing

• Windows

1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation

• Air sealing

• Windows

• Setback

Thermostat

Typical measures promoted by governments and other Typical measures promoted by governments and other energy efficiency organizationsenergy efficiency organizations

2. Heating System Efficiency

Increase the Efficiency of the conversion of Energy to Heat

• Energy Star qualified oil and gas furnaces and boilers.

• Energy Star qualified air-source heat pump

• Ground or water source heat pumps• EPA rated wood appliances

2. Heating System Efficiency

• How efficiently the energy is converted into heat

• 75 GJ of Heat

88 GJ Heating Oil

88 GJ82 GJ Natural Gas

75 GJ Electricity

• 75 GJ of Heat

• 75 GJ of Heat

Using Electricity to Produce Heat

Fuel Oil Heat Electricity

Distribution Transmission

250 GJ Oil

75 GJ Heat

2. Heating System Efficiency

75 GJ of Heat

88 GJ Heating Oil

250 GJ HFO

75 GJ of Heat

75 GJ of Heat

82 GJ Natural Gas

157 GJ HFO 75 GJ of Heat

Natural Gas

Heating Oil

Electric Baseboard

Heat Pump

3. Fuel Type

GHG Emission Factors at Equal Efficiencies

0

20

40

60

80

100

Natural Gas Light Oil Heavy Oil

Kg

/GJ

Annual GHG Emissions

Residential Dwelling (75 GJ Heat Loss)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Natural Gas Light Oil Heat Pump Baseboard

To

nn

es

69% reduction in 69% reduction in energy useenergy use

Fuel Switching vs. Other

Baseboard Electric• Heating kWh will have to be reduced from

20,800 to 6,400 (69%) to reduce GHG to the level of heating with oil.

• Reduction to 4,000 kWh (81%) to equal GHG from natural gas.

Fuel Switching vs. Other

• The cost to reduce the heat loss in an electric baseboard heated home by 69% to 81% is far greater than the cost to install a central heating system with gas or oil.

• The cost to install a central heating system with a heat pump is greater than an Energy Star gas or oil furnace and emits 160% more GHG.

• CFL’s and Energy Star appliances save energy by reducing the amount of heat they produce – not very beneficial in an electrically heated home compared to one with gas, oil or wood heat (no advantage for 260 out 365 days a year).

Measures to Reduce GHG

Reduce Heat Loss• Insulation• Air sealing• Windows• Setback Thermostat

Heating System Efficiency• Energy Star qualified oil and

gas furnaces and boilers.• Energy Star qualified air-

source heat pump• Ground or water source heat

pumps

• EPA rated wood appliances

Common measures promoted through government policy

and programs.

Fuel Type – No specific programs or incentives to increaseNo specific programs or incentives to increase

efficiency through fuel switching.efficiency through fuel switching.

Conclusion

Electric resistance heating is the most inefficient use of fossil fuel.

Baseboard electric heating should be banned in new construction.

Electric rate structures need to be modified to eliminate the incentive that exists to heat with electricity.

Government programs need to assist building owners with the cost of installing central heat.

The conversion of fossil fuel energy heat electricity The conversion of fossil fuel energy heat electricity heat should be discouraged. heat should be discouraged.