Economics of solar home heating. A study prepared for the use of the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States
The study reviews the economics of solar energy used to heat residential structures and to heat water. Now that some experience has been gained both in manufacturing and installation of solar systems, it is noted that the cost of solar collectors installed, but excluding fixed costs, will be about $10/ft/sup 2/. It is found that feasibility does occur for solar water and space heating systems between now and 1990 if either decontrolled prices or traditional energy sources are used as the basis of comparison or where curtailments of natural gas occur. The importance of this finding is diminished by the Federal government's failure to assist in making capital available for energy conservation. If interest rates are kept high and if capital remains in short supply, the prospects for capital intensive systems in homes, such as solar energy, are diminished greatly. Following an introductory section, a scenario of future energy prices both for decontrol and for curtailments is developed and consumer costs are projected from traditional sources both on an annualized (life cycle) basis and on a current cost basis for residential space heating and domestic hot water. These costs are developed by state for the continental United States through 1990. Section III develops costs and performance for solar energy systems while Section IV then compares fossil fuel costs on a $/10/sup 6/ Btu basis under decontrol to the costs of solar alternatives, determining year of feasibility by state and optimal system design (least cost) given projected energy prices. Energy savings in 1990 utilizing solar energy are projected in Section V. The final sections consider the future of solar energy under continued price controls and the role of economic policy in defining future energy alternatives. (MCW)
- OSTI ID:
- 6614256
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
HOUSES
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATING
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
AVAILABILITY
CAPITAL
CHARGES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY MODELS
EVALUATION
FINANCING
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEAT STORAGE
INCOME
LIFE-CYCLE COST
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
PERFORMANCE
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
REGULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
RETROFITTING
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
STATE GOVERNMENT
USA
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
FUELS
HEATERS
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR HEATING
SPACE HEATING
STORAGE
WATER HEATERS
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling
140907 - Solar Thermal Utilization- Water Heating
140300 - Solar Energy- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
320101 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)
299001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Solar- (1989-)