Life-cycle cost analysis of residential heat pumps and alternative HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) systems

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5854881· OSTI ID:5854881

Mei, V. C.; Nephew, E. A.

A simple methodology is presented for calculating the life-cycle cost of a residential heat pump, an electric furnace with a central air conditioner, and a gas furnace with a central air conditioner. The procedure described in this report involves application of the Annual Performance Factor computer model developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This model was used to calculate the annual energy consumption of each of the three systems for 117 different climatic locations within the United States for residential buildings of varying sizes and insulation levels. Nine example calculations are included in the report to better explain the calculational procedure. These examples show that the life-cycle costs of the residential heat pump are somewhat higher than those of the gas furnace with central air conditioner. However, the cost advantage of the gas-fired system is not decisive and could disappear in locations having low power costs or if relative fuel prices change. 17 refs., 5 figs., 11 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5854881
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-10449; ON: DE88003701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
COST ESTIMATION
DATA
ENERGY SYSTEMS
INFORMATION
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MAINTENANCE
NUMERICAL DATA
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
STATISTICAL DATA