Evaluation of gas heating system retrofit pilot programs in Kentucky and Minnesota

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6185757

Berry, L; Bledsoe, J; Vineyard, T; White, D L

Gas heating system retrofit pilot programs for low-income households were conducted in Minnesota and Kentucky in 1985. These programs were aimed at improving the cost effectiveness of low-income residential conservation programs by demonstrating and encouraging the transfer of gas heating system retrofit technologies into existing weatherization assistance programs. To determine the fuel savings and cost effectiveness of the four gas heating system retrofit types, an experimental design with random assignment to treatment and control groups was implemented. The Princeton Scorekeeping Method (PRISM) was used to measure fuel savings by comparing treatment and control group consumption for the year before and the year after the retrofits were installed. Cost effectiveness was estimated by calculating the net present value of the retrofits. Only one of the retrofit types, heat extractors for warm air furnaces, produced significant net fuel savings (8%) in both Kentucky and Minnesota. The power gas burner produced statistically significant net fuel savings (6%) in Minnesota but not in Kentucky. The electric vent damper and electronic ignition produced significant net fuel savings in Minnesota (5%). The thermally actuated vent dampers did not produce significant savings in either location. The heat extractor was not cost effective. The power gas burner was cost effective with an average lifetime of ten years or more. The electric vent damper and electronic ignition were cost effective with an average lifetime of fifteen years or more. The thermally actuated vent dampers were not cost effective.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6185757
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CON-229; ON: DE87011977
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EVALUATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
FUEL CONSUMPTION
GASES
HEATING SYSTEMS
KENTUCKY
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
RETROFITTING
USA