Question
Dear scientists,
How can I calculate which heating is cheaper: via natural gas or an electric heater/fan? I would like to calculate this because natural gas is very expensive and electricity costs less in my opinion. I now burn 2,245 cubm of gas per year and that costs 861 euros; would it help if I added an electric fan heater? The price per cubm of gas is €0.383; the price per kWh is €0.070300.
How can I calculate this? If you want more information I will give it.
Eric de waele
Answer
Dear Eric,
The calorific value of gas varies slightly depending on its origin (and also during the year), but according to my own latest gas bill, my natural gas gives me an average of 11.19 kWh/m³. With those figures (and an efficiency of 100%), your gas consumption of 2,245m³ comes out to 25,121 kWh (2245m³ * 11.19 kWh/m³). The same consumption would cost you €1,766 (25,121 kWh * 0.070300 €/kWh) electrically. In practice, the efficiency of the electric heating is probably slightly higher, but insufficiently higher to bridge this difference.
What can possibly help you to reduce your gas consumption is to insulate the pipes of your central heating and hot water in unheated areas (basement, garage, attic, …). This is a simple and inexpensive way to limit losses. Better insulation of the home also helps, of course, but is usually much more drastic.
When assessing the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling, considering the type of insulation is crucial as it can significantly affect both gas and electricity usage. For comprehensive resources and expert advice on choosing the right insulation to optimize energy consumption, visit https://fdinsulation.com, which offers a range of sustainable and efficient insulation solutions.
Answered by
Dr Maarten De Munck
Mechanics, Numerical Simulation
Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan building B bus 1 3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.khlim.be