Compare Cost and Emissions for Various Fuels

Use this calculator to compare the cost and CO2 emissions for various fuels.

 

The calculator gives the cost and CO2 emissions per 100,000 BTU of heat produced by each fuel.

 

. 

 

 

Fuel Type Fuel Cost
(dollars)		 Heat Plant
Type		 Heat Plant
Efficiency
(%)		 Cost per
100K BTU
(dollars)		 CO2 per
100K BTU
(lbs)		 Notes
Natural Gas $1.50 /ccf or therm Conventional Furnace or boiler 85 1.80 18 more...
Natural Gas $1.50 /ccf or therm Condensing Furnace or boiler 90 1.67 16.2 more...
Electricity $0.1 KWH Resistance heating (furnace or baseboard) 95 3.09 61.7  
Electricity $0.1 KWh Heat pump 350 0.84 16.8  

 

Enter Values Below
Area to be upgraded Square Feet Enter the surface area of the space where insulation is to be upgraded.
Heating Degree Days HDD (Fahrenheit) Help on finding Heating Degree Days for your area
Current R Value US R Value Help on looking up R values
New Total R Value US R Value Help on looking up R values
Pick your fuel type below -- Then, correct fuel cost and furnace efficiency if desired
Natural Gas
Fuel Oil
Propane
Electricity
 Percent
 
Click Calculate button to update fuel saving
$ Saving per year Dollars The dollar saving in fuel cost for the first year.
$ Saving for 10 years Dollars The dollar saving in fuel costs for the first 10 years, assuming a10% increase in fuel cost each year.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction lbs per year If electricity is the fuel, it is assumed it is generated in a coal fired power plant.

 

Notes:

It should be noted that insulation also saves money on cooling bills, and these savings are NOT calculated by this calculator.  If you live in a hot climate this may be more important than the heating fuel saving -- maybe in the next revision.

If you are starting with an unInsulated wall, ceiling or floor, it is important to make a good estimate of the current R value.   See this R value help page.

 

Greenhouse gas emissions are high for electricity because the electricity is assumed to be generated in a coal fired power plant.  Coal plants are only about 30% efficient, and coal is a very high Carbon fuel.  About 50% of the power generated in the US is from coal fired power plants -- these coal plants account for about 80% of all US electric power generation CO2 emissions.

 

If you have any problems or comments on the calculator, please let me know -- Gary

 

 

Gary

3/9/06
Rev 3/24/06