Your Energy Costs

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Comparing Energy Cost

 Electricity Water/Air HP (COP 3) (Cents/kWh)Fuel Oil Regular (60% Eff.) ($/gal.)Propane Regular (92% Eff.) ($/gal.)Natural Gas Regular (75% Eff.) ($/therm.)Natural Gas Super Efficient (92% Eff.) ($/therm.)
Geothermal or Ground-Source Heat Pump 300% Efficient.06800.930.570.500.61
Air-to-Air Heat Pump 200% Efficient.06801.390.850.750.92
Electric Resistance 100% Efficient.06802.791.701.501.84

 

Fuel

Btu Heat

Content

Annual Season Operating Efficency

Electricity 

3,413 

Btu/kWh   

100%, 200%, 300%

#2 Fuel Oil  

140,000 

Btu/gallon

60%

Propane 

91,600

Btu/gallon

92%

Natural Gas

100,000

Btu/thermal 

75%, 92%

Wood  

16,000,000

Btu/ton

 60%


Formulas:

Alternate fuel price to electric rate conversion formula:

(Fuel Price) / (Fuel Eff.) x (3413 x Elec. Eff.) / (BTU Content) = Electric Rate

Example of $1.48/gallon propane to electricity with a super-efficient furnace:

(1.48) / (0.9) x (3413x100) / (91,600) = 6 cents per kWh

Electricity rate to alternate fuel price conversion formula:

(Electric Rate) x (Fuel Eff.) x (Btu Content)  /(3413xElec. Eff.) = Fuel Price

Example of 6.4 cents/kWh Electric Rate to #2 Fuel Oil with a regular furnace:

(6) x (0.6) x (140,000) / (3413x100) = $1.47 per gallon