New Brunswick Climate Change Hub

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New Brunswick Climate Change Hub

• Reducing GHG in New Brunswick
• Mark Butler

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Reducing GHG Emissions From Buildings Picking the
Low Hanging Fruit
Fuel Switching? or Conservation?
Fuel switching conserves energy and is the most
cost-effective means of reducing GHG.
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GHG Reductions Buildings
1. Heat Loss
2. Heating system Efficiency
Furnace Boiler Heat Pump
Energy In
Heat Out
3. Fuel Type
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1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation

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1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation
• Air sealing

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1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation
• Air sealing
• Windows

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1. Reduce Heat Loss

• Insulation
• Air sealing
• Windows
• Setback
• Thermostat

Typical measures promoted by governments and
other energy efficiency organizations
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2. Heating System Efficiency

• Increase the Efficiency of the conversion of
  Energy to Heat
• Energy Star qualified oil and gas furnaces and
  boilers.
• Energy Star qualified air-source heat pump
• Ground or water source heat pumps
• EPA rated wood appliances

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2. Heating System Efficiency

• How efficiently the energy is converted into heat

• 75 GJ of Heat

82 GJ Natural Gas
88 GJ

• 75 GJ of Heat

88 GJ Heating Oil

• 75 GJ of Heat

75 GJ Electricity
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Using Electricity to Produce Heat
Heat
Electricity
Fuel Oil
250 GJ Oil
75 GJ Heat
Distribution
Transmission
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2. Heating System Efficiency
75 GJ of Heat
82 GJ Natural Gas
Natural Gas
75 GJ of Heat
88 GJ Heating Oil
Heating Oil
75 GJ of Heat
250 GJ HFO
Electric Baseboard
75 GJ of Heat
157 GJ HFO
Heat Pump
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3. Fuel Type
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Annual GHG Emissions
69 reduction in energy use
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Fuel Switching vs. Other

• Baseboard Electric
• Heating kWh will have to be reduced from 20,800
  to 6,400 (69) to reduce GHG to the level of
  heating with oil.
• Reduction to 4,000 kWh (81) to equal GHG from
  natural gas.

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Fuel Switching vs. Other

• The cost to reduce the heat loss in an electric
  baseboard heated home by 69 to 81 is far
  greater than the cost to install a central
  heating system with gas or oil.
• The cost to install a central heating system with
  a heat pump is greater than an Energy Star gas or
  oil furnace and emits 160 more GHG.
• CFLs and Energy Star appliances save energy by
  reducing the amount of heat they produce not
  very beneficial in an electrically heated home
  compared to one with gas, oil or wood heat (no
  advantage for 260 out 365 days a year).

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Measures to Reduce GHG

• Reduce Heat Loss
• Insulation
• Air sealing
• Windows
• Setback Thermostat
• Heating System Efficiency
• Energy Star qualified oil and gas furnaces and
  boilers.
• Energy Star qualified air-source heat pump
• Ground or water source heat pumps
• EPA rated wood appliances

Common measures promoted through government
policy and programs.

• Fuel Type No specific programs or incentives to
  increase
• efficiency through
  fuel switching.

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Conclusion

• Electric resistance heating is the most
  inefficient use of fossil fuel.
• Baseboard electric heating should be banned in
  new construction.
• Electric rate structures need to be modified to
  eliminate the incentive that exists to heat with
  electricity.
• Government programs need to assist building
  owners with the cost of installing central heat.

The conversion of fossil fuel energy heat
electricity heat should be discouraged.