2

Q3 (4Pts) A Northeastern home has a heating load of 100 kWh/m and a cooling load of 20
2
kWh/m . The house has a gas furnace with an efficiency of 90% ( =0.9) and an air
Heating
conditioner for cooling that has a COP of 3. Use 0.22 kg CO2 /kWh as emissions
100 x 1.1 =110 (site energy and also
primary) factor for natural gas and the electricity conversion factors given in the lecture
Cooling (0.46kg/kWh).
COP=q/w -> 3=20/w -> w=20/3
20/3(site) x 3.13= 20.87 kwh/m

110 kmh/
What is the primary energy demand? Heating: Cooling: 20.87 kwh/m
Heating m
110 x .22 = 24.2 kg CO2
Cooling What is the CO2 footprint [kg CO2]? Heating: 24.2 kg Cooling: 9.6 kg CO2
20.87 x .46 = 9.6 kg CO2 CO2

Q4 (2Pts) Electric baseboard heaters have an efficiency of 100% ( =1). Would you
recommend to use such a heater over the gas furnace? Argue for or against it by
comparing the CO2 impact of both systems.

Electric baseboard heaters may have an efficiency of 100% but its

necessary to think about the source of this electricity. Its most likely
generated from gas or coal; therefore, the use of electric heaters would
have a greater CO2 impact than the gas furnace that uses natural gas. So
electric heaters are less efficient and not recommended when considering
its greater negative impact on the environment.

References:
US energy demand data: http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009
Emissions factors: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=76&t=11

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