4 ms·
By far more energy goes to heating than air conditioning, but a lot of heating in the US is natural gas (or oil in the northeast), especially in the colder plac
by kahirsch 4y ago
By far more energy goes to heating than air conditioning, but a lot of heating in the US is natural gas (or oil in the northeast), especially in the colder places. About 43% of household energy use is heating and only 8% is air conditioning.[1]
But for overall household electricity use, air conditioning is 17% and heating is 15% (all houses, not just all-electric houses). [2]
[1] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/homes.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/homes.php
[2] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/electricity-use-in-homes.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/electricit...
- jcadam 4y agoUp here in Alaska, heating your house with electricity would be asinine if you have any other option.
- jacquesm 4y agoIn time places like Alaska may well depopulate.
- jcadam 4y agoMore space for me.
- Aeolun 4y agoI think that’s only because it’s more expensive. Whether you heat with electricity or with gas/petrol you still need the same amount of energy.
- Symbiote 4y agoHeat pumps are becoming widespread in Scandinavia, especially Norway — even though Norway is rich in fossil fuels. Alaska is colder, but: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/heat-pumps-alaska-oil-energy-prices https://www.wired.co.uk/article/heat-pumps-alaska-oil-energy...
- lumb63 4y agoUntil I started working in the energy industry, I never considered that even gas heating consumes a lot of electricity because of the blower fan and ignition coils. Our blower fan is 0.5 HP, which is over 300 W. The bulk of our electricity expense has been on heat, even though we have gas heat!
- winphone1974 4y agoGood point, I've realized the same. My electricity bill increases a higher percentage in winter than my gas bill. Our house has two furnaces and they use a lot of electricity