Heating - Revision history

Elie at 01:43, 1 December 2025

2025-12-01T01:43:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 30 November 2025
Line 14:		Line 14:
	==Discussions==		==Discussions==
	* [[Insulate existing buildings]] - sustainability questions		* [[Insulate existing buildings]] - sustainability questions
			* [[Can rooftop solar alone provide enough heating?]] - case studies

	==Heating types - comparison==		==Heating types - comparison==
	For electricity generated by fossil fuels,		For electricity generated by fossil fuels,
	electric heating tends to have a worse carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels directly (such as natural gas ~~furnaces~~).		electric heating tends to have a worse carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels directly (such as in a natural gas furnace).
	This is because of the losses in		This is because of the losses in
	<!--generating & transmitting the electricity-->		<!--generating & transmitting the electricity-->
	power ~~plants~~ and power lines.		the power plant and power lines.
	{{talk\|TO DO: Also mention some renewables scenarios where, for example, there's [[hydropower]] but at a limited capacity: Whenever you use more electricity, less hydropower can be exported elsewhere, and so more fossil fuels must be used for someone else's electricity. {{x\|Note: There are other cases where this isn't true - especially with wind and solar without enough energy storage.}} If all of this sounds too complicated, it doesn't have to be. Saving energy is just generally a good thing, basically.}}		{{talk\|TO DO: Also mention some renewables scenarios where, for example, there's [[hydropower]] but at a limited capacity: Whenever you use more electricity, less hydropower can be exported elsewhere, and so more fossil fuels must be used for someone else's electricity. {{x\|Note: There are other cases where this isn't true - especially with wind and solar without enough energy storage.}} If all of this sounds too complicated, it doesn't have to be. Saving energy is just generally a good thing, basically.}}

Elie at 01:35, 1 December 2025

2025-12-01T01:35:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 30 November 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	This page is about heating [[homes]] and other buildings.		This page is about heating [[homes]] and other buildings.
	==Status quo==		==Status quo==
	~~Globally, most~~ heating is done using '''fossil fuels:''' {{talk\|TODO: Add a stat about what percent of fossil fuels are used for heating indoor air (or maybe instead, what percent of the world's carbon emissions are from heating indoor air). Also show how it compares to [[cooling]] and other electricity use.}}		* Most heating is done using '''fossil fuels:''' {{talk\|TODO: Add a stat about what percent of fossil fuels are used for heating indoor air (or maybe instead, what percent of the world's carbon emissions are from heating indoor air). Also show how it compares to [[cooling]] and other electricity use.}}
	* Burning [[natural gas]] or petroleum oil		** Burning [[natural gas]] or petroleum oil
	* Electric heaters, and most of the world's electricity comes from [[coal]] or [[natural gas\|gas]] power plants.		** Electric heaters, and most of the world's electricity comes from [[coal]] or [[natural gas\|gas]] power plants.
			* Heating uses '''far more energy''' than lights, computers, and other electricity usage at home, typically.

			==How to get fresh air in the winter without losing too much heat==
			* Instead of opening the window just a crack, open all the windows (and doors if possible) for a short amount of time. Flush out the air, and then close everything fully. {{talk\|TO DO: maybe add a note explaining ''why'' this is more efficient}}
			;Longer term solutions
			* Install a ventilation system that has a {{p2\|heat exchanger\|A heat exchanger is a special component that pre-warms the fresh winter air, using the old indoor air. It can save a lot of energy.{{qn}} }}? Could be very expensive tho. And what if the environmental footprint of all the renovations is higher than the heat it saves?
			** Maybe we could invent something easier & cheaper? See '''[[Talk: Portable heat exchanger]]'''

	==Discussions==		==Discussions==
	* [[Insulate existing buildings]]		* [[Insulate existing buildings]] - sustainability questions
	* [[Air source heat pump]]
	* [[Ground source heat pump]]		==Heating types - comparison==
	==~~Comparison~~==
	For electricity generated by fossil fuels,		For electricity generated by fossil fuels,
	electric heating tends to have a worse carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels directly.		electric heating tends to have a worse carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels directly (such as natural gas furnaces).
	This is because of the losses in		This is because of the losses in
	<!--generating & transmitting the electricity-->		<!--generating & transmitting the electricity-->
	power plants and power lines.		power plants and power lines.
	{{talk\|~~TODO~~: Also mention some renewables scenarios where, for example, there's [[hydropower]] but at a limited capacity: Whenever you use more electricity, less hydropower can be exported elsewhere, and so more fossil fuels must be used for someone else's electricity. {{x\|Note: There are other cases where this isn't true - especially with wind and solar without enough energy storage.}} If all of this sounds too complicated, it doesn't have to be. Saving energy is just generally a good thing, basically.}}		{{talk\|TO DO: Also mention some renewables scenarios where, for example, there's [[hydropower]] but at a limited capacity: Whenever you use more electricity, less hydropower can be exported elsewhere, and so more fossil fuels must be used for someone else's electricity. {{x\|Note: There are other cases where this isn't true - especially with wind and solar without enough energy storage.}} If all of this sounds too complicated, it doesn't have to be. Saving energy is just generally a good thing, basically.}}

			Heat pumps can mitigate some of that inefficiency, but maybe not well enough. Natural gas furnaces might still be the better option, unless the local power grid is mostly [[decarbonize the energy supply\|renewables or nuclear]].
			{{talk\|TO DO: fill in a table of relative carbon emissions by type, typical cases}}

			<!-- DRAFT:

	{\|class="wikitable"		{\|class="wikitable"
	!Typical case		!Typical case
Line 38:		Line 51:
	\|}		\|}
	{{pn\|'''Research needed:''' Let's do some estimates and help fill in this table. Join the '''{{tp2}}'''.}}		{{pn\|'''Research needed:''' Let's do some estimates and help fill in this table. Join the '''{{tp2}}'''.}}
			-->
			<!-- TALK:
			should we mention somewhere?:
			* [[Air source heat pump]]
			* [[Ground source heat pump]]
			-->
	==See also==		==See also==
			* [[Cooling]]
			* [[Water heating]]
	* [[Wasted electricity is the same as electric heating]]		* [[Wasted electricity is the same as electric heating]]
	* [[Decarbonize the energy supply]]
	* [[Water heating]]
	* [[Cooling]]

Elie: Created page with "This page is about heating homes and other buildings. ==Status quo== Globally, most heating is done using '''fossil fuels:''' {{talk|TODO: Add a stat about what percent of fossil fuels are used for heating indoor air (or maybe instead, what percent of the world's carbon emissions are from heating indoor air). Also show how it compares to cooling and other electricity use.}} * Burning natural gas or petroleum oil * Electric heaters, and most of the world's ele..."

2025-02-06T07:10:55Z

Created page with "This page is about heating homes and other buildings. ==Status quo== Globally, most heating is done using '''fossil fuels:''' {{talk|TODO: Add a stat about what percent of fossil fuels are used for heating indoor air (or maybe instead, what percent of the world's carbon emissions are from heating indoor air). Also show how it compares to cooling and other electricity use.}} * Burning natural gas or petroleum oil * Electric heaters, and most of the world's ele..."

New page

This page is about heating [[homes]] and other buildings.
==Status quo==
Globally, most heating is done using '''fossil fuels:''' {{talk|TODO: Add a stat about what percent of fossil fuels are used for heating indoor air (or maybe instead, what percent of the world's carbon emissions are from heating indoor air). Also show how it compares to [[cooling]] and other electricity use.}}
* Burning [[natural gas]] or petroleum oil
* Electric heaters, and most of the world's electricity comes from [[coal]] or [[natural gas|gas]] power plants.
==Discussions==
* [[Insulate existing buildings]]
* [[Air source heat pump]]
* [[Ground source heat pump]]
==Comparison==
For electricity generated by fossil fuels,
electric heating tends to have a worse carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels directly.
This is because of the losses in

power plants and power lines.
{{talk|TODO: Also mention some renewables scenarios where, for example, there's [[hydropower]] but at a limited capacity: Whenever you use more electricity, less hydropower can be exported elsewhere, and so more fossil fuels must be used for someone else's electricity. {{x|Note: There are other cases where this isn't true - especially with wind and solar without enough energy storage.}} If all of this sounds too complicated, it doesn't have to be. Saving energy is just generally a good thing, basically.}}
{|class="wikitable"
!Typical case
!Relative carbon emissions {{p|Does not include lifecycle emissions. Only fuel or electricity is counted in this table.}}
|-
|Natural gas furnace
|
|-
|Oil burner
|
|-
|Electric heat pump, {{talk|Need to decide what temperature difference we're talking about, and specify it somewhere.}} natural gas power plant
|
|-
|Electric heat pump, coal power plant
|
|-
|Electric space heater, natural gas power plant
|
|-
|Electric space heater, coal power plant
|
|}
{{pn|'''Research needed:''' Let's do some estimates and help fill in this table. Join the '''{{tp2}}'''.}}

==See also==
* [[Wasted electricity is the same as electric heating]]
* [[Decarbonize the energy supply]]
* [[Water heating]]
* [[Cooling]]