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Heat pumps twice as efficient as fossil fuel systems in cold weather, study finds
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Technology
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So, what happens when high winds or a blizzard takes down the power lines
I lived through the 98' Ice Storm in the Northeast US Didn't have power for three weeks
I've got news for you.
Even if the gas lines work, your furnace still needs power to open the fuel lines, ignite the fuel, circulate the inside air through the heat exchanger, and, above all else, do it safely.
You're screwed either way if you don't have power.
Sure, you can run a gas fired furnace on batteries far easier and more cheaply than you could with an all electric system (regardless of how it's generating the heat), but in every case, you need electricity to run the systems.
This is all dancing around the very real fact that we need to upgrade the grid. Between air conditioners, heat pumps, and electric cars, adding to the already increasing demand from so many computers and computerised gadgets that we have today, sucking back so many more kilowatt hours more power per day, per household than ever before. About the only thing that's going to work when the power shuts off is your toilet.
Thats the rediculous thing. I constantly see people argue about power outages (which realistically aren't even common in many countries). My parents had a power outage, and couldn't use their Gas heaters. When I had one, I couldn't use my instantaneous gas water heater (although, my heat pump based one, can keep water warm for 3 days apparently, so its actually better). My old gas heater actually apparently has been known to burn down houses when there is no power (because the fan stops, and apparently in some circumstance, they overheat)
People don't realize how dependent many of their gas appliances are on power
People don't realize how dependent they are on power in general. It runs basically everything, with the exception of your car.
Yet, nearly nobody has any plans for what they're going to do if the power stops working.
Most households, almost everything is electric or electrically assisted.... the only real exceptions I can think of, are your vehicle, barbeque, and water systems (not including hot water). So toilets flush, you can cook on the BBQ, and you can drive away from the collection of wood and bricks you call a home, and go somewhere with electricity.... that's about it.
Battery, generator, or some systems work off the fuel pressure
Batteries or generators could also work for heat pumps, or you could have emergency backup propane heat. Basically the short answer to your concern is "prepare" just like how you handle every other emergency situation like that ever, regardless of what kind of heating system you use.
Also a big part of it is fixing up your insulation. Modern insulation is great, a well insulated house is super cheap/easy to heat.
A heat pump and propane heat seem like a huge waste of money for duplications Plus where do I get the propane after it's banned
No - a gas electricity generator, powering a heat pump, will use an order of magnitude less gas than if you used the gas directly to heat your home. That's how efficient heat pumps are.
Home generators are not very efficient, they lose a lot of energy to heat and noise. It's close to the break even point so depending on your generator and heatpump, you could use more gas than with a modern gas furnace. Even with a theoretical perfect 100% efficient generator, it's not going to be an order of magnitude less gas because heat pumps are not 1000% more efficient than a gas furnace
Switching to propane is one safer alternative that is being recommended for people with natural gas lines to their houses, it is less leaky and cleaner burning than the methane stuff. Propane won't be banned, but it will become more expensive as supplies dwindle.
If you have an air conditioner you already have a heat pump, it just needs to be one that can alternate directions between heating and cooling. Also, backup emergency heat would not need to be nearly as extensive as a full house propane furnace. Or, you could just use a propane emergency generator instead and keep using the heat pump. Propane can be stored long term much more easily than alternatives like gasoline, and while it can be pricier, just having enough for emergencies is not a great cost.
Tbf most modern fossile fuel heating systems require power as well to some degree.
I think going forward we will have a much more decentralised power grid, as in people will have batteries to store a significant amount of power which they produce via solar panels on top of their houses. Also many electric cars today can be used as power storage.
Too bad governments are not promoting Household Solar Systems for a decentralized grid
While I am generally in favour of a strong government: Does Politics have to dictate everything?