Relative Cost and Carbon Impact of Electricity and Gas

[BKa...@aol.com]

Dear Mayor Means,

 

My apologies to the slow reply to your interesting question below.  I'd like Steve to check my math, but it appears that whenever you want to heat something using something (and aren't using solar to do it) you should use gas rather than electricity.  It costs about 1/2 as much and has a slightly better carbon footprint.

 

I believe the reason for this is that when fuels burned to create steam to spin a generator there are substantial thermal conversion losses.  Then, once the electricity is generated, there are distribution losses.  Direct use of gas for heating eliminates both types of loss. 

 

For a home using solar PV, the CO2 numbers drop to nearly zero, but the allocated cost per million BTU is still higher than for gas.

 

 

Electricity (Res. E1 rates)	$/kwh	kwh/Million BTU	$/MillionBTU		Lb. CO2/kwh	Lb. CO2/Million BTU
Tier 1	$   0.116	293	$        33.99		0.459	134.5
Tier 2	$   0.131	293	$        38.38		0.459	134.5
Tier 3	$   0.226	293	$        66.22		0.459	134.5
Tier 4	$   0.313	293	$        91.71		0.459	134.5
Tier 5	$   0.359	293	$      105.19		0.459	134.5
Gas (Res. G1 rates)	$/therm	therm/Million BTU	$/MillionBTU		Lb. CO2/therm	Lb. CO2/Million BTU
Tier 1	$   1.914	10	$        19.14		11.7	117.0
Tier 2	$   2.145	10	$        21.45		11.7	117.0

 

In a message dated 7/14/2008 9:59:10 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Steve.A...@mountainview.gov writes:

On another point I noticed the discussion on reducing natural gas and carbon output.  Assuming the numbers are accurate regarding natural gas and electricity usage, I didn’t notice a comparison based on holding output fixed.  For example, some people dry their clothes using electric or gas dryers.  Suppose you want to heat your house? Are there tradeoffs between resource cost and carbon output?

Cordially,


Tom Means, Ph.D.
Mayor, City of Mountain View
650-961-4414 (home office)

For Appointments, Call City Clerk/Council Office 650-903-6304
Mayor’s Office Hours, Every Tuesday 8-9:30 AM , Le Boulanger, Castro Street.

"The City of Mountain View's mission is to provide quality services and facilities that meet the needs of a caring and diverse community in a financially responsible manner."

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