Net energy analyses of four technologies to provide residential space heat

After having calculated energy ratios for four methods of providing residential space heat, passive solar heating systems were found to return approx. 20–25 units of energy for each unit of energy invested. The other technologies (active solar, electrically powered heat pump, and a synthetic gas fueled hot air furnace) had energy ratios of 1.7–5.6. The low energy ratios for active solar energy systems (both air and water) and conventional space heating methods are due to the fact that these technologies employ energy-intensive materials in the equipment used to produce and distribute residential heat. Passive solar energy systems use few components beyond the relatively low energy intensity materials used for standard construction techniques and generally use no energy to distribute the captured heat. Based on these estimates and projected life cycle costs for these energy producing techniques, as well as on some standard energy-conserving techniques, it is apparent that the United States would produce more energy per dollar and energy input with conservation and passive solar strategies than with residential heating techniques depending on coal as a primary fuel.