We heat and cool our homes, schools, and businesses in a variety of ways, from burning wood or natural gas in a furnace to using window air conditioning units. However, maintaining a comfortable temperature in our buildings consumes a significant amount of energy: over 25% of the energy produced globally is required to heat and cool homes and commercial buildings.
At the same time, many people, particularly those with lower incomes and living in developing nations, do not have appropriate heating or air conditioning, which can have major health repercussions during cold spells and heatwaves. The number of air conditioning systems is predicted to quadruple from 1.6 billion today to 4.8 billion in 2050 as wages grow and our climate heats.2 The dilemma is how to transition to more cost-effective, low-carbon methods of cooling and heating our buildings.
Heating systems are a vital component of modern human life, providing comfort and essential warmth during cold seasons. However, they also have a significant impact on the environment. This impact varies depending on the type of heating system, its efficiency, and the source of energy used. In this article, we will examine the environmental impacts of four common heating systems: electric, oil, natural gas, and geothermal.
Electric Heating Systems
Electric heating systems include baseboard heaters, heat pumps, and electric furnaces. They are powered by electricity, which is generated through various means, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, and renewable sources. Greenhouse gas emissions: Electric heating systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions if the electricity used is generated from fossil fuels. The level of emissions depends on the energy mix of the region supplying the electricity. While many people say that electric heating is cleaner than gas heating, this is only true when the electric heating depends on clean energy sources like solar and wind power and not on fossil fuels. To put it another way, electrification only cuts emissions from the building sector if energy providers switch to cleaner sources. Otherwise, emissions simply shift from buildings to power plants.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, plants converting fossil fuels to electricity generated approximately 67% of the country’s electricity in 2015. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are examples. Coal accounted for 33% of total emissions. When both the mining and combustion processes are considered, coal is the most damaging of all fossil fuels, according to Green Peace. Prior to researching for this piece, I assumed that electricity in the northwest was mostly generated by nuclear and hydroelectric plants. That, however, is not the case.
In 2015, coal accounted for 35% of Puget Sound Energy’s energy generation, while natural gas accounted for another 24%, for a total of at least 59% of PSE’s electricity generation. In terms of fossil fuels, the fuel mix looks a lot better for Seattle residents. In 2014, fossil fuels provided less than 2% of Seattle City Light’s electricity. The great bulk was generated by hydroelectricity. Because hydro does not require the combustion of fossil fuels, it is significantly better for the environment in terms of emissions. However, hydro is not a renewable energy source because it has its own environmental consequences. Dams can harm fish physically and impede their migratory and reproduction. Dams also have a large impact on the ecosystem surrounding the dammed river.
If the electricity generated is done in a clean manner, electric heating systems can be a great choice for someone looking to be more environmentally friendly. Homes with electric heating will be able to benefit as the world transitions to more “renewable” electricity generation. All-electric homes will have a very minimal relative carbon footprint if/when we are able to generate electricity only from renewable sources. As an added benefit for electricity, almost every home already has electrical service, which means that if “renewable” electricity is available, the costs of converting homes to electric heating will be decreased because the fuel source is already present in the home.
Oil Heating Systems
Oil heating systems rely on fuel oil, which is extracted from crude oil reserves. Common types of oil heating systems include oil furnaces and boilers. While natural gas does generate less carbon dioxide when burned, both natural gas and oil aren’t particularly environmentally friendly. Chemicals used in the oil and gas production process have a severe impact on the environment. Some large oil firms, however, are pushing green alternatives to chemicals.
Oil is becoming cleaner to burn as a result of oil firms’ attempts to discover greener alternatives. Some modern systems can re-burn oil, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. However, oil already emits fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than gas. Heating oil systems can last up to 30 years, making them a better investment in most circumstances than gas. Because gas and oil heating systems are both expensive, most users are persuaded by the longevity of both systems. When you choose oil, though, you receive more of what you pay for.
Oil is a high-density energy substance, so a little goes a long way. Because they use a lower amount of oil as an energy source, oil energy technologies reduce emissions. Renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, generates electricity using oil energy technologies. Renewable energy products made from oil-based energy, on the other hand, often become carbon-neutral in less than five years.
Natural Gas Heating Systems
Natural gas heating systems are fueled by natural gas, which is extracted from underground reserves. These systems include gas furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. When burned, natural gas emits less carbon dioxide. However, this does not automatically make it more sustainable than its competitors. Natural gas has numerous negative environmental consequences. The extraction of natural gas has a huge impact on our ecosystem. During natural gas production, methane seeps into the atmosphere and affects the environment.
Natural gas and oil are not very environmentally benign, from development to extraction, and they are nonrenewable. Gas, like oil, is a fossil fuel that occurs naturally on the earth’s surface. However, it is produced at a far slower rate than we remove it. Each extraction of gas moves us closer to our climate targets, such as utilizing 40% less gas in the next ten years. Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions have climbed by 41%, with gas playing a role.
Fracking, a relatively new form of natural gas extraction, has a number of negative environmental consequences. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is the practice of injecting high-pressure liquid into rocks and holes beneath the earth in order to break open existing fractures in the rock and recover the natural gas stored inside. Some methane gas is released, like with other extraction processes, contributing to global warming and hurting the environment. The contamination of groundwater is one potential serious issue with fracking. Much research has been conducted on this subject, resulting in varied degrees of success. In fact, the New York Times revealed that radioactivity was found in hydraulic fracturing wastewater dumped into Pennsylvania rivers.
Because of the massive use of pollution-causing fossil fuels in power generation, there isn’t much of an environmental difference between utilizing natural gas and electricity for house heating, although the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) examined the environmental effect and energy consumption of gas and electric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and found that gas is the most environmentally beneficial alternative for an energy-efficient residential dwelling. This should be taken with a grain of salt though, as study co-author and NIST civil engineer David Webb said “…little research has been conducted looking at the impact of which fuel source is used, gas or electric, on achieving low-energy and low-impact goals.”
Geothermal Heating Systems
Geothermal heating systems utilize the earth’s natural heat to provide warmth. These systems typically involve a ground source heat pump that exchanges heat with the ground. Changing how you heat your home is the single most effective approach for the average homeowner to minimize their carbon footprint. In fact, switching to geothermal energy can lower your home’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75%. As a result, adopting home geothermal heating and cooling technology is critical for New York state (and the United States) to fulfill its emissions objectives of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050.
Geothermal heating and cooling emits 75% to 85% less carbon dioxide than natural gas and oil. For example, a 1,500 square foot house heated with oil in Westchester, NY burns 750 gallons per year, which translates to around 17,000 pounds of CO2. The same house heated with geothermal technology consumes 7200 kilowatt hours of energy, which is equivalent to approximately 4,500 pounds of CO2. That equates to a yearly CO2 reduction of 12,500 pounds, or the equivalent of taking one automobile off the road for an entire year!
Fracking and drilling for gas and oil have major environmental implications, such as oil spills and contaminated groundwater. When compared to traditional heating, geothermal offers the advantage of reducing the immediate and long-term environmental effects of mining, storing, and burning fuel. Hundreds to thousands of liters of petroleum will no longer be removed from the earth for every residence that converts to geothermal. In addition to helping the environment, switching to geothermal energy can be beneficial to your health. When using a combustion furnace to heat a home, there is always the possibility of carbon monoxide leakage. Carbon monoxide poisoning “kills hundreds every year and sickens thousands more,” according to the CDC. Because geothermal systems do not emit carbon monoxide, they remove the risk of hazardous gases escaping from your furnace.
Conclusion: Which Heating System is Best for the Environment?
The environmental impacts of heating systems vary significantly based on the type of system and its energy source. Electric, oil, and natural heating systems can be environmentally friendly when powered by renewable energy, while geothermal heating systems offer a more sustainable alternative with minimal environmental impact. To reduce the environmental footprint of heating systems, it is crucial to improve energy efficiency, transition to renewable energy sources, and consider adopting low-impact heating options such as geothermal systems.
