Electric vs. propane: The debate heats up

This past winter, the U.S. Energy Information Administration recorded the highest prices of propane since 1990.

The price of propane has steadily increased since 1990, but this year, there were significants jumps in the price.

In December 2013, the average cost of propane began to increase 10 cents per week until peaking at $4.01 per gallon.

At the end of the heating season - March 17 - according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the price of propane was at $3.07 per gallon, a 75-percent increase over last year's prices of the same time frame.

For many rural residents, propane is the only choice, as natural gas, which is at an all-time low is not available in many rural areas.

Jim Bird, with Colorado Tri-FLO Systems, LLC, said he has a solution for the high prices of propane.

Ryan Finney, of Riverside, has been using the Tri-FLO system in his construction business to warm up rooms so he can drywall them.

The Tri-FLO System is a new technology that serves more than heating solutions.

The patented technology, according to Bird, is more cost effective and efficient than propane.

The units, which vary in British Thermal Units (BTU) generated and size, are being used for replacement and supplemental heat as well as for bed bug eradication. They use a dual-direction outlet and a patent-protected technology designed around heat transfer.

Bird said Tri-FLO has began an aggressive campaign to provide heat to every propane user in the nation, including use for humans and animals.

This winter, when the United States faced a propane shortage, Bird was determined to get the word out about his company's invention.

The New York Times reported in their Feb. 7, 2014 article "Too Much Winter, and Not Nearly Enough Propane," the nation was suffering from a propane shortage despite a 15-percent increase of production.

Animals and people were going without heat because of the propane shortage, according to the New York Times article.

Bird compares the Tri-FLO system to other heating systems. Referred to as an "electric furnace" Bird said there are several advantages to using an electric furnace.

The electric furnace has a life span of 25 to 30 years, while gas furnaces have an average life span of 15 to 20 years, according to Bird.

Bird said the electric heaters are more efficient than gas heaters because of the heat transfer generated.

Using the baffles, bars or fins slows the transfer of heat; the slower the transfer, the lower the efficiency, resulting in heat loss.

The ways used to transfer heat to the airstream, such as copper or aluminum in the shape of baffles, bars or fins plays an important role in energy efficiency. Tri-Flo's patented design forces air over the elements enveloping them completely in the airstream.

Using the baffles, bars or fins increases the transfer of heat; the more surface edge the more transfer of heat into the airstream takes place, the faster the transfer, the higher the efficiency, diminishing heat loss.

Jim Hepp, who is part owner of Tri-FLO, and has a second home in Encampment, installed the Tri-FLO system in his Encampment home three years ago.

Hepp said the system becomes cost efficient when the price of propane is at $1.87 per gallon. Hepp's home is 1,100 square feet with a nine-foot ceiling.

Hepp uses a 10,000 watt heater system and maintained his cabin temperature at 45 degrees from December through March.

Before installing the Tri-FLO heating system in 2011, his propane and electric bill for the year was $1,890.20.

After installing the Tri-FLO heating system, his electric bill for the year in 2012 was $1,278.41.

Hepp said in his calculations, he did not include the facility charge on his Carbon Power & Light bill, as it was not considered part of the cost of energy.

He had a savings of $611.80, or 32.4 percent.

Joe Parrie, Directory of Member Services and Marketing with Carbon Power and Light, provided how much it would cost to operate heaters in Kilowatts, depending on the hours of operation per day.

According to his calculations, if the heating system were to run 24 hours per day, the cost would be $814.77 per month.

If the furnace ran eight hours per day the cost would be $271.59.

Parrie said this variable, depended on the size of the home, for instance, if they have a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, high wind load, high elevation, above average glass, etc.

Parrie broke down the sizing for electric baseboard heaters, radiant heating systems and fan forced systems.

Electric baseboard heaters is usually 15 watts per square foot of heat area, for instance, 10 kW would cover 667 square feet of area.

Radiant heating systems, such as Carbon Power & Light's Comfort Cove heating, usually is 8 watts per square foot of heated area; 10kW would cover 1,250 square feet of area.

Fan forced systems, like in-wall or furnace systems are commonly 10 watts per square foot of heated area; 10 kW would cover 1,000 square feet of area.

Parrie said to correctly size a heater, a company would perform a heat loss analysis on the home to determine the correct size system, depending of what type of system they are installing.For information on how much electricity the system would cost, see the graph below.

 

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