We own some older apartments here in Greensboro NC, and currently have circulating hot water heat which is good heat. The problem is that Natural Gas prices are getting very high and I am trying to review some alternatives that are nore economical. One of the products we are looking at are Hydrosil electric base board heat. In theory these units appear to be efficient. Thay have a copper tube that is permanently sealed and filled with a special silicone that they say retains heat longer. The electricity only comes on when the silicone begins to cool, so the electricity “pulse” is intermitent, so ther is is not a continuous demand on the electricity. They advertise a 40-60% savings in the heat bill, and I am sure this depends on the degree days etc. Has anyone had any experience with these units?
Secondly we have looked at central air but we would never re-coop the cost on 96 units. We currently furnish the heat and hot water, and the gas bill has risen 60% from last year. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Replies
how old is youre boiler, getting a newer efficient boiler might serve your hot water needs. Look into high eff. boilers, that might be cheaper then a total refit of your heating needs.
Secondly would you rather have the clients take over the heating if its on electric? If on electric will they pay the heat or would you still pay the heat. If you pay whts stoping them from setting the thermo on 78deg etc etc that would send your elec rates very unpredictable as to your profit margin on the appts.
Edited 2/25/2004 9:06:11 AM ET by WmP
" One of the products we are looking at are Hydrosil electric base board heat. In theory these units appear to be efficient."
No, theory about it. They as in most electric resistive heating equipment is 100% eff.
But you have to understand what efficiency is. That is the ratio of the useful energy (heat in this case) that you get out of a system compared with the energy that you put into it.
Your boiler might be 50-70% eff if it is an older one while the electric heat is 100% eff.
But there MINOR item that you have not mentioned. What is the realative cost of gas vs the electric rates.
"They advertise a 40-60% savings in the heat bill,"
Do they say savings compred with WHAT?
Typically the only way that something like resistive heating will save money is with heavy zoning. That is instead of 2500 sq ft at 70. You have 2000 sq ft at 60 and 400 at 70.
"Thay have a copper tube that is permanently sealed and filled with a special silicone that they say retains heat longer. "
What difference would that make? Where's the heat gonna go but into the room?
Sounds a bit like snake oil to me...
Can I pour you a beer Mr. Peterson?
A little early isn't it, Woody?
For a beer?
No, for stupid questions.
The sealed tube electric heater still requires the same number of Btus to get the room warm. They want to convince you that it lingers longer, since it heats a fluid medium.
I would guess that electric is more expensive than gas, based on living here in Richmond. Sounds like(as already suggested)that some very efficient water heaters as a source of heat may be your answer. You could supply multiple units with some of the larger hi eff water heaters.
Paul
Ditto what Boss Hog said. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. If the silicone stays warm longer, that just means it heats the house slower.
Those electric baseboard heaters are no more efficient than heating with lightbulbs. The thermal mass of the oil or fluid in the units is tiny compared to the thermal mass of the room they're in, and it does nothing to save power -- you'd get exactly the same efficiency with a lower power baseboard that ran continuously.
When it comes to electric heat (sans heat pump) a watt is a watt.
Are you useing outdoor reset on the boilers? For every three degrees you drop the water temp you save 1%. Having the burners tuned can save money.
the only way to reduce heating costs is to reduce the heat loss but if you can't add insulation. Having seen how many appartments are setup. Some people are over heating and open the windows, others are cold. Look into tuning the heating so its balanced, maybe add thermostactic valves and check out how well the furnace is working. are you getting all the heat you can from the gas?