| Size: 1091 Comment:  | Size: 1251 Comment:  | 
| Deletions are marked like this. | Additions are marked like this. | 
| Line 3: | Line 3: | 
| === Natural Gas === | |
| Line 21: | Line 22: | 
| Since renewables are not time-dispatchable, much of the "electric" power will be gas anyway, and generation efficiency is much less than heating efficiency. The environmental cost of actual renewables is similar to the direct use of gas. | Since renewables are not time-dispatchable, much of the "electric" power will be gas anyway, and generation efficiency is much less than heating efficiency. The environmental cost of actual renewables is similar to the direct use of gas. Nuclear power would be far cleaner environmentally and much safer than gas, but politically impossible with a media-stupified electorate. | 
A Bathtub of Water
Natural Gas
- Bathtub holds 9 cubic feet, 0.25 cubic meters, 250 kilograms
- person displaces 50 kg? -> 200 kg of heated water 
- Inlet water 10C, tub water 40C
- 30C * 2e5 g * 4.184 J/calorie -> 25 MJ 
- Gas is $1 per therm, or $1 per 63 MJ at 60% heating efficiency
- $0.40 per full bathtub, $160/year for a bath every night 
Electric Resistance
- $0.12 per 3.6 MJ, 90% efficiency -> $1 per 27 MJ 
- $0.93 per full bathtub, $340/year for a bath every night 
Electric Heat Pump
- $0.12 per 3.6 MJ, 240% efficiency -> $1 per 72 MJ 
- $0.35 per full bathtub, $130/year for a bath every night 
- est $2000 purchase and install plus one service call -> 67 year payback 
- If electric rates rise because of government renewable requirements, no savings at all over gas 
Since renewables are not time-dispatchable, much of the "electric" power will be gas anyway, and generation efficiency is much less than heating efficiency. The environmental cost of actual renewables is similar to the direct use of gas. Nuclear power would be far cleaner environmentally and much safer than gas, but politically impossible with a media-stupified electorate.
