Electric CO-Heating: A Method for Evaluating Seasonal Heating Efficiencies and Heat Loss Rates in Dwellings

摘要

An experimental technique called electric co-heating is presented. Portable electric heaters distributed throughout the dwelling to be tested are operated overnight at the same time as the regular heating system. Cross-correlation with outside temperature data collected several times per hour allows the separate determination of heating efficiency, fireplace performance and overall building heat loss coefficient. Electric co-heating is applied to measure the net efficiency of a forced-air gas furnace and a fireplace in a house located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Preliminary tests conducted in mild weather indicate a net efficiency of 53% for the heating system and less than 5% for the fireplace. (ERA citation 04:044978)