| Energy Efficiency Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| by Bryan A. Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated 2/12/03 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Constants | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gasoline Cost | $1.59 | per gallon | ||||||||||||||||||
| Propane Cost | $1.49 | per gallon in bulk | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wood Cost | $75.00 | per cord of hickory | ||||||||||||||||||
| Propane Storage Cost | $4.26 | per gallon in 20lb bulk cylinders | ||||||||||||||||||
| Liquid Fuel Storage Cost | $1.20 | per gallon in 5 gallon cans | ||||||||||||||||||
| Device | Rate of Fuel Consumption | Rate of Consumption Units | Operating Fuel Costs ($/hr) | Operating Costs from Stored Fuel ($/hr) | Energy Input (KWH) | Energy Input (BTU) | Energy Output (KWH) | Energy Output (BTU) | Energy Efficiency (%) | Energy Cost ($/KWH Output) | Energy Cost from Stored Fuel ($/KWH Output) | Cost to Purchase Device ($) | Energy Distribution Cost ($) | Maintenance Costs ($/hr) | Total Cost of Operation ($/hr) | Notes | ||||
| Generator + Gasoline | 0.27500 | Gallons/Hour | $0.437 | $0.767 | 10.0815 | 34407.84983 | 1.6 | 5460.750853 | 15.87065417 | $0.0434 | $0.4795 | $1,000.00 | $925.000 | Unknown | Honda EU2000i with Eco-Throttle + Emergency Power Distribution System | |||||
| Generator + Propane | 0.30250 | Gallons/Hour | $0.451 | $1.738 | 8.11305 | 27689.59044 | 1.6 | 5460.750853 | 19.72131319 | $0.0555 | $1.0860 | $1,000.00 | $925.000 | Unknown | Honda EU2000i with Eco-Throttle + Emergency Power Distribution System | |||||
| DayGlo Propane Heater on Low | 0.04595 | Gallons/Hour | $0.068 | $0.264 | 1.231186 | 4202 | 1.172 | 4000 | 95.19276535 | $0.0556 | $0.2252 | $100.00 | $50.000 | Unknown | A bulk adapter and two hoses are included in distribution. | |||||
| Wood stove | 0.00167 | Cords/Hour | $0.125 | $0.125 | 14.65 | 50000 | 11.72 | 40000 | 80 | $0.0085 | $0.0107 | $1,200.00 | $0.000 | Unknown | Hickory wood with moisture content less than 20% | |||||
| Coleman Propane Stove | 0.20792 | Gallons/Hour | $0.310 | $1.194 | 5.576376 | 19032 | 4.688 | 16000 | 84.06893653 | $0.0555 | $0.2548 | $40.00 | $50.000 | Unknown | A bulk adapter and two hoses are included in distribution. | |||||
| Coleman Gasoline Stove | 0.15625 | Gallons/Hour | $0.248 | $0.436 | 5.6765625 | 19373.93345 | 6.153 | 21000 | 108.3930636 | $0.0438 | $0.0708 | $50.00 | $0.000 | Unknown | Manufacturers specs are probably overly optimistic | |||||
| Solar Panel (1 square meter) | 0.00000 | Watts/Hour | $0.000 | $0.000 | 1 | 3412.969283 | 0.10929 | 373.003413 | 0.10929 | $0.0000 | $0.0000 | $552.00 | $925.000 | Unknown | Panels and Emergency Power Distribution System | |||||
| Wind Turbine | Unknown | Watts/Hour | $0.000 | $0.000 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | $0.0000 | $0.0000 | Unknown | $925.000 | Unknown | Turbines and Emergency Power Distribution System | |||||
| Micro Hydroelectric Turbine | Unknown | Watts/Hour | $0.000 | $0.000 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 30 | $0.0000 | $0.0000 | Unknown | $925.000 | Unknown | Turbines and Emergency Power Distribution System | |||||
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bold fields indicate information provided by manufacturer specifications, other fields are calculated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Distribution costs are system (not per-device) costs for required materials for conversion to a usable form (an inverter), and distribution supplies such as extension cords, power strips, propane hoses and adapters, etc. These costs do not include energy storage costs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating costs from stored fuel have been included to help plan for energencies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion Factors | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Volume | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 gal = 0.00378541m^3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 ft^3 = 0.02831685 m^3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 m^3 = 35.3146 ft^3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 gal = 0.133680 ft^3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 cal = 4.186 J | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1eV = 1.6E-19 J | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1KWH = 3.6E6 J | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 BTU = 1.054E3 J | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 J = 1 W*sec | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1W = 1J/sec | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1BTU = 3.412 Watt Hours | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 BTU/hr = 0.293W | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 BTU = .293 W*hr | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 BTU = Amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of 1 pint (=1lb) of water 1 degree Farenheit | ||||||||||||||||||||