Question

A house that was heated by electric resistance heaters consumed 1200 kWh of electric energy in a winter month. If this house were heated instead by a heat pump that has an average COP of 2.4, determine how much money the homeowner would have saved that month. Assume a price of $0.12/kWh for electricity.

Answer 1

Answer:

$84

Explanation:

The coefficient of performance (COP) show the relationship between the power (kW) output of the heat pump and the power (kW) input to the compressor.

The heater consumed by the heater is 1200 kWh.

For a heat pump with a COP of 2.4, the electric input needed to produce an output of 1200 kWh is:

Electric input to heat pump = 1200 / 2.4 = 500 kWh

That means that supplying a heat pump with 500 kWh produces an output of 1200 kWh

The amount of power saved = power consumed by heater - power consumed by heat pump = 1200 - 500 = 700 kWh

Money saved = $0.12/kWh * 700 kWh = $84