If you had received an outrageous energy bill in mid-winter or in summer, then you would understand the subject of this article. Between heating and cooling, which is more expensive for residential? According to research, heating your home requires about 4 times more energy compared to cooling the same home. Notwithstanding, several factors may alter the equation. When it comes to heating or cooling your home, here are the differences you should consider.
Heating and Cooling: How is Heating More Expensive Than Cooling?
When comparing heating and cooling, it should be noted that heating is more expensive than cooling. However, in a warm climate, homeowners spend more on cooling because the warmer season is longer than the cold season. So cooling systems are more in use than heating systems. It should be noted that the bigger the difference between the indoor thermostat setting and the temperature outside, the more the temperature will run causing the bill to increase.
Heating Consumes More Energy
Here are some facts about why heating consumes more energy, making it more expensive than cooling. By default, heating systems are designed to work harder. Heating air for the home’s comfort is energy intensive. Cooling systems get rid of heat from the air. Heating systems run on propane, electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil. While cooling units make use of electricity. So, in contrast, market fluctuations and regional differences in the cost of electricity and fuel can cause a striking difference between heating and cooling.
How Does Air Conditioning Spend More than Heating?
The United States of America is known to be situated in the northern hemisphere. This means most Americans reside thousands of miles from the equator. Notwithstanding, in some warmer states, they spend more on cooling than heating. The states within these warmer locations account for 20% of American households. This means even if they pay more for cooling, they still get better deals. For instance, a central air conditioning unit is about 3 to 4 times better than an average quality heating system.
The Use of Cooling Systems Is on the Increase
Over the past years, air conditioner producers have enhanced the efficiency of their units. Now the demand for air conditioners is on the rise. More than half of homeowners in the states have at least one air conditioner installed in their homes. Also, the use of cooling units is increasing because the populace is gradually moving to warmer states. Therefore, more air conditioners are needed in new homes.
Lastly, climate change is another factor to consider. Global warming combined with the national average temperature is on the rise together with the frequency and intensity of heat waves. This gives a reason for cooling devices to be needed by homes that may not have used AC regularly for several years. However, the good thing is that air conditioning technology has drastically improved. There are products like variable-speed air conditioners that reduce energy consumption by approximately 30%.
Conclusion
The energy consumption by heating and cooling cannot be compared. As technology improves, manufacturers will always find a means through which energy consumed by these devices will be cut down moderately. However, heating units, since they need more energy to work will still consume more than cooling.