Costs (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on 2015-02-03 20:15 (#2WWB) Wood is really cheap, and electricity is really expensive ($0.20/kWh in New Zealand, where incomes are really low).If you've got a way to reverse those issues, you'll be onto something. Re: Costs (Score: 2, Insightful) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-02-03 21:39 (#2WWD) The solution is quite easy... Burn the wood in the electrical generating plants. That'll quickly fix both problems.Also, heat pumps only require 1/3rd to 1/4th the electric of basic resistive heaters, and better units can operate down to air temperatures below NZ's lowest ever recorded. A ductless mini split or a PTAC heat pumps can be had for under $700, and the majority of the installation can be done by an average homeowner, with the pros doing the final hook-ups. Just check the specs for minimum temperature before buying, as some are much better than others. Re: Costs (Score: 1) by fnj@pipedot.org on 2015-02-05 13:45 (#2WX0) Customary outside-air-sinked heat pumps are no good when you REALLY NEED heating. As the outside temperature approaches -18 C (0 F), the energy requirement approaches that of the much simpler electric resistance heater.Geothermal-sinked heat pumps are much better, as a sink temperature of +10 or so is almost never more than a few feet underground. The tradeoff is cost and complexity.
Re: Costs (Score: 2, Insightful) by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-02-03 21:39 (#2WWD) The solution is quite easy... Burn the wood in the electrical generating plants. That'll quickly fix both problems.Also, heat pumps only require 1/3rd to 1/4th the electric of basic resistive heaters, and better units can operate down to air temperatures below NZ's lowest ever recorded. A ductless mini split or a PTAC heat pumps can be had for under $700, and the majority of the installation can be done by an average homeowner, with the pros doing the final hook-ups. Just check the specs for minimum temperature before buying, as some are much better than others. Re: Costs (Score: 1) by fnj@pipedot.org on 2015-02-05 13:45 (#2WX0) Customary outside-air-sinked heat pumps are no good when you REALLY NEED heating. As the outside temperature approaches -18 C (0 F), the energy requirement approaches that of the much simpler electric resistance heater.Geothermal-sinked heat pumps are much better, as a sink temperature of +10 or so is almost never more than a few feet underground. The tradeoff is cost and complexity.
Re: Costs (Score: 1) by fnj@pipedot.org on 2015-02-05 13:45 (#2WX0) Customary outside-air-sinked heat pumps are no good when you REALLY NEED heating. As the outside temperature approaches -18 C (0 F), the energy requirement approaches that of the much simpler electric resistance heater.Geothermal-sinked heat pumps are much better, as a sink temperature of +10 or so is almost never more than a few feet underground. The tradeoff is cost and complexity.