Life-cycle cost analysis of energy efficiency design options for residential furnaces and boilers

Abstract

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a rulemaking process to consider whether to amend the existing energy efficiency standards for furnaces and boilers. A key factor in DOE's consideration of new standards is the economic impacts on consumers of possible revisions to energy-efficiency standards. Determining cost-effectiveness requires an appropriate comparison of the additional first cost of energy efficiency design options with the savings in operating costs. DOE's preferred approach involves comparing the total life-cycle cost (LCC) of owning and operating a more efficient appliance with the LCC for a baseline design. This study describes the method used to conduct the LCC analysis and presents the estimated change in LCC associated with more energy-efficient equipment. The results indicate that efficiency improvement relative to the baseline design can reduce the LCC in each of the product classes considered.

Life cycle cost (LCC) as a tool for improving sustainability in the Norwegian fishing fleet

“…LCC may be defined as ''the cost of acquisition, ownership, and disposal of a product over a defined period of its life cycle'' [20,21]. LCC is a standard engineering economic approach to be used for choosing among alternative products or designs that provide approximately the same service to the customer [22]. In many cases it may not be necessary to perform a complete LCC analysis, but rather to estimate the differences between the alternatives for the major cost elements [23].…”

High-efficiency prototypes of commercial gas heaters extensively used in Argentina

“…In cold and temperate areas, the major energy consumption in buildings is for space heating [1], for which the main efforts in design focus on envelope thermal quality and efficiency of furnaces. Recently, Lutz et al [2] have studied the impact on US household cost if further improvements in gas furnaces would be implemented, achieving thermal efficiency goals of 90%. In Argentina, the main fuel for households is gas, either bottled propane or natural gas.…”