On June 11, staff of the American Public Gas Association (APGA) visited the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility in Gaithersburg, MD. It was a great opportunity to see, first-hand, the facility, recently utilized to analyze gas versus electric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in mid-Atlantic region homes. The research is to be published in the September issue of the Journal of Building Engineering but currently available in PDF form
here.
The study shows that under current full-fuel-cycle emissions and energy costs, there are economic and environmental advantages for homes using natural gas, as opposed to electricity, for space and water heating. Given the push by some for “beneficial” electrification as a means to meet certain “economic and environmental goals,” APGA is pleased that this unbiased third-party study presents an objective look at home energy usage. The study’s findings demonstrate that the direct use of natural gas, rather than electrification, is the more economic and environmentally-friendly choice given the US’s abundantly available natural gas.
The following statement can be attributed to Bert Kalisch, APGA’s President & CEO, “We are pleased this scientific study verifies what APGA and its members have consistently said for some time regarding the economic and environmental benefits of the direct use of natural gas. As the study affirms, the use of electric heating equipment leads to higher construction, energy, and life-cycle costs whereas the use of natural gas appliances will put significant dollars back in consumers’ pockets. The direct use of natural gas, not electrification, should play a critical role in our efforts to improve efficiency and to provide affordable energy to consumers while minimizing environmental impacts.”