This spreadsheet or "calculator" can be used to compare residential heating fuel prices and costs.

To use this calculator, follow the instructions and read the notes in the blue cells for each step and enter information into
the yellow cells as necessary. The information in the green cells is calculated for you.

STEP 1: INPUT FUEL PRICES PER UNIT and COMPARE PRICES PER MILLION BTU

This step allows you to compare fuel prices on the basis of dollars per millions of Btu of the fuel (in the green cells). Input the prices
of fuels you want to compare in the yellow cells. Use local prices from a recent bill, local retailers/providers, or the EIA website via
the ENERGY PRICES tab below. Input the total delivered price including taxes. For example, divide your total bill by the total units
(gallons, kWh, therms, etc) consumed or delivered. Notes: Unit is the measurement that the fuels are normally sold; the Prices per
Unit that are already listed in the yellow cells are U.S. national averages (as available) as of November 2005 and are for
examples only; Heat Content Per Unit is the number of British Thermal Units (Btu) of heat contained in a unit of the fuel. Click on
the HEAT CONTENT tab below for more information.

Price Per Unit Heat Content Per Unit Price Per Million
Fuel Type Unit (dollars) (Btu) Btu (dollars)
Fuel Oil (No. 2) Gallon $2.64 138,690 $19.04
Electricity KiloWatt-hour (kWh) $0.093 3,412 $27.26
Natural Gas * Therm ** $1.51 100,000 $15.13
Propane Gallon $1.95 91,333 $21.35
Wood *** Cord $200.00 20,000,000 $10.00
Pellets (premium) Ton $190.00 16,500,000 $11.52
Kerosene Gallon $2.25 135,000 $16.67
Coal Ton $100.00 24,916,000 $4.01
* Natural gas is typically sold to residential customers in units of "therms," but may be sold in units of hundreds of cubic feet (ccf).
** One therm = 100,000 Btu and a ccf = 1.029 therms.
If you are billed in units of CCF, type the CCF price into the cell here - - - - -> $1.56
then type the equivalent price per therm calculated here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > $1.51 into the therm price/unit cell above.
*** The heat content value for a cord of wood above is a rough approximation because the actual amount of wood in a cord will vary
and wood heat content various by tree species and is greatly affected by moisture content.

STEP 2 INPUT HEATING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY RATINGS

Input the efficency rating(s) for the heating system type in the yellow cells. This information is used in the Step 3
calculation. Note: The ratings already listed in the table below for oil, gas and propane heaters and air-source heat
pumps are the minimum standards in effect as of December 2004 and are used for examples only.
Efficiency ratings for oil, gas, and propane fired heaters and air-source heat pumps are on the manufacturer's
Energy Guide label on the appliance, and/or can be obtained via the referrals in the EFFICIENCY INFO tab below.
Because there are no efficiency standards for electric resistance systems ( such as central furnaces, baseboard,
and portable space heaters), coal heaters and geothermal heat pumps, the ratings listed in the yellow cells are
comparable estimates for new appliances with basic features.
For Air-Source Heat Pumps go to Step 2.B first --------->----------->----------->----------->---------->--------->---------->---------->---------->---------->
Note: The actual heating efficiency and seasonal performance of an air-source heat pump may vary significantly
from its rated heating season performing factor (HSPF). Go to Step 2B to use an adjusted HSPF below. See the
Technical Note for Air Source Heat Pumps in the EFFICIENCY INFO tab below for details on how an adjusted HSPF
is calculated in Step 2B. For definitions of Efficiency Ratings, click on the EFFICIENCY INFO tab below.
Rating or Approximate
Heating System Type Type of Efficiency Rating Estimate Efficiency (%)
Oil Furnace or Boiler AFUE 78.0 78%
Electric Furnace/Baseboard/Space Heater Est. 99.0 99%
Electric Air-Source Heat Pump HSPF (see Step 2B) 6.8 199% <---------<--------<--------
Electric Geothermal Heat Pump COP 3.3 330%
Natural Gas Furnace or Boiler AFUE 78.0 78%
Propane Furnace or Boiler AFUE 78.0 78%
Wood Heater/Stove (burning air-dried wood) Est. 60.0 60%
Pellet Heater/Stove Est. 80.0 80%
Kerosene Heater (vented) Est. 80.0 80%
Coal Furnace/Boiler/Stove Est. 75.0 75%

STEP 3: COMPARE FUEL COSTS PER MILLION BTU (MMBtu)

This step automatically calculates the comparative fuel "costs" per million Btu (MMBtu) using the fuel price
and heating system efficiency information that was inputed in Steps 1 and 2 above.
The calculated values are in the green cells.
Fuel and Heating System Type Cost Per MMBtu
Oil - Furnace or Boiler $24.40
Electric - Furnace/Baseboard/Space Heater $27.53
Electric - Air-Source Heat Pump $13.68
Electric - Geothermal Heat Pump $8.26
Natural Gas - Furnace or Boiler $19.39
Propane - Furnace or Boiler $27.37
Wood - Heater/Stove $16.67
Pellet - Heater/Stove $14.39
Kerosene - Heater (vented) $20.83
Coal - Furnace/Boiler/Stove $5.35

For questions regarding this calculator, contact:

National Energy Information Center
(202) 586-8800
Infoctr@eia.doe.gov
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY PRICE LINKS
The following are links to sources of information on residential heating fuel prices.
Links to EIA data are where you will find the most recent price information available.
Contact local suppliers in your area for more accurate price information.

Fuel Oil (No. 2 Distillate)

Electricity

Natural Gas

Propane

Prices for Other Fuels

Kerosene

Wood
Pellets
Coal

EIA Price Forecasts

Short Term Energy Outlook:
national and regional prices
out 18 months.

Annual Energy Outlook:

regional prices out 20 to 25
years
L ENERGY PRICE LINKS
links to sources of information on residential heating fuel prices.
are where you will find the most recent price information available.
pliers in your area for more accurate price information.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_dcus_nus_w.htm
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip_distillate.html
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_dcus_nus_m.htm
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/current/pdf/tablec1.pdf
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/prices.html
( see Tables 9.8 a, b, and c)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/prices.html
( see Table 9.9)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_b.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/average_price_state.xls

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_dcu_nus_m.htm
Note: At the above link, EIA reports Natural Gas prices in dollars per 1,000 cubic feet (MCF).
To convert those prices to dollars per therm, divide the MCF price by 10.3

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_dcus_nus_w.htm
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_prop_dcu_nus_m.htm

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_refoth_dcu_nus_m.htm
http://www.nyserda.org/Energy_Information/nyeph.asp
The above link has prices for New York state; check local suppliers.
Cord wood prices vary significantly - contact local suppliers.
Contact local suppliers.
Contact local suppliers.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html
See Table 4 for national averages, and for regional prices, see Table 5c (for heating oil), 5d (for propane), 8c (for natural
gas), and 10c (for electrical heat).

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/supplement/supref.html
See Tables 11 to 19.
HEAT CONTENT

For information on fuel heat content, click on the links below

For petroleum products (heating oil, propane, kerosene):

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_1.pdf
Note that there are 42 U.S. gallons in a barrel.

For natural gas:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_4.pdf

For electricity:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_6.pdf

For coal:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_5.pdf

LINKS TO OTHER CONVERSION FACTORS

Metric Conversion Factors

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_12.pdf

Metric Prefixes and Miscellaneous Conversion Factors

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec13_13.pdf
DEFINITIONS FOR APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
AFUE, Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, is the measure of the seasonal or annual efficiency of a gas or oil furnace or boiler.
It takes into account the cyclic on/off operation and associated energy losses of the heating unit as it responds to changes in t
which in turn is affected by changes in weather and occupant controls. The higher the AFUE, the higher the efficiency.

HSPF, Heating Season Performance Factor, is the measure of the seasonal efficiency of an air-source heat pump in heating m
It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of heat
delivered for every watt-hour of electricity used by the heat pump over a heating season. The higher the HSPF, the higher the
Note: Air-Source Heat Pumps are also rated on their cooling efficiency in terms of SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).
cannot be used in this spreadsheet to estimate heating costs.

COP, Coefficient of Performance, is a measure of the energy efficiency of geothermal heat pumps in heating mode, and is the
the average heating capacity to the amount of electrical energy input. The higher the COP, the higher the efficiency.
Note: Geothermal Heat Pumps are also rated on their cooling efficiency in terms of EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio). The EER r
cannot be used in this spreadsheet to estimate heating costs.

Est. is Estimated.

TECHNICAL NOTE: AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

The actual heating efficiency and seasonal performance of an air-source heat pump may vary significantly from the rating it rec
when tested under the standard procedures and conditions that manufacturers use to determine heat pump efficiency.
For a detailed discussion of this issue, see the article:
"Climate Impacts on Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for Air Sour
Fairy, et al, ASHRAE Transactions, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, G
www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/hspf/
The method in the form of the regression equations presented in that paper is used in this spreadsheet for calculating an adjus
for air-source heat pumps. This method is assumed to provide a rough approximation of the actual HSPF that an air-source he
will experience in different locations in the USA, as calculated in Step 2B.

LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

DOE Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards Program

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards

DOE/EPA Energy Star Program

www.energystar.gov

DOE Information for Consumers On Space Heating, etc

www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/

Federal Trade Commission - Appliance Labeling

www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/eande/index.html

Gas and Oil-Fired Heaters

Consumers' Directory of Certified Efficiency Ratings for Heating and Water Heating Equipment
www.gamanet.org/gama/inforesources.nsf/vAllDocs/Education?OpenDocument
published by the Gas Appliance Manufacturer's Association (GAMA)
www.gamanet.org

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Directory of Certified Unitary Air Conditioners,Unitary Air-Source Heat Pumps, and Sound-Rated Unitary Equipment
published by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI)
www.ari.org

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC)
www.geoexchange.org

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)

www.igshpa.okstate.edu

National Ground Water Association (has information on "water-source" geothermal heat pumps)
www.ngwa.org/sig/sig.html

Wood, Pellet, Coal Heaters

Hearth Education Foundation
http://heartheducation.org

Hearth Net
http://hearth.com

Professional Trades Associations

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
www.acca.org

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

www.ashrae.org

Hydronics Institute
www.gamanet.org