Listen Online 
Download 
Get all of the Podcasts in convenient, giant zip files 
Subscribe on iTunes
Summary
part 1 of a 2 part podcast
Paul and Uncle Mud discuss the home heating infographic which they published on permies.com/heat.
Paul and Mud spent months gathering data for the infographic to make it as accurate as possible. Since then many of the costs (electricity, propane, pellets etc.) have increased anything up to 30%
The data relates to Montana which is known as a cold state, and to a 2000 sq.ft. home.
Heat pumps: there are broadly 2 types - mini-splits and in-ground/ground source.
Mini splits are cheaper to install and typically save around 30% vs
electric heat.
In-ground costs typically 2.5x to install, typically saves around 65%
In-ground is challenging for DIY install. They suggest DIY level 5 for mini-splits, level 8 or 9 for in-ground
they talk about professional installation for an
RMH. Mud does this, average cost is about $7500. Most of the cost whether DIY or professional is installing the vertical exhaust through the roof. If you already have a flue (e.g. removing a
wood stove), it's cheaper.
mini splits cost about $1300 per year, in-ground heat pump about $600. RMH is about $15. The figure for RMH includes finding half a cord for nothing from various sources.
Moving on to
Carbon footprint, RMH has a
footprint about 5% of the best heat pump.
Mud mentions that infrastructure cost often isn't included in carbon footprint data.
Alan Booker has done good research on this, taking into account among other things manufacture and transport cost for equipment and fuel. Alan also has a thing about how you can operate an RMH with negative carbon footprint: it's possible to put up to 20,000lbs of carbon back into the ground for every 3000lbs you burn, with optimal management of forest.
Relevant Threads
Heat Infographic thread
Rocket Mass Heater forum
Podcast 618 - Biophilic Design and BBB session 5 - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Support the Empire
Help support the empire and get all of the podcasts in a bundle
here in the digital market at permies.
To support production of these podcasts, make a donation
here at Paul's Patreon page.
This podcast was made possible thanks to:
Dr. Hugh Gill Kultur
Kyle Neath
Bill Crim
anonymous
Chris Sugg
Kerry JustTooLazy
Jocelyn Campbell
Bill Erickson
Sasquatch
G Cooper
Dominic Crolius
Penny McLoughlin
Mehron Kugler
Pasquale DeAngelis
havokeachday
Julia Winter, world's slowest mosaic artist
Greg Martin
Mark
Sean Benedict
Rita Bliden
Dana Martin
Candace Dahlk
Keith Kuhnsman
Leanne
Eric Tolbert
Nick DePuy
Nathan Hale
Opalyn
Rose
Polly Jayne Smyth
Todd Gerardot
Katie Young
Ivar Vasara
Brent Lawson
Weston prestage
Candice Crawford
Chris Holtslag
Song Zheng
6
