Reducing energy costs is a top priority for homeowners these days—not to mention having an efficient and reliable home energy system. Home heating is often a high energy user, so having an efficient system for that can reduce your energy costs significantly. Imagine if you could combine efficient heating with power production. You can: it's called a micro combined heat and power (mCHP) generator.
Where did mCHP generators come from?
Originally designed for use in manufacturing, combined heat and power generators are single appliances that can generate power from propane at the same time as they generate heat and hot water. The system can be self-contained so that it doesn’t rely on electricity from the grid and can include solar and battery storage, making it resilient during power outages as well. A micro CHP or mCHP generator is the same idea, but scaled for individual homes.
Micro CHP generators are extremely efficient
A mCHP generator captures excess heat produced by its generator engine and uses it to produce usable heat and hot water for a home. According to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, mCHP generator technology can reach 93% efficiency—about 60% better than the average efficiency of power coming from the grid. Even at its worst, an mCHP generator will work at about 35% energy efficiency, which is 2% better than average grid performance.
Micro CHP generators are more expensive to install
Since mCHP generators usually require retrofitting to add to an existing system, installing them is likely more expensive than other options. The simplest installations can start at around $5,000 and the largest, most complicated installations can cost around $40,000 as compared to between $4,000 and $25,000 for a traditional whole-house generator. The cost of installation is heavily dependent on the area you live, the size of your system, and the complexity of the system, including the volume of hot water you need and the area of your home you need to heat.
How to calculate your energy savings with mCHP
It’s not easy to predict even the average savings that an mCHP system can produce because of the variable cost of fuel, the variable low temperature regionally, and the efficiency (or lack thereof) of your current system. However, taking into account your current energy usage (found on your electric bill as kilowatt hours (kWh)) as well as the amount and cost of the fuel you currently use for heating if you use natural gas, oil, or other fuel, and then comparing that usage against the average expected fuel usage for an mCHP generator sized for your home, you can get some idea of your potential savings. If your mCHP system saves you an average of 15% of energy expended, you can expect around 15% savings on your bill. However, the savings when using an mCHP system is heavily dependent on the circumstances of your particular system, so it’s important to calculate your needs in conjunction with an mCHP specialist to make sure it’s actually a savings for you.
How to find a contractor that can install an mCHP generator
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance lists their members, many of whom are manufacturers and contractors that specialize in mCHP generators. That could be a good starting point to search for a reliable installation specialist for your job. You can also try looking at local natural gas utilities, as they sometimes partner with installers that specialize in equipment that uses natural gas, like mCHP generators. Since the technology is still emerging in the U.S., you might have to do some digging to find a contractor. Make sure to read reviews and ask lots of questions before choosing one, to make sure you’re hiring someone who has experience installing mCHP systems.