Customer attitudes toward thermal-energy-storage heating

• Main Author: Hersh, H.N.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION; CONSUMPTION; AND UTILIZATION; 29 ENERGY PLANNING; POLICY AND ECONOMY; HEATING SYSTEMS; THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT; ATTITUDES; ENERGY CONSERVATION; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; OFF-PEAK POWER; SPACE HEATING; SURVEYS; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; ELECTRIC POWER; ENERGY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT; HEATING; NORTH AMERICA; POWER; USA; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6128881; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6128881; https://doi.org/10.2172/6128881

This study of attitudes among users of thermal energy storage (TES) heating systems indicates that more than 90% of the users regard TES as an acceptable residential heating technology. This conclusion draws upon three sources of information: a formal customer acceptance survey exploring attitudes and levels of satisfaction, face-to-face contacts between utility representatives and users, and a survey of pertinent published information. The two main conclusions of this study are that: (1) TES heating systems are installed for economic reasons by customers who can afford higher initial costs and understand the concept of lower total cost (capital plus operating), and (2) attitudes toward TES are positive, the key indicator being that 90% of TES users would recommend their heating system to a friend or neighbor. TES systems are not regarded more favorably than conventional systems, however, and it is likely that lower electric heating bills are responsible for the favorable perceptions of most TES users. These conclusions remove an element of uncertainty about thermal energy storage systems for heating, and should be useful to private and public policymakers.