{
  "id": "v20-ca-heating-comparison",
  "version": "20.16.0",
  "name": "Heating Cost Comparison Calculator — Canada",
  "shortName": "Heating Cost Comparison",
  "description": "Put electricity and the comparison fuel on the same delivered-heat basis instead of comparing unlike fuel units. CAD planning view; stated limitations apply.",
  "category": "Home & Construction",
  "categorySlug": "home-construction",
  "keywords": [
    "heating-comparison",
    "ca",
    "energy-conservation",
    "pvwatts",
    "energy-saver"
  ],
  "status": "live",
  "workStatus": "pending",
  "reviewStatus": "pending",
  "migrationStatus": "new",
  "engine": "native",
  "creator": null,
  "reviewer": null,
  "quality": {
    "availability": "live",
    "technicalReviewRecord": "/reviews/v20-ca-heating-comparison.json",
    "qualifiedReview": "pending",
    "qualifiedReviewer": null,
    "qualifiedReviewDate": null,
    "formulaVersion": "20.16.0",
    "referenceCoverage": "references-listed",
    "releaseTestScope": "Catalog and regression checks are not a professional formula audit; consult release evidence.",
    "historicalMetadataDate": "",
    "historicalMetadataNotice": "The imported date is not evidence of a completed human review."
  },
  "notice": "Illustrative defaults are not local quotes or verified legal rules. Dated reference components and user-entered assumptions are explicitly distinguished. Professional review is pending.",
  "urls": {
    "page": "/ca/heating-comparison/",
    "definition": "/ca/heating-comparison/definition.json",
    "schema": "/ca/heating-comparison/schema.json",
    "llms": "/ca/heating-comparison/llms.txt",
    "legacyDefinition": "/ca/heating-comparison/definition.json"
  },
  "queryExample": "https://askcalculators.com/ca/heating-comparison/?usefulHeat=18000&heatPumpCop=3&fuelEfficiency=90&electricityRate=0.2&fuelRate=0.08&electricFixed=0&fuelFixed=120",
  "queryParameters": {
    "usefulHeat": {
      "label": "Annual useful heat required, kWh",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "default": 18000
    },
    "heatPumpCop": {
      "label": "Seasonal heat-pump coefficient of performance",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "default": 3
    },
    "fuelEfficiency": {
      "label": "Seasonal comparison-heater efficiency",
      "type": "percent",
      "required": true,
      "default": 90
    },
    "electricityRate": {
      "label": "Electricity price per input kWh",
      "type": "money",
      "required": true,
      "default": 0.2
    },
    "fuelRate": {
      "label": "Comparison fuel price per input kWh",
      "type": "money",
      "required": true,
      "default": 0.08
    },
    "electricFixed": {
      "label": "Annual additional electric fixed charges",
      "type": "money",
      "required": true,
      "default": 0
    },
    "fuelFixed": {
      "label": "Annual fuel fixed charges",
      "type": "money",
      "required": true,
      "default": 120
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "usefulHeat",
      "label": "Annual useful heat required, kWh",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 18000,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 1000000000000,
      "step": 0.01,
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "heatPumpCop",
      "label": "Seasonal heat-pump coefficient of performance",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 3,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 8,
      "step": 0.01,
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelEfficiency",
      "label": "Seasonal comparison-heater efficiency",
      "type": "percent",
      "defaultValue": 90,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100,
      "step": 0.1,
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "electricityRate",
      "label": "Electricity price per input kWh",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0.2,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 1000000000000,
      "step": 0.01,
      "prefix": "CAD",
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelRate",
      "label": "Comparison fuel price per input kWh",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0.08,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 1000000000000,
      "step": 0.01,
      "prefix": "CAD",
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "electricFixed",
      "label": "Annual additional electric fixed charges",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 1000000000000,
      "step": 0.01,
      "prefix": "CAD",
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelFixed",
      "label": "Annual fuel fixed charges",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 120,
      "required": true,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 1000000000000,
      "step": 0.01,
      "prefix": "CAD",
      "help": "Illustrative starting value; replace with your own evidence."
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "heatPumpEnergy",
      "label": "Heat-pump input electricity, kWh",
      "format": "number",
      "digits": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelEnergy",
      "label": "Comparison fuel input, kWh",
      "format": "number",
      "digits": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "heatPumpCost",
      "label": "Heat-pump annual cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "digits": 2,
      "currency": "CAD"
    },
    {
      "id": "fuelCost",
      "label": "Comparison heater annual cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "digits": 2,
      "currency": "CAD"
    },
    {
      "id": "annualSaving",
      "label": "Heat-pump annual saving",
      "format": "currency",
      "digits": 2,
      "primary": true,
      "currency": "CAD"
    },
    {
      "id": "breakevenCop",
      "label": "Energy-only break-even COP",
      "format": "number",
      "digits": 2
    }
  ],
  "formula": {
    "expression": "input energy = useful heat ÷ seasonal efficiency; cost = input energy × unit price + fixed charges.",
    "note": "Inputs are converted to canonical units before evaluating this stated formula."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "label": "Illustrative defaults; required verification checks remain unconfirmed",
      "inputs": {
        "unitSystem": "metric",
        "usefulHeat": 18000,
        "heatPumpCop": 3,
        "fuelEfficiency": 90,
        "electricityRate": 0.2,
        "fuelRate": 0.08,
        "electricFixed": 0,
        "fuelFixed": 120
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "DOE energy-use arithmetic",
      "url": "https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/appliances-and-electronics/estimating-appliance-and-home"
    },
    {
      "label": "PVWatts: site-specific solar estimation",
      "url": "https://pvwatts.nlr.gov/"
    },
    {
      "label": "DOE insulation overview",
      "url": "https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/insulation"
    }
  ],
  "publicSlug": "heating-comparison",
  "namespace": "ca",
  "countries": [
    "us",
    "ca",
    "uk",
    "ie"
  ]
}