Evaluation of conventional and renewable energy sources for space heating in the household sector

Residential, space and water heating is dependent particularly upon the combustion of fossil fuels, which thereby contribute significantly to air pollution and build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In Jordan, residential space heating accounts for about two thirds of the total residential energy consumption; with kerosene being the most popular fuel used, followed by LPG, for heating purposes. This paper is intended to evaluate space heating systems used in Jordan based on a multi-criteria analysis, using two different methods: the fuzzy sets and analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The benefits and costs of each system are considered, and the overall benefit-to-cost ratios are determined. Analyses using both methods showed that heating systems based on renewable energy, i.e., wind and solar energy, are most favorable, followed by traditional stoves burning petroleum products and finally the worst heating system is the electric heater. On percentage basis, the cost-to-benefit ratio of wind-based heating system is 4.3% and 3.9% as obtained by fuzzy sets and by AHP methods, respectively, compared to 28.5% and 18.6% for electric heating devices, under identical operating conditions.