Life cycle assessment comparison of direct electric surface heating systems and conventional pumped hot water heating systems

This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment of fast-responding direct electric surface heating systems and conventional pumped hot water systems. Three thermal load scenarios (30–150 kWh m -2 a -1 ) and two building scales (100 m 2 and 1000 m 2 usable floor area) were analyzed over a 20-year period, evaluating ecological and economic performance. From an ecological perspective, life cycle impacts are dominated by the operational phase, whereas production and disposal contribute only marginally. Depending on the system and scenario, non-renewable primary energy use during production and disposal accounts for less than 1 % to 18 % of total life cycle demand, and associated greenhouse gas emissions for less than 1 % to 15 %. Overall, direct electric heating systems exhibit higher life-cycle-related environmental impacts than pumped hot water systems due to the high primary energy factor of electricity. The economic assessment indicates that direct electric heating can achieve lower total annual costs under specific boundary conditions. Clear cost advantages occur for small usable areas (100 m 2 ) and low annual heating demands below 47 kWh m -2 a -1 , while at higher demands and larger areas (1000 m 2 ) pumped hot water systems are more favorable. In summary, direct electric heating can be economically competitive in buildings with low heating demand, small usable areas, and high load variability. However, its ecological performance remains inferior to that of hydronic systems despite advantages such as rapid thermal response and simplified system architecture. • Ecological and economic assessment of two heating systems. • Analysis for 100 m 2 /1000 m 2 and 30–150 kWh m − 2 a − 1 heat demand. • Use phase dominates overall environmental impacts. • Direct electric heating shows higher life cycle burdens. • Findings inform energy-efficient building design decisions.