Kansas Utility Cost Estimator — Heating vs Cooling Season
Compare your estimated annual heating and cooling utility costs using Kansas climate data (Heating Degree Days and Cooling Degree Days), your home's characteristics, and local energy rates.
Home & Location
Heating System
$/therm for gas; $/kWh for electric/heat pump; $/gallon for propaneCooling System
Kansas avg residential rate ≈ $0.11–$0.13/kWh (2024)Formulas Used
Annual Heating Load (BTU):
Q_heat = UA × HDD × 24
Where UA = whole-home heat loss coefficient (BTU/hr·°F), HDD = Heating Degree Days (base 65°F), 24 = hours/day.
Heating Fuel Consumed:
Units = Q_heat / (Efficiency × BTU_per_unit)
AFUE used for furnaces (e.g., 0.95); COP used for heat pumps (e.g., 2.5–3.0). BTU/unit: natural gas = 100,000 BTU/therm; propane = 91,500 BTU/gal; electricity = 3,412 BTU/kWh.
Annual Heating Cost:
Cost_heat = Units × Rate ($/unit)
Annual Cooling Load (BTU):
Q_cool = UA × CDD × 24
CDD = Cooling Degree Days (base 65°F).
Cooling EER from SEER:
EER = SEER × 0.875
Standard approximation per ASHRAE for mixed-climate operation.
Cooling Electricity Consumed:
kWh_cool = Q_cool / EER
Annual Cooling Cost:
Cost_cool = kWh_cool × Rate ($/kWh)
Assumptions & References
- Heating Degree Day (HDD) and Cooling Degree Day (CDD) values sourced from NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020) for Kansas stations.
- UA value represents the whole-building thermal conductance (envelope + infiltration). Typical Kansas homes: 0.4–0.6 BTU/hr·°F per sq ft of conditioned area.
- Heating season approximated as 6 months (October–March); cooling season as 4 months (June–September) for monthly average calculations.
- EER ≈ SEER × 0.875 per ASHRAE Standard 116 approximation for residential central air conditioning.
- Natural gas: 100,000 BTU/therm (AGA); Propane: 91,500 BTU/gallon (DOE); Electricity: 3,412 BTU/kWh.
- Kansas average residential electricity rate: $0.11–$0.13/kWh (EIA, 2024). Natural gas: $0.80–$1.00/therm. Propane: $1.80–$2.50/gallon.
- Model does not account for thermostat setback, solar heat gain, internal heat gains, duct losses, or time-of-use rate structures.
- References: ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook (2021), NOAA Climate Data Online, EIA State Energy Profiles — Kansas.