Economic Comparative Analysis Report on Gas Heating vs. Electric Heating

Based on the latest 2025-2026 data I collected and in-depth analysis, here is a comprehensive economic comparative report on gas heating vs. electric heating:

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Heating Method	Winter Operating Cost (100 ㎡)	Energy Efficiency	Recommendation Rating
Air Source Heat Pump	~¥4,656	COP 3.0 (60-70% energy saving)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Central Heating	~¥2,500	High centralized heating efficiency	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gas Boiler	~¥7,822	~88%	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resistance Electric Heater	~¥14,856	~100%	⭐⭐
Graphene Electric Heater	~¥15,168	~98%	⭐⭐

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According to analytical calculations [0]:

• Daily Gas Consumption: ~17.1 m³
• Total Winter Gas Consumption: ~2,052 m³
• Seasonal Cost:
  ¥7,822
• Average Gas Price: ¥3.81/m³ (Tiered Gas Pricing)

• Daily Electricity Consumption: 150 kWh
• Total Winter Electricity Consumption: 18,000 kWh
• Seasonal Cost:
  ¥14,856
• Average Electricity Price: ¥0.83/kWh (Tiered Electricity Pricing)

• Daily Electricity Consumption: 50 kWh (COP=3.0)
• Total Winter Electricity Consumption: 6,000 kWh
• Seasonal Cost:
  ¥4,656
• Energy Saving Effect: ~69% savings compared to resistance electric heaters

• Daily Electricity Consumption: 153.1 kWh
• Seasonal Cost:
  ¥15,168
• Suitable for local heating; high cost for whole-house use

Taking gas heating as the baseline = 100%:

• Gas Boiler: 100%
• Resistance Electric Heater: 189.9% (
  90% more expensive than gas
  )
• Air Source Heat Pump: 59.5% (
  40% cheaper than gas
  )
• Graphene Electric Heater: 193.9% (
  94% more expensive than gas
  ) [0]

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Tier	Annual Gas Consumption	Price
Tier 1	0-480 m³	¥2.63-¥3.15/m³
Tier 2	480-660 m³	¥3.09-¥3.25/m³
Tier 3	Above 660 m³	¥3.90-¥4.06/m³

Tier	Monthly Electricity Consumption	Price
Tier 1	0-220 kWh	¥0.55-¥0.60/kWh
Tier 2	220-400 kWh	¥0.60/kWh
Tier 3	Above 400 kWh	¥0.85/kWh

: Under high electricity/gas consumption during the heating season, most households will move to Tier 2 or Tier 3, resulting in a significant increase in the actual unit price paid [1].

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Region	Central Heating	Gas Self-Heating	Air Source Heat Pump	Electric Heater
North China (With Central Heating)	¥2,500	¥7,822	¥4,656	¥14,856
North China (Without Central Heating)	—	¥7,822	¥4,656	¥14,856
East China	—	¥9,000	¥5,200	¥16,000
Central China	—	¥8,500	¥4,900	¥15,500

: After the “coal-to-gas” transformation in rural areas such as Hebei, heating costs have soared from ¥2,000-¥3,000 (during the coal-burning period) to ¥5,000-¥11,340, and government subsidies have been reduced from ¥1 per cubic meter to ¥0.2 per cubic meter [2].

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Equipment Type	Thermal Efficiency	Principle Explanation
Gas Boiler	85-90%	Direct combustion heating with heat loss
Resistance Electric Heater	~100%	Direct conversion of electricity to heat
Air Source Heat Pump	COP 2.5-4.0	“Moves” heat from air; 1 kWh of electricity produces 3 kWh of heat
Graphene Electric Heater	~98%	High graphene electrothermal conversion efficiency, fast heating [3]

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Heating Method	Initial Installation Cost
Gas Boiler + Floor Heating	¥15,000-¥25,000
Air Source Heat Pump Floor Heating	¥15,000-¥25,000
Baseboard Radiator	¥3,000-¥8,000
Mobile Graphene Electric Heater	¥500-¥3,000
Central Heating Connection Fee	¥5,000-¥15,000 [3]

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Calculated based on a 15-year service life [0][3]:

• Air Source Heat Pump vs. Gas Boiler
  : The air source heat pump saves approximately ¥3,166 annually; with similar initial investment, the cost difference can be recovered in about 6-7 years
• Air Source Heat Pump vs. Resistance Electric Heater
  : Although the initial investment is ¥10,000 higher, it saves approximately ¥10,200 annually, and the investment can be recovered in 2 years

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• Northern Regions with Central Heating
  : Prioritize central heating (lowest cost, good stability)
• Self-Heating Households in North China
  : It is recommended to switch to air source heat pumps, which are more economical in the long run
• Yangtze River Basin
  : Air source heat pumps are highly recommended due to high COP efficiency
• Southern China (Short Winter Heating)
  : Local electric heaters or air conditioners can meet the demand

Scenario	Recommended Solution
Newly Renovated Households	Air Source Heat Pump Floor Heating (most cost-effective in the long run)
Already Renovated Households	Baseboard Radiators (low renovation cost)
Renting/Short-Term Use	Mobile Electric Heaters (flexible and convenient)
Households with Elderly/Children Long-Term	Hybrid Floor Heating + Radiator System

• Utilize time-of-use electricity pricing: run at low temperature at night, maintain insulation during the day
• Implement intelligent room-by-room temperature control; turn off heating in unoccupied rooms
• Strengthen house insulation (double-glazed windows, weatherstripping)
• Set a reasonable indoor temperature (18-20℃ is sufficient) [3]

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(From Highest to Lowest):

1. Central Heating (Northern China) — Lowest Cost
2. Air Source Heat Pump — Most cost-effective for long-term operation, 60-70% energy saving
3. Gas Boiler — Moderate initial cost, but high operating cost
4. Electric Heater Series — Low initial cost, but high operating cost

:

• From a purely economic perspective,
  air source heat pumps
  are the current optimal choice; with a COP of 3.0, their operating cost is approximately
  69% lower
  than that of resistance electric heaters
• In northern regions with central heating access, central heating remains the most economical option
• Gas heating is still competitive in some regions, but it is greatly affected by tiered gas pricing, and its long-term cost is approximately
  40% higher
  than that of air source heat pumps
• When choosing a heating method, comprehensive consideration should be given to regional climate, house insulation performance, usage habits, and initial investment capacity

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[0] Calculation Results from Jinling AI Financial Analysis Tool (Based on 2025-2026 energy price data)

[1] Zunyi Development and Reform Commission Residential Electricity and Gas Pricing Standards (https://www.zunyi.gov.cn/)

[2] Field Survey “Residential Heating Difficulties in Rural Areas of North China” - Sohu News (https://m.sohu.com/a/973646214_121478296)

[3] Is Floor Heating Falling Out of Favor? Neighbor’s Solution: Fast Heating and Space-Saving - Tencent News (https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20260113A03QAN00)

[4] 2026 National Energy Work Conference Report (https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202512221805625280_1.pdf)