Research Journal of Environmental Sciences1819-34122151-8238Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/rjes.2017.5.17SelfS.J. Koohi-FayeghS. RosenM.A. ReddyB.V. 12017111Background and Objective: The use of intermittent thermal energy sources for heating, in combination with seasonal thermal energy storage, may be advantageous compared to conventional heating systems. The analysis of heating systems with seasonal thermal energy storage is complex, as there are many variables that potentially affect overall design and operation. The effects of subsystem characteristics on overall system economics and environmental impact are not fully understood at present. This study investigates how subsystem efficiencies, pipe losses and peak consumer load affect economics and carbon dioxide emissions. Materials and Methods: A method for analyzing the economic and environmental aspects of a heating system with seasonal thermal energy storage is developed and presented. The present study focuses on the influence of subsystem efficiency values and losses on system performance, rather than on detailed thermodynamic analyses. Values of subsystem efficiencies and thermal losses are varied within ranges reported in the literature. The system utilizes a solar thermal source, an underground thermal energy storage and a natural gas backup boiler, and is taken to serve a residential building in Ottawa, Canada. Results: The thermal supply piping and seasonal thermal energy storage are found to have the highest capital cost followed by the solar collectors and backup boiler. The consumer load has the greatest effect on economics and carbon dioxide emissions. The backup system efficiency has little effect on system economics due to the high solar fraction. Conclusions: The study provides insight into the importance of the characteristics of various subsystems of the system on its operation, cost and carbon dioxide emissions. The results and trends developed can aid design and feasibility studies. Future work is merited to analyze heating systems using alternative subsystem technologies.]]>Pinnau, S. and C. Breitkopf,2015101343351Kapsalaki, M., V. Leal and M. Santamouris,201255765778Pavlov, G.K. and B.W. Olesen,201218515538Dincer, I. and M.A. Rosen,20112nd Edn.,Pages: 620Pages: 620Haeseldonckx, D., L. Peeters, L. Helsen and W. D’haeseleer,20072 emissions.]]>1112271243Pavlov, G.K. and B.W. Olesen,20112011Sharma, A., V.V. Tyagi, C.R. Chen and D. Buddhi,200913318345Gaine, K. and A. Duffy,20102010Novo, A.V., J.R. Bayon, D. Castro-Fresno and J. Rodriguez-Hernandez,201087390397Schmidt, T., D. Mangold and H. Muller-Steinhagen,200476165174Dincer, I. and S. Dost,199620547557Sweet, M.L. and J.T. McLeskey Jr.,201286289300Natural Resources Canada,20162016Tiwari, G.N.,20021st Edn.,Kumar, R. and L. Umanand,20053022212233Sen, Z.,2008Pages: 276Pages: 276Natural Resources Canada,20122012Chow, T.T.,201087365379Kumar, R. and M.A. Rosen,20118836033614Rezaie, B., B.V. Reddy and M.A. Rosen,201574848854Schout, G., B. Drijver, M. Gutierrez-Neri and R. Schotting,201422281291Sibbitt, B., D. McClenahan, R. Djebbar, J. Thornton, B. Wong, J. Carriere and J. Kokko,201230856865Yapparova, A., S. Matthai and T. Driesner,20147610111018Xu, J., R.Z. Wang and Y. Li,2014103610638Ghafghazi, S., T. Sowlati, S. Sokhansanj and S. Melin,20103411091120Wu, K.K., Y.C. Chang, C.H. Chen and Y.D. Chen,20108924552462IPCC.,20062006Natural Resources Canada,20132 emission factors.]]>2013U.S Energy Information Administration,20152015Kristjansson, H. and B. Bohm,20062006Olsen, P.K., C.H. Christiansen, M. Hofmeister, S. Svendsen and J.E. Thorsen,20142014Rosa, A.D., H. Li and S. Svendsen,20113624072418Djebbar, R.,20132013Rad, F.M., A.S. Fung and W.H. Leong,201361224232Ontario Energy Board,20162016Schmidt, T. and O. Miedaner,20122012Sliwa, T., M.A. Rosen and Z. Jezuit,20148231242Tolmie, R. and M.A. Rosen,201596673Ataei, A., A.H.M.A. Kani, R. Parand and M. Raoufinia,20093414426Al-Jlil, S.A.,20159115Sadeghi, S., B. Shahmoradi and A. Maleki,20159280288