Consider the following argument: A municipal building authority plans to replace the conventional steam radiator heating systems in its historic administrative offices with low-temperature geothermal heat pumps. The authority claims that this modification will reduce total heating expenses for these buildings over the next decade because geothermal systems consume significantly less grid electricity per unit of thermal energy delivered than electric boiler steam systems.
True or False: The argument depends on the assumption that the total cost of installing and maintaining the geothermal heat pump system over the next decade will not exceed the monetary savings gained from reduced electricity consumption.
Answer: Answer
Answer
True. The argument logically depends on the unstated assumption that installation and maintenance costs will not negate the energy cost savings over the ten-year period.
The author infers a reduction in overall ten-year heating expenses solely from a premise establishing that geothermal systems use less electricity per unit of heat. For operational energy efficiency to lead to lower total financial expenditure over time, non-operational costs—specifically initial system purchase, installation, and routine maintenance—must not exceed the monetary value of the energy saved.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Negation Test for Identifying Necessary Assumptions