An investigation into heated seat cushions as a substitute for propane patio heaters for the Perch Restaurant
Creators: name: Abadi, Arman
name: Lalh, Harjeet
name: Taaffe, Lauren
name: Turmel, Pascal
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2015

description: This report investigates alternatives to propane patio heaters to keep patrons warm with the goal of extending the Perch’s patio hours. The Perch which is located in the new Student Union Building wishes to find a more sustainable option to heat its patio to align itself with LEED and acquire a platinum certification for the building. A triple bottom line analysis was conducted on heated seat cushions, propane, and electric table top heaters in order to compare their economic, environmental, and social viability. For the triple bottom line assessment the following were compared: Vesture’s microwaveable Microcore™ heat pad as the heated seat cushion, a 48,000 BTU standing propane heater, and AZ’s electric tabletop heater. Carbon dioxide emissions were used to compare the environmental impact of each product. It was found that the heated seat cushions produced only 9.6 kilograms (kg) of CO₂ per hour whereas the propane patio heaters and electric table top heaters produced 30 kg per hour and 27.6 kg of CO₂ per hour respectively. CO₂ emissions were calculated based on the combustion of propane for a 48,000 BTU propane heater and electricity used by the electric table top heaters and to heat the seat cushions. In addition, the Microcore™ heat packs are composed of a glycerin-based liquid, whereas the propane and electric table top heaters are made of steel. Glycerin is an organic compound naturally found in abundance (Robinson, 2014), whereas steel is a metal which needs to be mined and processed. Based on CO₂ emissions and product materials, it was concluded that the heated seat cushions were the most environmentally sustainable of the three heating options. The three products were compared economically based on their upfront product cost and their running costs. The initial cost for the 80 Microcore™ packs needed to heat a patio of 80 customers is $2344.00 after shipping and taxes. The electricity needed to heat all of the Microcore™ pads would cost $0.325 per hour. In comparison, the cost to buy ten standing propane heaters and their propane tanks is $2217.50, with a running cost of $6.00 per hour. To buy 23 table top heaters for each table on the Perch’s patio, it would cost $3565.00 with a running cost of $9.72 per hour. These figures resulted in the purchase of 80 Microcore™ heat packs having the shortest cost recovery period in comparison to the electric table top heaters and propane heaters, thus making them the most economic option. Propane heaters are the industry standard for heating outdoor patios at restaurant and are commonly used throughout Vancouver and UBC. In order to gather primary data regarding the social success of the Microcore™ microwaveable heat pads, a survey was conducted. Overall, participants responded very positively to the heated seat cushions, showing a 100% preference to the Microcore™ technology over propane heaters. Social assessment of electric table top heaters was compromised by the fact that the heaters must be plugged into a power source to operate. Due to the limited availability of electrical outlets on the patio, many electrical cables would be required creating an unsafe environment. There is also risks involved with propane heaters. In addition to the hassle of physically replacing the propane tanks, there is also potential for leaks and their associated risks. While propane heaters have been the staple heating method for outdoor seating at restaurants, survey results indicate that people are willing to use the Microcore™ heat pads as it would be a step in a more sustainable direction. Overall, we recommend the purchase and use of the Microcore™ heat pads to keep customers warm on the Perch restaurant’s patio based on the environmental, economic, and social viability of the product. Student involvement may also be increased by using a UBC manufactured outer covering potentially made by the UBC Sewing Club or another student group. By using the heated seat cushions, the Perch’s patio season may be extended to the end of October. This creative approach to keeping customer’s warm can be harnessed by the Perch restaurant and potentially spread to other outdoor restaurants on campus, leading UBC towards a more sustainable future. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”