The installation of geo-thermal heating in homes is known to be up to

Question

The installation of geo-thermal heating in homes is known to be up to three times more expensive than the installation of standard heating methods such as oil or gas-burning heaters, fireplaces, and air conditioning. However, architects hypothesize that geo-thermal heating is still cheaper in the long run since, not relying on fuel, it has no operational expenses.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the architects' hypothesis?

(A) Comparing the installation time of geo-thermal heating with the operational expenses of standard heating methods

(B) Comparing the monthly expenses of both standard and geo-thermal heating methods

(C) Comparing the fuel consumption rates of each of the standard heating methods

(D) Comparing the heating capacity of standard heating methods with that of geo-thermal heating

(E) Comparing the long-term operational expenses of standard heating methods with difference in installation costs of standard and geo-thermal heating

This is a  CR Butler Question

Check the links to other Butler Projects:

Data Sufficiency Butler  
  Problem Solving Butler  
  Reading Comprehension Butler  
  Data Insights Butler

vishark · Answer

E.
The architects’ hypothesis is that geo-thermal heating, despite higher upfront costs, becomes cheaper over time due to zero operational expenses. To evaluate this, you need to compare:
1. Initial installation cost difference (geo-thermal vs. standard)
2. Long-term operational expenses (fuel, maintenance, etc. for standard systems)
E directly addresses the cost-benefit analysis over time, which is the core of the hypothesis.

Pray2K · Answer

Installation Costs : 
GTH - $1000
STH - $200

Maintenance/Opex:
GTH - $0
STH - $100 per year.

After 20 yrs....Expenses Incurred:
GTH - $1000
STH - $2200 (Installment + Opex)
Savings - $1200.

Thus, benefit can be calculated as: GTH $1000-$200 = $800 GTH being expensive in the start.
Savings of Opex by GTH = $2000. Thus net savings by GTH is $1200.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The installation of geo-thermal heating in homes is known to be up to three times more expensive than the installation of standard heating methods such as oil or gas-burning heaters, fireplaces, and air conditioning. However, architects hypothesize that geo-thermal heating is still cheaper in the long run since, not relying on fuel, it has no operational expenses.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the architects' hypothesis?

(A) Comparing the installation time of geo-thermal heating with the operational expenses of standard heating methods

Incorrect.

In this variation of Investigation questions, you are required to find which method of investigation will be most useful in evaluating the architects' conclusion. To do so, first break down the argument. The first sentence is factual - a premise. The second sentence begins with the conclusion marked by the word hypothesize, and ends with a premise which follows the reason conjunction since:

Premise A: installing geo-thermal heating is 3 times more expensive than installing other heating systems
+
Premise B: geo-thermal heating cost nothing to operate
=
Architects' Hypothesis: geo-thermal heating is cheaper than standard methods overall

Relevant Investigation: ?

The correct answer is a method of investigation which could support or weaken the conclusion depending on its outcome, i.e., an investigation that tests the most crucial factor.

This answer choice doesn't make sense because it attempts to compare time and money, which are two different parameters.

(B) Comparing the monthly expenses of both standard and geo-thermal heating methods

Incorrect.

This answer choice suggests that we compare between the monthly costs of both options. However, we already know that geo-thermal heating has an advantage in this field since it has no operational costs at all. Furthermore, this method disregards the installation expenses so it is hardly an accurate means of comparing the two.

(C) Comparing the fuel consumption rates of each of the standard heating methods

Incorrect.

This answer choice suggests that we work out which method is cheaper by comparing the fuel consumption rates in each of the standard heating methods. This data may be useful for a comparison between standard heating methods, but that is not the case here. We are required to find a way of comparing standard heating methods (as a group) with geo-thermal heating, which is not mentioned in this answer choice.

(D) Comparing the heating capacity of standard heating methods with that of geo-thermal heating

Incorrect.

Comparing the heating capacities of each option cannot help us since we are not trying to establish which option produces more heat - we are trying to establish which costs less.

(E) Comparing the long-term operational expenses of standard heating methods with difference in installation costs of standard and geo-thermal heating

We can figure out if the architects were right to hypothesize that geo-thermal heating is relatively cheaper by comparing the expensive aspects of each option - operational expenses for standard heating methods vs. a relatively expensive installation for geo-thermal heating.

The installation of geo-thermal heating in homes is known to be up to

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The installation of geo-thermal heating in homes is known to be up to

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards