Entropy weight-based TOPSIS analysis of clean heating technology paths in winter in rural areas of the severe cold regions of China

Coal-reliant heating systems in the cold rural regions of northern China exacerbate severe air pollution. This predicament underscores the persistent challenge of promoting clean heating in rural areas. The objective of this paper is to provide a reference for selecting suitable clean heating technologies for farmhouses with varying floor areas in cold rural regions. The present study employs a multifaceted research approach, including online surveys, field investigations, and empirical measurements, to comprehensively assess prevailing winter heating practices in farmhouses located in severely cold rural regions. The research utilizes the entropy weight-TOPSIS evaluation method, which encompasses four dimensions: equipment factors, enclosure structure factors, economic factors, and environmental factors. Six typical heating technology pathways—including biomass boilers, direct-heat electric boilers, thermal storage electric boilers, solar-assisted systems, low-temperature air-source heat pump air heaters, and low-temperature air-source heat pump water heaters—were evaluated and analyzed for three typical farmhouses with different floor areas. The findings indicate that for small and medium-sized farmhouses with floor areas ranging from 60 to 80 m2 and 80–100 m2, the use of low-temperature air-source heat pump heaters is recommended. For farmhouses with floor areas from 100 to 120 m2, the optimal heating mode is identified as air-source heat pump water heaters. A comprehensive analysis of decision-making factors associated with diverse clean heating technologies is paramount for formulating effective policies and advancing the industry.