Heating oil vs. electric heat [RE-wrenches]

[Kurt Albershardt]

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I was going to bring up heat pump COP, but suspected that Joel might be in a super-cold area where they do not fare so well.

Differences between #2 and #1 heating oil will also play a role here.  I blend 20% locally-produced biodiesel into my #2 here and so far (2 years now) our 1945 Lennox is still humming.




--On Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:44 AM -0800 "Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services" <toddcory at finestplanet.com> wrote:

>
> Joel,
>
> In 2005 I compared our just installed, air sourced electric heat pump (COP 3.1) with our kerosene fired "Monitor" brand heater. I used price per BTU when I figured the numbers, but only have the net costs to heat our home for a winter season. I just modified those numbers for today's electricity and kerosene prices:
>
> At $3.41 per gallon of kerosene (11-13-2007 price - supposed to be going up again today), it would cost us $450.00 to heat our home for the winter with the kerosene monitor.
>
> With .10/kWh electricity:
> To heat our home for a season with resistance electric the cost is $486.00.
> To heat our home for a season with a 2.0 COP heat pump the cost is $234.00
> To heat our home for a season with a 3.0 COP heat pump the cost is $162.00
>
> Conclusion:
> Heating with resistance electric in our area only costs about 7% more than kerosene. ($486.00 vs $450.00). Heat pumps are BY FAR the cheapest BTU/$ heat source. As we all know non-renewable fuels will continue to go up in price so when asked, I suggest heat pumps (or even resistance electric) over fuel oil heating.
>
> Todd
>
>
> Joel Davidson wrote:
>
>>
>> Would a wrench in heating oil territory please tell me if it is
>> cheaper to heat with oil than electricity?
>>
>> I was told:
>> 138,000 btu per gallon of fuel oil at $3.00 per gallon.
>> 3,413 btu per kWh of electricity at $0.11 per kWh.
>> Efficiency of oil = 78%
>> Efficiency of electric furnace = 95%.
>> Cost per 1,000,000 btu from oil = $27.73.
>> Cost of 1,000,000 btu from electric furnace = $33.94. (18% more)
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Joel Davidson





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