Heating bills... what are you doing to lower costs? (Bedford: for sale, how much)

[jja100]

Now that oil has reached new high levels, (which I believe will be even higher in the next 10 years as population increases and china and india switch from coal to oil) what are you using for your primary heat source?

I have read a lot of interesting things about coal! From coal furnaces that can burn either coal, wood, or oil! Also many peeps in New England are switching to coal... why?? cause from what I have read it burns cleaner than wood or oil when burning anthracite. It also provides more BTU and burns slower. Cleaning is also much easier than pellets and you don't need electricity to run it at all.

Does anybody have any specs on how many tons/lbs of coal they use per winter and how much it costs per ton? Also, I have had a difficult time finding the price of it and which companies sell it online if any?

Anyhow... I thought I would start this thread since we are the saudi arabia of coal

[WannaComeHome]

I'm looking back through some of the old threads, they may be of help to you. In a general sense for this thread, there was one on geothermal heating http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-h...l-heating.html there was a little discussion about solar panels at http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-h...of-panels.html a lot of folks use wood/pellet stoves and were discussing it at http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-h...let-stove.html and this one that started on wood stoves wandered (I admit, I helped!) into coal http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-h...re-stoves.html

Hope this gives you some useful info. I know you were mostly asking about coal, but the title was heating in general, so you never know.. something in those might be good!

[jja100]

Thx for the links. I will start reading them.

[GraniteStater]

I am seeing a lot more of the newer properties that are for sale heated by propane. Pellet stoves have been extremely popular with waiting lists at several locations. I have not heard much about coal. I am a little suspicious about where it comes from, especially if it is mined in a mountaintop removal fashion.

[jja100]

I am pro coal. It is a truly wonderful fossil fuel. People still think that solar panels, electricity, hydrogen etc. will solve our dependancy on oil for heating and gasoline. The fact is that they are extremely inefficient forms of fuel and very costly i.e ethanol. All ethanol did was raise our food prices and do nothing to bunker our energy demand. We can be energy independant virtually overnight in this country by just using coal! The fact is that we just do not want to be energy independent for reasons that we will never know and they will never say. NAZI Germany in the 1930's and 40's were using coal exclusively to produce gas for their tanks and vehicles! Yes, gas can be produced from coal! And we are the Saudi Arabia of coal. But I digress.

I agree I have seen a lot of the new homes being built using bottled propane for their heat in my research. I assume because it is easier to install when pumping out homes because it in many instances is more expensive than even natural gas for heat although it burns like 1% cleaner.... not worth the added cost imho.

I don't think much coal is produced in NH but there are probably a few companies that do. Most of the distribution that I have seen comes from PA and West Virginia.

[jthibodeau]

Originally Posted by jja100

I agree I have seen a lot of the new homes being built using bottled propane for their heat in my research. I assume because it is easier to install when pumping out homes because it in many instances is more expensive than even natural gas for heat although it burns like 1% cleaner.... not worth the added cost imho.

The installation of Propane heating equipment requires, basically, the same amount of labor. One of the aspects of using LP is it burns clean with efficiency rates upwards of 95% and more. This efficiency allows for the exhaust to be relatively cool and, with these temps, allowed to be vented using PVC instead of metal or a masonry chimney. This would be considered a cost savings during construction.

Another consideration is the fact that LP heating units require little maintenance as compared to Oil. Other than filter changes, some units can go many years without service due to so little moving parts.

The areas where Natural Gas is available in NH is very limited. It also seems the price of Propane has remained relatively stable compared to the pricing of oil.

Originally Posted by jja100

I don't think much coal is produced in NH but there are probably a few companies that do.

I don't believe there are any coal deposits in New Hampshire. Or, at least, any with any usable value.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by jja100

I don't think much coal is produced in NH but there are probably a few companies that do. Most of the distribution that I have seen comes from PA and West Virginia.

The mining of coal is important to the economic well being of areas of the Appalachians, but I have seen the first hand devastation that modern mountaintop removal has caused in WV. Therefore, I am not too positive on coal at all right now. In fact, most of the coal that powers electric generating plants comes from WY and MT because it is very low in sulfur.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by jthibodeau

The installation of Propane heating equipment requires, basically, the same amount of labor. One of the aspects of using LP is it burns clean with efficiency rates upwards of 95% and more. This efficiency allows for the exhaust to be relatively cool and, with these temps, allowed to be vented using PVC instead of metal or a masonry chimney. This would be considered a cost savings during construction.

Another consideration is the fact that LP heating units require little maintenance as compared to Oil. Other than filter changes, some units can go many years without service due to so little moving parts.

The areas where Natural Gas is available in NH is very limited. It also seems the price of Propane has remained relatively stable compared to the pricing of oil.



I don't believe there are any coal deposits in New Hampshire. Or, at least, any with any usable value.

LP does have a less volatile pricing range compared with heating oil because heat oil is more closely related to the price per barrel of oil and its daily market flucuations. Natural gas and LP will probably have greater price stability when accounting for natural disasters like hurricanes which disrupt supplies in the Gulf of Mexico and push up prices. We have reliable natgas pipelines across the US and they extend into Canada as well.

[jja100]

I personally would rather have a natural gas line over propane...

Natural gas is less expensive than propane and you don't need a tank. So unless the market is different in terms of pricing or if it is just impossible to lay lines for n.gas in NH then I would choose n.gas over propane any day of the year.

Propane burns something like 98% clean and n.gas is like 97% or so. Not too much of a difference but the price per therm is much less than propane and its convenience factor is nicer.

I have seen some coal/wood/oil all in one furnaces online from Harman which is supposed to be a top of the line company. If you have forced air and central air ducts I would look into this method for heating your home since coal is about the cheapest way to heat your home. Oil is a nice backup for when the coal runs out and you need to go back and refill.

Here is the link for Harmon: Harman Stove Company - Add Beauty and Warmth to Your Home. Pellet Stoves, Wood Stoves, Coal Stoves, Gas Stoves and Fireplaces, Fireplace Inserts

Although for hot water... I prefer n.gas tankless unit such as the following:

Rinnai

[maestramommy]

jja100, we would've LOVED to have a house with natural gas, but it seems like no gas lines have been laid in Bedford yet, or at least in most of Bedford. Heating with oil is something we have to get used to; we have no experience with that. Heck, we have no experience with private water and septic either

I am leery of coal for now, although it seems like the large companies are trying to come up with technology for burning it more cleanly.