[tkln]

One of our concerns with the move to VT is obviously the cost of heat and electricity...while there has been some talk about getting generators to get through the blackouts, I was wondering if anyone can provide info on alternate methods (or common ones) for heating, etc...

Though at this point I am not sure if we would build or buy an existing home, I am trying to take everything into consideration...I have contacted a solar company in Waterbury and have inquired about solar panels...I also would like to learn more about geothermal heat (I know of a few places that have retrofitted for that) and also what is the best way to heat a home...I believe that wood stoves provide more heat than a wood fireplace does...I have heard wood pellets are very efficient and provide a lot of heat for a fairly reasonable cost...I've also read about soap stone fireplaces which retain tremendous amounts of heat and radiate the heat for hours afterwards...

If we do build new, we will obviously take into consideration all things, including designing for optimum light and heat intake during winter from the sun. However, I'm a sucker for a good ol' farmhouse as well, and that could become expensive to heat if not insulated properly, etc...In either case, I think these are very important things to consider for anyone moving to VT, not only because Vermont can be expensive but because of what is going on in the world today with our energy resources. So if anyone can provide links, information, personal experience, I would great appreciate it...

[harry chickpea]

The key is -
Insulation
Insulation
More Insulation.

Wood is fine if you have your own woodlot and don't mind the labor or mess. Solar just isn't available when you need it the most. Relative costs of fuels vary. I'd consider a multi-fuel furnace and go with what is cheapest at the time. Another thought would be to use wood during the coldest months, when the stove needs to be going constantly, and then using a less labor intensive fuel during marginal heating months.

[GypsySoul22]

I've heard people talk about pellet stoves(?) but I am not sure what they are, exactly.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

The key is -
Insulation
Insulation
More Insulation.

Wood is fine if you have your own woodlot and don't mind the labor or mess. Solar just isn't available when you need it the most. Relative costs of fuels vary. I'd consider a multi-fuel furnace and go with what is cheapest at the time. Another thought would be to use wood during the coldest months, when the stove needs to be going constantly, and then using a less labor intensive fuel during marginal heating months.

Insulation is key. My first year in my farmhouse I used five cords of wood to heat it. Wood is cheaper, but you have to pay for all your wood up front(never buy wood during the winter, you will pay through the nose). It's messy and you always need someone around to feed the fire. Wood stoves are much better than fireplaces. The new stoves have catalytic converters which burn the exhaust(keep your chimney cleaner-less creosote) and they burn wood longer. Pellet stoves are cleaner to take care of and you only need to fill them every day or two depending on their use, but the cost of pellets can be expensive and they need power. If the power goes out and you don't have a generator-no heat. The best advise is to make sure your home is insulated to the max or all you will be doing is heating the outdoors. No matter what option you choose you will still need oil or gas as a back up or to supplement.

Solar is tough in the winter with all the cloud cover we get and with all the snow you will have to go out and clean off the panels(could be tough or dangerous if they're on a roof). Geothermal works great if you find the right building location. When I lived in Brookfield there was a home that was built mostly underground and they had a cheap winter bill.

[DogLady321]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

I've heard people talk about pellet stoves(?) but I am not sure what they are, exactly.

I don't like the smell these stoves emit.

Wood is still very popular here.

[PortieOwner]

Not exactly energy efficiency, but it looks like VT gov't will pay you a huge subsidy ($8,000?) if you install solar. The Feds also give a tax credit.

[tkln]

From what I had read, I think they only pay a small percentage, up to $2000...but you get a good amount back from the feds as well, so it all helps...

I actually read somewhere that a woman who had installed solar panels had expected no return during the winter and also thought she would have to take the snow off...apparently, the snow melted right off the panels pretty easy, and because of all the electricity she generated during the summer, she got a large credit from the utility company so a lot of her electricity was free in the winter.

I've been doing a lot of research on geothermal heat, which seems like the way to go if you don't want to rely on fossil fuels...I'm putting that at the top of my list for when we move...

[marcav]

I'm at the beginning stages of doing a strawbale remodel of my existing barn. I will have radiant heat, but also plan to put in a masonry wood heater which is far more efficient than wood stoves. It burns a very hot fire (with any kind of wood including softwood) once in the morning & once at night, and then the masonry does the job of retaining, then diffusing the heat throughout the day or night. Something to consider if you're building new.

[annawolfsong]

Not being in Vermont yet but doing my planning I have to agree with the comments regarding insulation. I live in a 3500 sq. ft. home and here in Idaho it's very, very windy. We have double pane windows, warm window coverings for night that I made, insulation about 32" deep in the attic and when they sided the house they added additional insulation in between the old siding and the new. For a house this size most of my neighbors pay in the neighborhood of $250 a month to heat their homes in the winter. I usually pay about $125. I use a wood stove on very nasty days to heat the core (kitchen/living area) but natural gas for the rest and due to all the insulation factors its really not all that bad.

I plan to do the same to any house I purchase in Vermont. Insulate, insulate and then insulate some more. I definitely want a soapstone wood stove too, those things seriously rock!

One final thing, we can only get soft woods here to burn, it will be very, very nice to have access to hard woods again and not have to fill the stove every 2-3 hours.

[flu189]

A well insulated and tight house will definately save you on heating bills, but you also have to be aware that you have to have fresh air transfer in a tight house. Indoor air can become pretty unhealthy without proper transfer. When I bought my house it was only four years old and the previous owners not only did not run exhaust fans from the bath areas, but rarely opened windows to circulate fresh air. They also had four people, plants, aquirium, etc which really increased the moisture level. The first winter after we moved in the high moisture content in the house was evident by having constant frost buildup on the inside of the windows. By using a dehumidifier in the cellar and venting the house we fixed the problem for the second season.