Oil (whole house) or electric space heater?

[PacoMartin]

Look at this website for ECONO HEAT . The company was given this name because it makes a low power electric wall unit to heat a room cheaply. But they also make a low voltage electric blanket.

In one place They are comparing the technology of the eCare™ low voltage electric under blanket with Other electric under blankets . In 9/10 categories the eCare™ blanket is rated as better, but both technologies have the identical phrase Low energy consumption: 60 watts maximum.

The company is trying to have it both ways. They know that the name of the company, and people's confusion between low voltage and lower energy consumption will make people think they are using a product that consumes less energy. But they cover themselves by showing in the comparison that there is no difference.

Low voltage blankets are all about safety from shocks, and perceived health benefits from being exposed to lower EM radiation. So there is nothing wrong with purchasing one of these items, but it won't lower your electric bill.

BTW, you have many transformers in your home that convert high voltage AC power to low voltage DC power. You have one as part of your computer, and if you are using a laptop it is a separate unit on your plug.

[PacoMartin]

Let me report back on my experiment for the last year. Oil usage is reduced by bringing the house down to some uncomfortable temperatures (roughly 60 degrees in main rooms, and much lower in the rest of the house). We are using plain old oil filled space heaters (roughly $40-$50 apiece) to make it tolerable (ceramic heaters in bathroom for showers).

Over the last three years
1573.2 gallons 382 days 6202 degree days
1574.6 gallons 367 days 5469 degree days
868.7 gallons 361 days 4534 degree days

The reduction of 700 gallons of heating oil over the course of the year, can be partially attributed to the warmer winter, and it is higher savings than I expected from calculations.

The cost of 700 gallons of heating oil is $2500.
The electric usage went up 2.625 mWh which costs $270 at today's prices.

A priori calculations indicated that I would have to turn the thermostat on the order of 19 degrees to realize the 45% savings in oil usage. As I turned it down 8 to 10 degrees, I must attribute part of the savings to the milder weather. But I believe that less cycling of the furnace is having an additional savings. Also the pellet stove is being used more regularly.