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Home Heating Options: 2007
"Baby, it's cold outside."
Home heating costs have doubled over the
past ten years, now representing 60% of the energy spent in Canadian homes.
No one can predict how high fuel costs will go, however we can be certain of one
thing - the costs will go up. It's anyone's guess which fuel might be the
better bargain in ten or twenty years, so it's tough to shop for a heating
system today without wondering if you've made the right decision. Although
we can't tell you which choice to make, we can show you how the different fuels
compare today.
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Oil
Oil prices can be unpredictable;
however fuel oil provides good energy content, with efficiency ratings
up to 86% with modern equipment. If you decide to upgrade your furnace
or boiler, you will also need to install a stainless steel liner in your
chimney. Older oil burners can be fitted with a “flame retention head”
to improve efficiency, and regular tune-ups will also go a long way
toward lowering your fuel costs. Decorative oil-fired stoves and
fireplaces are available for space heating, and will work without
electricity. Oil-fired hot water tanks can heat water quickly and are
often used for in-floor heating, as well as hybrid hot water forced-air
systems.
Don’t heat with oil if you feel
guilty about burning non-renewable resources, or if you can’t afford
unpredictable costs. A central system will require ductwork or water
piping, as well as a fuel oil storage tank. Oil furnaces are priced
lower than gas furnaces and enjoy on average, a longer lifespan.
|
 |
|
APPROXIMATE ANNUAL OIL HEATING COST |
|
SYSTEM |
OLDER HOME |
NEW
HOME |
R2000 HOME |
|
OLD FURNACE |
$2500 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
NEW FURNACE |
$2200 |
$1400 |
$800 |
|
Natural Gas and
Propane
Gas and propane are cleaner than
fuel oil and provide odourless heat with slightly lower energy content
than oil. Gas prices are higher than they once were, and the cost of
heating with propane is even higher. There is a greater availability of
natural gas in more densely populated areas, whereas propane is more
often the choice in rural locales where it is compressed and delivered
by truck.
Both gases are popular choices for
fireplaces, space heaters and hot water tanks, are clean and more
convenient than wood-burning fireplaces however, are about 25% less
efficient than a gas furnace. If you’re considering one of these
high-priced fuels, shop for an appliance that will provide the best
return on your investment. Always compare installed prices,
energy-efficiency ratings and warranties. As with oil-fired equipment,
ductwork or water piping will be required. Modern appliances vent
directly to the outdoors without need for a chimney.
Don’t heat with propane unless you
have deep pockets, if you feel guilty about burning a petroleum product
or if you don’t want to see a submarine-sized cylinder beside your
house.
|
 |
|
APPROXIMATE ANNUAL NATURAL GAS HEATING COST |
|
SYSTEM |
OLDER HOME |
NEW
HOME |
R2000 HOME |
|
LOW EFFICIENCY |
$1900 |
$1200 |
$700 |
|
HIGH EFFICIENCY |
$1400 |
$900 |
$550 |
| |
|
APPROXIMATE ANNUAL PROPANE HEATING COST |
|
SYSTEM |
OLDER HOME |
NEW
HOME |
R2000 HOME |
|
LOW EFFICIENCY |
$5200 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
HIGH EFFICIENCY |
$3400 |
$2200 |
$1300 |
|
Electricity
Electricity is 100% efficient.
Every ounce of power leaving your electric panel is turned into heat at
the furnace or space heater, with no line loss and nothing wasted up a
chimney or out a vent. Electricity can be more expensive per unit of
heat developed, however the cost of installation is lower than with
fuel-fired heating equipment.
Although the equipment in your house
may be 100% efficient, electricity isn’t any greener than gas, oil or
propane; in fact the electricity you use may come from a coal-burning
power plant. Electric heat pumps are very efficient in more southerly
latitudes, however provide marginal benefit in northern areas where
temperatures are too low to extract heat from outside air, and a backup
furnace is required. Unlike electric furnaces or space heaters, heat
pump installations can be cost-prohibitive and the lifespan of the
equipment is relatively short.
Don’t heat with electricity if you
don’t want to support the operation of big power plants and other
mega-power projects.
|
 |
|
APPROXIMATE ANNUAL ELECTRIC HEATING COST |
|
SYSTEM |
OLDER HOME |
NEW
HOME |
R2000 HOME |
|
CONVENTIONAL |
$2800 |
$1700 |
$1000 |
|
HEAT PUMP (AIR) |
$1500 |
$900 |
$550 |
|
HEAT PUMP (GROUND OR WATER SOURCE) |
$1000 |
$600 |
$350 |
|
Wood
If you live in a well-treed rural
area, heating with wood can be a sensible choice. Wood is the cheapest
of all fuels (you can save as much as 70%) and is a renewable resource -
however not without drawbacks. Wood smoke can be a nasty source of air
pollution unless you dig deeper in your pockets and purchase a high
efficiency stove; they run up to about 75% efficiency when used
properly. Wood-burning furnaces rarely exceed 50% efficiency, and with
much higher emissions.
Don’t heat with wood if you don’t
like chores, if you don’t have plenty of storage space or if firewood
isn’t readily available nearby (trucking costs can really chew up your
savings.) Don’t heat with wood if you don’t want to pay an extra
premium to your insurance company, or if you have any respiratory
problems; wood heat will drastically lower the humidity in your home.
|
 |
|
APPROXIMATE ANNUAL WOOD-BURNING COST |
|
SYSTEM |
OLDER HOME |
NEW
HOME |
R2000 HOME |
|
FURNACE OR BOILER |
$1200 |
$800 |
$500 |
|
COMMON WOOD BURNING STOVE |
$1200 |
$800 |
$500 |
|
HI-EFF STOVE OR FIREPLACE INSERT |
$950 |
$600 |
$350 |
Other Considerations:
The size, design and insulating value of
your home will have direct impact upon your heating costs. Modern,
well-insulated, air-tight homes have much lower heat loss, and therefore require
less fuel to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The new generation of
“smart houses” require so little heat provision that it may not matter which
fuel you use – because you’ll use hardly any of it.
Setting thermostats lower will reduce
costs. Zone-controlled heating systems, and space heaters can also save a
bundle… it doesn’t make much sense to overheat your entire house in an effort
to make one person warm, in one corner of the basement.
Source:
Harrowsmith Country Life
Magazine, Dec 2006
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