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