Q:
Is this a cost effective method of heating?
Cost Comparison Chart
The amount of heat created or used is measured in BTU’s. An average home uses 200,000,000 BTU’s of total energy for heating per year. This includes 25 percent usage for the heating of domestic hot water. Based on this total consumption, the following amounts of fuel would be required to produce 200,000,000 BTU’s.
| Heating Method | BTU's Per Unit | Annual Requirements | Cost Per Unit (Avg.) |
Total Annual Cost |
| Electricity | 3,414 kilowatts/hr | 58,600 | $0.10 | $5,860 |
| Propane | 91,500/gallon | 2,185 | $2.19 | $4,785 |
| Fuel Oil | 138,690/gallon | 1,442 | $2.47 | $3,562 |
| Natural Gas | 1,000/cubic ft | 200,000 | $0.01285 | $2,570 |
| Corn | 392,000/bushel | 510 | $4.50 | $2,295 |
| Wood (Birch) | 23,400,000/cord | 8.5 | $120.00 | $1,020 |
Important
*The above prices are in U.S. Funds.
*Official
energy statistics courtesy of U.S. Government.
*Adjust the price per unit to reflect current local costs.
*The
above costs are not standard across the U.S.