As the weather begins to cool down, we ( at least those of us in places where we have seasonal changes) are faced with heating our homes for the cold-weather months.
Like many houses built 25 or so yeasr ago, I live in an all-electric house--no gas service, and no oil. The house is well insulated, ( R19 walls, and R38 roof) and the heat pump does OK until we get below zero and then the electric resistance heaters come on. I have used a kerosene space heater to take the chill off the lower rooms, and circulate that extra heat throughout the house using the fan in the heat pump's Air Handler. With the increased coats of both electricity ( just doubled here in MD--we were payinmg sub market rates for some years), and kerosene, I am looking at options.
However, wehen I look at various energy websites, it appears that electricity is still the best value. Look at the cost per BTU and the efficiencey, and it appears to me,at least, that electric heat is still cheaper.
Part of me says that cannot be true. Otherwise why would people spend so much $ to cut their electric useage? Why all the wood stoves, and pellet stoves?
Can someone shed some light on this?
I was thinking of using a small propane heater becasue the smell of the kerosene is starting to bother me--even with a fresh wick and fuel. But why buy propane if electricity is cheaper?
I need some solid facts- as opposed to what passes for facts in OD political discussions

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags