In addition to installing a wood-burning fireplace insert with blower as a supplement/alternative to OIL, I am building some passive solar window box heaters. I'm building 5 of them that can be removed during the warmer months. They are inexpensive and VERY effective/efficient. I still have an oil burner for home heat and hot water, but hope these changes will reduce my costs. I will also be switching over to an electric water heater tank (super insulated) with solar preheater as time and money allow.

Here are some links with diagrams:
http://www.jrwhipple.com/sr/solheater.html

http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/2007/12/solar-box-window-heater.html

http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/JF/JF_VE/SMALL/23-564.pdf

Here's a link with a video showing how effective even a small temporary solar box can be ... although this style would never be approved by my wife.
http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/16/101901_build-your-own-solar-window-heater-for-10-save-45-a-month.html

Here's a link with other cool DIY'able passive and active solar solutions:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/Space_Heating.htm

__________________
Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL