You don't have many options. I think everything is cheaper than Propane, unless your electric is very high. Kerosone is not cheap either. Heat pump is the most efficient there is since in theory it can put out more heat energy than the electric energy it uses. Not perpetual motion, it is just borrowing the heat from somewhere else. So you are already half way there. I think you should look into ground source heat pump if you have a little land for it. As far as the system you have you could turn the temp down and get a couple of space heaters for certain rooms. Works good unless you have a wife then its no good... You could get an energy audit and you might find ways to improve your energy effeciency.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Take glance at this site. I know you mentioned no room for wood but these new coal stoves take very little room and the "STOKERS" are near automatic. This isn't the sooty stinkey coal of yester year . 40 lb Bagged coal is about 5.00 a bag and last about 18-24 hours and puts out ALOT of heat. We grew up burning wood and this is sooo much better in many ways. http://www.nepadigital.com/bb/index.php?sid=1483168d779ec67d91fcec2e2646e79a

Has anyone tried those plug-in space heaters that use the electricity to heat up the fast heating yet heat-retaining liquid (silicon?) in the copper tubes then shuts off the electricity. I know they're (self) touted as energy savers but wondered if anyone knows for sure. Might be an option? In theory I can see how it would be more efficient than straight electric baseboard heat because of the liquid heat sink aspect.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

It is impossible for them to be any more efficient. The source of the heat is the same. The liquid only stores it so that it may not get as hot all at once and gives off the heat slowly over a period of time.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If your buying your fuel, you can't do better than coal here in PA. That probably applies in MD as well. Nothing else is close, where coal is readly at hand, dollar/ btu
Next best bet is probably natural gas, although wood will beat it in some areas... however, NG is not avaliable in all areas. Electric varies a lot in price around the country and propane should be more consistant... so if you have great electric rates you might want to go that way, but the future is never certain in fuel/energy markets.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831799&postcount=13
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831807&postcount=14

methane is fairly abundant in this region.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Thanks for the info in on the Coal, that maybe the ticket! The only problem I have is its tough to get Wood Pellets, I have no clue where to find coal other than ripping off the power plant @ MSU which I don't think is the greatest idea.