Lowest Cost heating method calculator ?

Scuba_Dave

I don't suppose there is a calculator out there that tells you lowest cost based on your costs ?

IE Oil costs $2.49 a gallon, 86% efficient furnace, 1g produces X BTU's
Electric costs 12¢ per kwh (includes delivery), heater prodices X BTU's
I know its not quite that simple.......
No gas here, cost would probably negate any savings for years

We only use about 1 to 1.5 tanks of oil a year, that will change w/addition
I also burn wood to supplement in the Winter, and heat in Fall & Spring
So I'm wondering how to figure if Oil increases to $.$$ then its cheaper to heat with electric
Oil was $4 a gallon 2 years ago, electric has decreased in cost
I know electric usually costs more.....

I did search on the Internet....came back with the normal 90 million hits

Scuba_Dave

Hey - I found one - if it's accurate ??
Lets me input cost per gallon of oil, efficiency (not exact) & electric cost
Break even seems to be $3.17g right now with my electric cost
That's with boiler -roof vent - but I can't input efficiency
If I choose Boiler - fuel oil then its $2.68 break even
I have hot water forced heat

http://electricheatstore.com/energy_...omparison.aspx

{Rechecked based on my actual cost w/delivery fees & break even @ $3.96 gallon}

beenthere

You can make your own in a spread sheet. that will be quicker and easier then what you'll find on the internet.

Scuba_Dave

Yeah...but I don't know how the calculators work
I know how to use excel......

beenthere

If you just want a simple calc.

Then you just need to know cost per therm.

Scuba_Dave

That's what I don't know, trying to figure out:
One site:....but that comes out to $4.872 comparable to Oil

Oil at $2.45 a gallon - electric would need to be .06 per KwH

But I don't know if these figures are accurate

Yoyizit

Google

"Heat Value"
or
"Heat of combustion"

along with

oil
wood

http://www.onlineconversion.com/

Use "dimensional analysis" to check your work. If you can convert furlongs per fortnight into millimeters per century, you've mastered it.

And know the difference between energy and power.

JPM

How many rooms and how big an area are you heating? What type of heat system is currently in place?

Just curious, because your answer will obviously depend on much investment you may need to make to switch to one or the other.

Scuba_Dave

I'm not switching really, I have electric heaters that I do not use
I have radiant floor heat that is set lower then house Temp
If I can find the point that the cost per gallon of oil equals or exceeds that of heating with electric then I will turn the electric heat up higher

beenthere

Oil at 80% efficiency. Electric at 100% efficiency.

Your electric rate must be under the KWH rate on the left. To be cheaper then the oil price on the right.

KW rate. Oil per gallon.
$0.06 - $1.97
$0.07 - $2.30
$0.08 - $2.63
$0.09 - $2.96
$0.10 - $3.28
$0.11 - $3.61
$0.12 - $3.93
$0.13 - $4.23
$0.14 - $4.59
$0.15 - $4.92

Scuba_Dave

Thanks
The one site originally was "for" electric heat
So I was concerned that they were slanting the figures in their favor
I guess if Oil had stayed at $4+ per gallon then electric would have been cheaper
I guess I'll wait until the Solar array goes up
Currently with delivery our cost is .14472

beenthere

Yeah. Oil has to be fairly high, for electric resistance heat to be cheaper.

Scuba_Dave

I don't mind using the radiant heat in the bathroom, small room
Plus they someone removed the radiator at some point in the past
So without the radiant heat it gets cold in there
I don't mind as taking a shower you warm the room up quickly
But giving my son a bath its cold

*NOTE - our electric rate went down 3¢ a couple months ago
So if it goes back up it will take an even higher $ amount per gallon of oil to reach the "even" point