Redneck in training
Elite Member
I didn't read all the responses (I am between flights and don't have much time) geothermal is hard to beat. We heat 3800 sqft with geo feeding floor heating. I don't think we ever paid over $100/month for heating. Needles to say that we have separate meter just for the geo and associated stuff like pumps, backup direct heat etc. Our utility charges heating rate 4.2c/kWh. AC is charged at full rate 10.9c/kWh. We have 100% electric house and our average electric bill is somewhat less than 300/month. We are located in south central Iowa so our climate is not much different than in Michigan.
Our neighbor, (I think he still has it) has/had automatic corn boiler. He feeds that about once, twice a week with front loader of corn. It works like gas controlled by thermostat. But he produces his own fuel.
I would like to add few more notes to my previous post. If I do my house again I would consider split heat pump units (Halcyon or similar) and solar panels. I have one in a guest room located in my shop building and found it to be phenomenal. It is super quiet and according to the manufacturer it will efficiently heat down to -4. It was running last winter and we hardly noticed it on our electric bill. The split units are relatively cheap and easy to install and work well. Solar panels cost dropped considerably since last year to a level that it makes financial sense to install them especially if you can do it DIY. I am in process of adding 22.5 kW solar system to our house for final cost 2.25/W. In other words it will cost about 35000 (after rebate) to install and make about 300/month in lower utility charges. That is about 10% return on investment. The lowest bid on installed system by professional was 3.90/W. If you have the option to position your house so the roof is EW and slope it to about 36-37 deg you could fill it with solar panels that you could fold into a mortgage you should consider it. You would get (I think) two rebates. 30% federal on the installation cost and the second on mortgage interest paid and never worry about energy cost increases.