Cutting power use to the bone.

[ponytug]

Energy prices can be (always are?) quite local. In general, since a central generator has to burn natural gas / oil /coal to generate electricity with 40-80% losses, and then send the electricity down power lines, with more losses (I2R loss), before arriving at your house, it isn't the cheapest. PNW hydropower costs are a definite exception.

One thing to point out about cooling is that it takes much more energy to cool a building than it does to heat just due to the inherent inefficiencies in having to "push" heat into a hot outdoor environment. So while the difference in heating effects in winter may be close to negligible, especially if your home isn't sealed, the added heat in the summer is significant because of the inefficiency of pumping the extra heat out of the house as @CobyRupert pointed out above.

All the best,

Peter

 

[4570Man]

Hmm…haven’t done the math in a while, but electric resistance always beat fuel oil and propane on a $/btu basis for me or was too close to call.
… granted, it gets fuzzy when estimating various combustible fuel furnace efficiencies, seasonal price fluctuations (if applicable), etc..
I know nothing about natural gas….

Natural gas is cheap. I can run some calculations later but it’s probably half of what electric resistance cost. You could always plug in a space heater if electric resistance was the cheapest option to make up for the light bulbs.

 

[ponytug]

Natural gas is cheap. I can run some calculations later but it’s probably half of what electric resistance cost. You could always plug in a space heater if electric resistance was the cheapest option to make up for the light bulbs.

Cheap for some, not so cheap for others. August 2023 rates by state;

Hawaii (no surprise), Florida and Texas were the most expensive. ($52.42, $25.72, $23.91, respectively)​

New Mexico, Montana, and Wisconsin were the least expensive. ($8.99, $9.82,& $9.87, respectively)​

Natural Gas Rates by State | Choose Energy

Natural gas rates vary by state. Discover who has the highest and lowest costs throughout the country with our Natural Gas Rates Report.

www.chooseenergy.com

@4570Man Tennessee was the 8th cheapest. Kansas and Mississippi didn't report for some reason.

All the best,

Peter

 

[4570Man]

Cheap for some, not so cheap for others. August 2023 rates by state;

Hawaii (no surprise), Florida and Texas were the most expensive. ($52.42, $25.72, $23.91, respectively)​

New Mexico, Montana, and Wisconsin were the least expensive. ($8.99, $9.82,& $9.87, respectively)​

Natural Gas Rates by State | Choose Energy

Natural gas rates vary by state. Discover who has the highest and lowest costs throughout the country with our Natural Gas Rates Report.

www.chooseenergy.com

@4570Man Tennessee was the 8th cheapest. Kansas and Mississippi didn't report for some reason.

All the best,

Peter

Per that chart a thousand cubic feet is $12 in TN. A thousand cubic feet is a little over a million btu. Assuming I calculated right it would take 293 kw of electric to equal the same heat output. At the average cost in my state at 12 cents that’s about $35 worth. A basic gas furnace is about 80 percent efficient where the best are mid 90s. An electric resistance furnace is close to 100 percent efficient. Even with the efficiency considered the natural gas is a lot cheaper. Heating oil is basically non existent in my area but it would take 7.2 gallons of diesel to make a million btus. Road diesel is around $4 right now but you might get off road for $3.50 with a tax exemption. That’s about $25 at $3.50.

 

[oosik]

I'm like many "old timers" around here. No AC. I use fans to pull in the cool night air. Works great.

 

[Oaktree]

I'm like many "old timers" around here. No AC. I use fans to pull in the cool night air. Works great.

I don't have AC either, but like you live where there is such a thing as cool night air. For someone living in, say Arkansas probably not so much.

 

[Oaktree]

Heating oil is basically non existent in my area but it would take 7.2 gallons of diesel to make a million btus.

Curiously, what do people in your area use for heating fuel if they live outside the city and don't have access to natural gas?

 

[Dftodd]

I'm like many "old timers" around here. No AC. I use fans to pull in the cool night air. Works great.

That works in certain areas and depends on how the home is set up. I never had AC when I lived in Vermont. But I would have killed to have it in one apartment I rented for a short time there. The apartment had 3 windows facing the wrong direction to take advantage of a breeze. You just picked up the daytime heat from the parking lot.

Here in Arkansas, you could live without ac. But you would be absolutely miserable for 6 months out of the year. And life threatening in July and August.

 

[ponytug]

For us, AC has become important for the days and weeks that we can't open open windows due to the increases in wildfire smoke. It wasn't an issue ten or fifteen years ago, but it sure is now, and it isn't just a Californian issue either. The Canadian fires this year brought smoke to a lot of the US and Canada.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

Right now at 6am it is 43F outside. It is 65 inside. I have, just now, closed the windows and shut down the two fans. Otherwise - it will get too cold inside the house. On an extreme day when the outside reaches 95F to 98F it will be 75F to 78F inside. By 9pm it will be 75F outside and dropping. That's when I open the windows and start the cycle again.

It does help that I have a double wall Pan Abode cedar home. Walls are rated at R48 - ceiling at R65.

This is all well and good. Until those days when the great grandkids come to visit. The doors are open more than closed and it can get quite warm inside. And there may be a few days when the night temps stay somewhat elevated.