If you are concerned about your monthly bill, one of the cheapest ways to heat a house is by using a budget billing system. This system averages your bills throughout the year and then bills you only when you use more energy than you need. You also get a refund if you spend less than the average. Another way to reduce heating costs is to install good insulation. It can help keep the cold air inside the house in the winter and the warm air outside in the summer.
Natural gas
Natural gas is the most efficient and economical way to heat a house. Compared to electricity, natural gas costs 70 percent less a season. If you’re planning to heat your house, you’ll want to make sure you know how much fuel you need. If you’re unsure what you need, you can look for a flexible supplier. Some will spread payments over several months, making budgeting easier.
With rising energy prices, many people are seeking more environmentally friendly ways to heat their houses. While both electricity and natural gas produce CO2 emissions, natural gas is less harmful to the environment. As a result, natural gas is expected to be the most common fuel in the US by 2021.
Natural gas has better annual costs than oil and propane. It can cost 50 to 80 percent less than oil, and new installations can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $9,000. In addition, natural gas systems can be very efficient. Their annual fuel-use efficiency (AFUE) can range from eighty percent to ninety percent. An AFUE of 97 is equivalent to 11 cents per kWh.
Oil
While the environmental impact of oil production is well-known, oil is not the cheapest fuel to heat a home. Natural gas is cheaper for most people, and oil is not as easy to store and replenish. Oil furnaces are more expensive than natural gas and require frequent maintenance.
The inside temperature of a house is a huge factor in determining heating oil cost. Keeping the temperature low will result in reduced heating oil costs. While it’s not possible to control the temperature outside, you can make the interior of your home as comfortable as possible. A well-insulated house will save you at least 50% on heating costs.
Oil is also a great option for heating one room in your home office. It can be a more affordable way to heat your home than space heaters. However, it’s important to remember that oil doesn’t come from the grid and costs are likely to fluctuate.
Electric baseboard heater
The average price of an electric baseboard heater is between $379 and $1213. These heaters are also comparatively easy to install. The cost will depend on the size of the unit and the power it requires to heat the house. Low-power models start at about $280 while high-power models can cost as much as $1,400. This price includes installation materials and labor. Most homeowners are not experienced enough to handle the job themselves. Installation costs are typically split between materials and labor, and they may also include unexpected expenses, such as permit fees.
An electric baseboard heater is also much cleaner than a standard gas furnace. These heaters also represent a form of zonal heating, allowing the thermostat to regulate the temperature of different rooms. An electric baseboard heater can save a home up to 20 percent on its energy bills compared to a whole house heating system. If an electric baseboard heater isn’t feasible for your home, you may want to consider a vented gas space heater instead.
Passive solar heating
Passive solar heating is a way to keep your house warm without using any fuel. It works by capturing thermal energy from the sun during the day and dispersing it at night. It involves several different elements, including an aperture for light to pass through, thermal mass, and a fixed control.
Passive solar heating can save you up to fifty to eighty percent of your annual heating bills. This figure is even higher in sunny climates. The best way to incorporate passive solar heating into your home is to have it designed in the earliest stages of construction. It will save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your house. Passive solar heating is not cheap, but it requires little additional investment and requires no costly retrofitting.
Passive solar heating works by using natural principles that have been used for centuries. While this method has been widely used, it has only recently been made mainstream as a deliberate sustainable design technique. Passive solar heating systems often feature a large, glazed south-facing wall. These passive solar heating systems also include ducts and fans to circulate air throughout the house. To maximize heat gain, you should place active living areas on the south side of your house, and less frequently used rooms on the north side. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the south-facing windows are positioned within 20deg of true south to capture more of the sun’s energy.