Chris Jones
Member
I know it's been discussed before. What's the cheapest way to heat--thinking intermittent shop heating. I was rechecking the calculations I made a few years ago with today's pricing and found the site linked below. Insert your cost and you've got your answer. Note the electric cost they refer to is electric resistance heat--not heatpump (air or ground source etc) as you'd get more BTU per KWH with them but how much depends on the efficiency of the unit and the air/soil temps.
Of course you have to think of the other issues like return on investment if purchasing new equipment, ease of use, and other issues. For me thinking of heating my shop:
* I don't have access to Natural Gas.
* Best I can run w/o purchasing a new heater and installing additional wiring is 3 - 1500 watt electric heaters simultaneously.
* As for propane I'd need to purchase a shop heater as well and then either plumb it to my fireplace tank or buy and use refillable tanks.
* I have a 10,500 BTU kerosene heater.
* They don't mention wood but then I don't have a wood stove.
Residential Energy Cost Comparison
Of course you have to think of the other issues like return on investment if purchasing new equipment, ease of use, and other issues. For me thinking of heating my shop:
* I don't have access to Natural Gas.
* Best I can run w/o purchasing a new heater and installing additional wiring is 3 - 1500 watt electric heaters simultaneously.
* As for propane I'd need to purchase a shop heater as well and then either plumb it to my fireplace tank or buy and use refillable tanks.
* I have a 10,500 BTU kerosene heater.
* They don't mention wood but then I don't have a wood stove.
Residential Energy Cost Comparison