Kick in the pants today....energy wise.

[OAITW r.2.0]

I got 2 deliveries

275 gal oil @ 4.50/gal

and

2.5 cords of split, season wood @ $350.00 a cord.

Sure, this gets me into March (oil) and season (wood)....still, this is getting ridiculous. Why is less refined heating oil more expensive than gas?

One thing I'm doing. Going to electric water heat. Why? Because, of my solar panel system. Then I can shut down oil for 8 months of the year. Do not need oil-fired base board when I use my woodstove to heat the house. I need hot water, but not from oil.

[underpants]

1. Ouch.

I did the math.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Sucks...COH, gone.

But read my update. I need oil because my personal use HW is piped in this way. Changing to solar powered electric HW. 50% reduction in my oil and 30% retention of energy I give away to CMP, my local utility in Maine.

[cachukis]

2. My Maine friends all have one of those cheap splitters with

their own maul. Split during winter and keep yourself warm twice. Maybe.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. If you want to saw log logs and split - whick I did in the 90's - cool.

I was living in an old (1850) farmhouse. Burned 7 cord of wood in the boiler. Why? No fricken insulation.


Glad I'm not doing that any more. Much better energy solutions available now.

[cachukis]

7. Did the same in NH in '70's.

My friend from Saco always busted my chops for moving to Florida as winter was too much for summer folk.
Enjoyed my summer visit this year.
Rented a place in Thornton, NH for a few years to ski Cannon. Late 18th. No insulation. Froze in my '65 Volvo Wagon with 23 below.
Frost bit fingers that year.
Appreciate New Englanders and their taciturn approach.

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. Born in Biddeford, but grew up in Saco....on the Saco River.

My life there was pretty different than my life in the 1990s....


And I took the tram up to the top of Cannon this summer....and hiked the Flume trail, too!

[cachukis]

11. Thinking of summering in area. Friends, family, conversation.

Sailing and bluefin.
You may know some names I know.
Special place.
My college roommate grew up on Eastern Promenade overlooking the Maine memorial.
Did a number of nights at The Old Port Tavern before it became touristy. Good friend just sold his top notch restaurant in OOB.
Sailed in and out of Camp Ellis many times.
Not many better places.

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. Had a Bristol 27 footer that I parked up by Marsten's marina.

My house was at the top of the street. within walking distance of Marsten's. Was sailing Saco Bay - Cape Porpoise throughout my teen years. Know the area well. A place that has really changed....Camp Ellis.

[blm]

4. At some points, though, warmth is priceless

Just happy for you that you’ll be fine through another winter.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. No probs with me blm.....will be my 69th winter in Maine.

You start getting ready about this time of year.

[MichMan]

9. Isn't burning wood bad for the environment?

[link:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ecofriendly-fireplace-alternatives/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Massachusetts%20Department,pregnant%20women%2C%20and%20people%20with|

[OAITW r.2.0]

10. Not perfect, but I have a wood stove with a catalytic converter that is pretty efficient

for maximizing heat from source. House is open concept, so it heats both floors. What's your non-CO2 heating option?

[MichMan]

12. I use Natural gas, which is a fossil fuel but burns substantially cleaner than fuel oil

I know when any of my neighbors burn wood, you can smell it on up the whole end of my street.


From the link I posted above.


Burning wood may be humanity’s oldest way of generating heat—and in the home it definitely creates a nice ambience. But it has its downside. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, wood smoke “contains toxic carbon monoxide, smog-causing nitrogen oxides, soot, fine particles, and a range of other chemicals and gases that can cause or worsen serious health problems, particularly among children, pregnant women, and people with breathing difficulties.”