High heating costs drive alternatives September 25, 2000

Many study wood stoves, conservation

By Eric Gullickson For the Poughkeepsie Journal

As winter approaches, homeowners throughout the mid-Hudson Valley are beginning to feel the heat from higher home heating oil prices.

At the start of this home heating oil season, prices are expected to be approximately one-third higher than last year and consumers region-wide, already paying on average $1.49 per gallon, are eager to find ways to consume less and conserve more.

I have done everything I can think of doing, said Bill Bryant of Pleasant Valley about winterizing his home. Im not sure what the solution is, as long as were dependent on oil from other countries, theres not much we can do.

Frank Dercola of Fishkill, who says his house is superinsulated, plans on making more of an effort in conserving this winter.

I will crank the thermostat down and wear bath robes around the house, he said.

Fixed incomes hit hard AT A GLANCE ENGERGY SAVING TIPS The Washington-based Alliance to Save Energy suggests that increasing the energy efficiency of your home can produce three benefits at once  cut costs, reduce air pollution and increase home comfort. Here are some of the alliances ideas: - Get a professional tuneup for your furnace every year. Clean air filters once a month. - When replacing appliances, including heating and air conditioning units, make sure the new products are energy efficient. - Consider adding insulation in attics or above ceilings. Make sure air ducts are insulated, too. - Seal leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping or caulking. - Consider buying a programmable thermostat, which can be set to automatically reduce temperatures by night and raise them by day. - Get some help from the sun  keep blinds open by day, close them at night.

Homeowners on fixed incomes are being hit hard by the price increases as well.

My husband and I are both retired, said Earnestine Royal, who lives in the City of Poughkeepsie. We have a small house and I believe it is efficient for the winter, but we still see the difference.

The recent increase in oil prices has primarily been an effect of lower supply and production by OPEC countries, along with the heavy demand in a strong economy. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that the national average for heating oil will be $1.31 a gallon at the start of the winter and is forecasted to go higher  directly increasing the consumers utility bill.

The Department of Energy recommends homeowners tune-up their current heating system to maximize its efficiency. A routine tune up can save the homeowner anywhere between 2 to 10 percent on their heating bill.

According to Jim Sheedy, vice president of sales at Bottini Fuel in Wappingers Falls, people have gotten a bit relaxed and need to get back to conservation.

With the high prices, payback is quick with upgrading and routine maintenance, said Sheedy.

Once an auditor has completed a thorough analysis of your specific energy needs, they will explain ways to make changes to make your home more efficient.

Some common suggestions include:

 Clean air filters once a month.

 Consider adding insulation to attics or above ceilings.

 Make sure leaks are sealed around windows and doors with weather stripping.

 Consider buying a programmable thermostat, which can automatically reduce temperatures at night and raise them during the day.

In addition, Sheedy said many more customers are taking advantage of Bottinis service contracts that allow prepayment of oil at a fixed price. We have increased our prepay by 30 to 40 percent, said Sheedy. Lately it has been like the stock exchange.

Most heating and plumbing businesses that service home-heating systems have not yet felt the effect of the high prices.

People are not thinking about it yet, said Andrew Aschmann, president of Plass the Plumber Inc. in the City of Poughkeepsie. Most people treat it the way they treat their cars  they dont pay attention until steam is coming out of it.

Gary Davidson of The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said that there is not much the typical consumer can do about the rise in price of oil.

This time of year the prices always go up  the problem this year is that they are higher, said Davidson.

Davidson does see, however, some of the good that comes out of the higher prices. As prices go up, there is more of an economic incentive to go after other sources of energy like natural gas.

But residential natural gas users are expected to pay about 25 percent more this winter for gas according to predictions from the U.S. Energy Department.

Locally, if this proves to be an average winter or even a colder than average winter, Central Hudsons prognosis is that bills could rise as much as 20 percent.

Davidson also said it is a good opportunity for people to research alternative home-heating resources like wood stoves. He added that there are fairly efficient wood stoves out there today that cut down on emissions  a common environmental complaint of wood.

Many of the wood stove and firewood businesses around the region have noticed an increase in their sales with the increase in oil prices.

Sales are up 20 to 25 percent, said Tim Martin, owner of Countryside Stoves of Rhinebeck Inc., and its still early in the season.

Martin said wood is a good alternative heat source because it is clean, reliable and safe.

In the Northeast there have been so many power-outages lately, said Martin. Wood is a way to ensure there will be heat.

Wood stoves more efficient

Today wood stoves have increased their efficiency by more than 70 percent, said Martin, reducing wood consumption by half compared to traditional stoves.

Prices for new high-efficiency wood stoves start at $850 and can go up to $2,100. The size a homeowner needs depends on the square footage of the house, with typical installation costing approximately $950  including pipes and labor.

A cord of wood this year can run anywhere from $100 to $150, depending on if the wood is seasoned and the time of year it is ordered.

During an average winter, homeowners heating exclusively with wood can expect to burn approximately 6 cords, and people who use wood as a secondary heat source use about 2 cords.

Pellet stoves also burn wood, but in a small ground up pellet size hardwood pieces. Pellet stove prices range from $1,995 to $2,175 and the typical installation price is approximately $385.

Pellets cost $180 a ton (or 50 40-pound bags) with typical winter consumption around one bag a day.

Firewood suppliers say they are overwhelmed by business so far this fall because people with wood stoves are panicking  trying to stockpile their supplies now.

Pleasant Valleys Richard Dingee, who sells firewood and works with Martin and his customers, is already backed up with wood orders.

Firewood sales are unbelievable, said Dingee, Ive been selling wood since H95 and since then business has quadrupled  this season I am already sold out with back orders until December.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/news/business/stories/bu092500s1.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 25, 2000

Answers

At first I thought I had a late 1999 story here.

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 25, 2000.