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In a sub-forum titled: "Self-Sufficiency and Preparedness" I do not see how either of those options leads you toward Self-Sufficiency or Preparedness.
We heat with wood.
Solar Thermal is also a good option.
Wood is labor intensive to harvest, stored wood attracts pests, and fires and fireplaces require maintenance. I consider it a great backup heat source but so long as easier primary heat sources are available most people will use them.
My ultimate solution was to move to the tropics where we primarily control the indoor temperature by opening/closing windows and a solar powered whole house fan.
For awhile I lived in a small apartment in Alaska with a wood stove. And by small I mean okay for a single guy but it was tiny. My primary source of heat was burning my garbage. This was before online shopping really took off, I could have been 100% heated with today's cardboard deliveries. Once that wood stove got pumping, I'd have to open windows to stay comfortable. So I understand what a great resource wood stoves are but they aren't practical for a lot of people, especially in cities and suburbs (where there are frequently restrictions against using them).
What's with the sudden rash of threads on natural gas pros and cons around C-D?
The price of #2 heating oil went to more than $6 here. I know a few folks around me have been without heat and hot water since early April because they can't afford oil.
About Submariner's post - he makes an excellent point. Self-sufficiency isn't going to keep us warm when the power that ignites the furnace goes out. It's a serious consideration.
The price of #2 heating oil went to more than $6 here. I know a few folks around me have been without heat and hot water since early April because they can't afford oil.
About Submariner's post - he makes an excellent point. Self-sufficiency isn't going to keep us warm when the power that ignites the furnace goes out. It's a serious consideration.
OMG, I couldn't imagine $6.00 a gallon oil heat in retirement!
Last edited by YorktownGal; 05-13-2022 at 10:15 AM..
We heated with coal in Northeastern PA. I wouldn't expect to find a sufficient supply outside of that area, region.
Montana has huge coal reserves. My Uncle heated his home with it for as long as I can remember. We don't have anthracite, but we do have Lignite and Bituminous in huge supply.
Lots of folks will go buy a truckload or 2 at one of the mines. Used to get it for around $10 to $20 per ton depending on market price back when my Uncle was buying it, but I don't know what it is this year.
Personally I use wood with propane backup to keep the house warm if I'm going to be gone for a while. Forest service permits to harvest firewood are $20 for 10 cords, or most of the ranchers will let you clean up deadfall out of their pastures for free. I've got lots of timber on my place so using wood just reduces fireload in case of a forest fire coming through.
OMG, I couldn't imagine $6.00 a gallon oil heat in retirement!
It's scary. They'll pay off last winter's bill over the summer so they can start ordering a minimum of a 100 gallons at a time before it starts getting cold again. I can't imagine what the price might be when I get to retirement in less than a decade. We'll stay with wood and can depend on our woodlot so we have that peace of mind.
I have to be self sufficient with heating our house because our area is prone to power outages.
We use wood for the most part,have electric heating as well and even a propane system we never use.
We keep our jumbo sized propane tank full in case of emergencies
It can get cold here so we keep wood stacked in a couple of areas on the property.
We also have a large generator as a supplement.
I would love to have natural gas but it is not available here nor does it make you self sufficient.
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