tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281058002012-01-08T09:32:46.174-05:00"Alternative Home Heating Information Since 2006"Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-91014714114569676802012-01-06T17:42:00.000-05:002012-01-06T17:42:34.469-05:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-68945238610099888672012-01-04T00:17:00.006-05:002012-01-06T16:04:29.999-05:00

December 31, 2011 marks the expiration of the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Program. The technologies that are now ineligible for the maximum $500 personal tax credit are: Water Heaters, Furnaces , Boilers, Heat pumps, Central Air conditioners, Building Insulation, Windows, Doors, Roofs, Circulating fans used in a qualifying furnace, and stove that use biomass fuel such as wood pellets,

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-26352471043884285042011-10-26T19:44:00.001-04:002011-10-26T19:54:41.195-04:00

Whether you’re using a space heater to add a little extra comfort to one of your rooms or attempting to reduce overall heating costs, it’s only natural in this era of expensive energy that consumers would be concerned about space heater efficiency. For us non-scientific types the definition of energy efficiency is simply getting the level of service we expect from an electric appliance for the

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-13279144193445969032011-05-19T21:25:00.000-04:002011-05-19T21:25:24.012-04:00

My lovely wife and I just bought a house in Palm Bay, Florida in hopes that we'll be able to retire here soon. Palm Bay is on the East Coast of central Florida about half way between Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale and it's about an hour from all the theme parks in Orlando. The reason I'm telling you this is to alert all you soon to be retirees, or any body else who's interested, that

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-47292473879751476632011-02-16T10:36:00.000-05:002011-02-16T10:36:19.036-05:00

Are Super Premium Wood Pellets Worth The Price?: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-14285704482146307082011-02-15T15:56:00.001-05:002011-02-15T16:02:57.291-05:00

When I updated the fuel comparison chart at Alternative Heating last week I was pleasantly surprised to note that the average price of Premium wood pellets for fuel had declined 8% to $240 per ton from $260 per ton. Wood pellets qualify for the Premium designation when they contain less than 1% ash. Prices ranged from $210/ton for Maine's Choice Premium Pellets containing less than 1% ash, to

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-50498432289312939552011-02-01T12:00:00.001-05:002011-02-01T12:05:05.884-05:00

Back in early January the retail price of the Dr Heater was increased an astounding 20% to $239 from $199. This aggressive attempt to see what price the market would bear for this hot selling heater was met with stiff resistance and sales plummeted. Well, they've seen the error of their ways and lowered the price back to $199. Fortunately it took them only a month to figure out you can make

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-89098939113730041642011-01-29T12:02:00.001-05:002011-02-01T10:16:38.310-05:00

Bionaire Electric Fireplace The Bionaire electric fireplace is a versatile, full powered fireplace that compliments just about any décor. This compact electric fireplace heater (31” x 24”) can be enjoyed as a floor model or mounted on the wall for dramatic effect and safely away from kids and pets. The Bionaire is full featured offering programmable digital display, thermostat, 12 hour timer

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-12946998341204952342011-01-23T14:24:00.002-05:002011-02-01T10:17:39.801-05:00

Many space heaters are advertised as “whole room heaters” – but exactly how big is a whole room? One possible answer can be found in the Vornado heater manual which describes a whole room, relative to the heater’s capacity, as 16’ x 16’ with an 8’ ceiling. These dimensions work out to 256 sq. ft. and 2048 cu. ft. respectively – easily the size of most family rooms, kitchens, or living/dining

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-79072779133894954052011-01-23T14:18:00.001-05:002011-01-23T14:19:40.732-05:00

For a wide range of reasons, consumers are often disappointed with the overall performance of their newly purchased small space heater. It's very simple to eliminate the let-down of getting the wrong space heater and achieve the level of comfort you deserve if you answer a few easy questions before you start shopping. How Many People Do you want to Make More comfortable?Should you be the only

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-85870196743121028692011-01-23T14:10:00.001-05:002011-01-23T14:36:35.104-05:00

Quartz infrared heaters were invented in the 1980s but they have become more and more popular in the last few years as a way of saving on heating bills. In fact, manufacturers claim that this product can help you save up to 50% on your heating bill. In this article we will try to understand what are the advantages and disadvantages of using this type of product. Probably, the most important

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-23874078652464021402010-12-30T11:15:00.000-05:002010-12-30T11:15:34.049-05:00

400 Watt Space Heaters: Heat For Pennies A Day | Sam Streubel

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-39937521029201095012010-12-29T09:10:00.000-05:002010-12-29T09:10:54.548-05:00

Current Annual Average Heating Fuel Costs

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-36497015936982981782010-12-27T14:23:00.000-05:002010-12-27T14:23:07.667-05:00

Vornado Space Heaters Consumer Review | Sam Streubel

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-42211806514722333392010-12-13T18:42:00.000-05:002010-12-13T18:42:38.766-05:00

Top Quartz Space Heater - The Competition Is Heating Up

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-69412150877226286052010-12-12T09:36:00.000-05:002010-12-12T09:36:44.812-05:00

Space Heater Safety: Electric Fireplace Vs Electric Space Heater

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-11203939647438804552010-12-10T17:41:00.000-05:002010-12-10T17:41:51.535-05:00

Top Quartz Infrared Heaters

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-66548000594359216112010-12-08T08:36:00.000-05:002010-12-08T08:36:57.517-05:00

Quartz Infrared Heater Ratings: The Big Three

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-57178925352702104432010-12-07T10:15:00.000-05:002010-12-07T10:15:56.980-05:00

Electric Fireplace With Sound Effects - Snap Crackle Pop Isn't Just for Breakfast

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-48851354586667144182010-12-07T07:58:00.000-05:002010-12-07T07:58:22.817-05:00

Dimplex 26" Plug-In Electric Fireplace - DF2608 Review

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-56518504618314156212010-12-03T06:48:00.000-05:002010-12-03T06:48:35.924-05:00

Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Radiant Heater Review: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-67445720382095266742010-12-02T09:02:00.000-05:002010-12-02T09:02:58.516-05:00

Buying An Electric Fireplace? There’s Something For Everbody: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1400703821426030562010-11-20T09:43:00.000-05:002010-11-20T09:43:50.517-05:00

Bestselling EdenPure Type Quartz Infrared Heater: The Winner May Surprise You: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-25448276578122398212010-10-20T19:08:00.003-04:002010-10-20T19:14:26.271-04:00

A home owner from Minneapolis, MN recently posted his "due diligence" regarding the potential purchase of a high efficiency gas furnace. Let's take a look over his shoulder and see what he came up with. "I've already compiled the data from my gas bills going back to 2004 on my Minneapolis home, so this should be pretty simple to figure out. I use an average of 520 therms per year to heat my

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-37556663709350676962010-10-11T08:35:00.001-04:002010-10-11T08:39:37.859-04:00

I recently placed a simple poll on the home page of my alternative heating site asking visitors "What is your primary heating fuel?" I can't vouch for the statistical accuracy of the results so far, but they're interesting none the less. Below is a screen shot of the results I took on 10/10/10. You can vote if you like at Alternative-Heating-Info.com.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-53492264685238689652010-10-04T15:08:00.003-04:002010-10-04T15:24:30.493-04:00

Last week the owner of BlazinCorn.com asked that they be added to my the list of wood pellet and corn fuel dealers at Alternative-Heating-Info.com. This was good news because there's a dearth of bulk corn fuel dealers in New England. I've posted their price list below and you can find out more by clicking the link to their site. The bulk price of $210 per ton is around $50 less than the average

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-33347521993273616942010-09-14T18:04:00.004-04:002010-10-04T15:20:42.438-04:00

Delonghi Safe Heat Here in New England the occurrence of Labor Day is like flipping a huge switch from summer to fall, even if summer is still in full swing. That’s because we all know the heating season is right around the corner and it’s time to examine the heating budget for another winter. One of the ways to save money on your heating bill is through the efficient use of space heaters.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-60440491745047836992010-06-06T14:55:00.001-04:002010-09-11T10:40:54.051-04:00

So how do you like to be cooked, Rare, Medium, or Well Done? When the summer sun is blazing down on the roof of your house and the temperature in the attic reaches 130° it’s like living under a broiler. You know things are really getting bad when your heat addled children start chasing after you with bottles of steak sauce. Grilling is an activity to be enjoyed outdoors, not within the confines

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-23782836470614156632010-05-10T12:11:00.007-04:002010-09-11T11:49:22.220-04:00

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt;

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-16840045281182867622010-01-17T10:24:00.004-05:002010-09-11T11:46:51.942-04:00

The heating season is over. Not for you or me, but for any retail business that sells heating appliances like electric fireplaces. Every year right around the end of January retailers big and small start to unload inventory in earnest to make room, and raise cash, for next year’s models. The need for retailers to raise money is especially critical during this lousy economy when banks are

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-74556953041142795312010-01-08T13:23:00.000-05:002010-01-08T13:23:05.117-05:00

If you're home during the day and own a home or rent an apartment with south facing exposure you should consider a solar window space heater. Not only can you harness the radiant energy of the sun to heat entire rooms, but once it's in place you'll be getting free heat for as long as the sun shines. If you’ve never seen a solar window heater it can be described as a 3’ x 2’ box, 4 or 5 inches

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-70373252675678854542010-01-05T17:30:00.002-05:002010-01-05T17:35:26.023-05:00

Managing a household budget during a down economy can be a daunting task. One budget item that everyone pays close attention to during the cold winter months is heating fuel costs. What many home owners have discovered over the years is that zoned heating is an immediate and effective method to keep a lid on high heating bills. Zoned heating is accomplished by turning back the main thermostat 5–

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-35770998346510458402010-01-02T11:08:00.001-05:002010-01-02T11:08:40.116-05:00

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in;

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-17682413768318827122009-11-26T08:05:00.007-05:002009-11-26T08:15:33.652-05:00

Find the perfect space heater at Sam's Guide to Small Space Heaters

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-3824995042125245192009-11-22T13:23:00.004-05:002009-11-24T17:06:02.555-05:00

Many a home owner on the look out for something new to replace an old, inefficient heating system probably knows a thing or two about the exceptional efficiency of geothermal heat pumps. But few people are aware of the new 95% efficient condensing boilers fueled by natural gas. While a geothermal heat pump’s 350% efficiency far outstrips that of a 95% efficient condensing boiler, higher

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-86651772468766451412009-11-20T09:10:00.002-05:002009-11-24T17:06:28.450-05:00

According to the National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) heating equipment was the second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths. The heating equipment category includes central heating, fixed and portable space heaters and wood stoves. Of these, fixed space heaters (wall mounted or freestanding propane heaters) accounted for 17% of the fires and 28% of the civilian deaths. Portable

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-14898800813162545132009-11-17T09:46:00.006-05:002009-11-24T17:07:43.475-05:00

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-70173127820108469482009-09-01T14:37:00.003-04:002009-11-24T17:21:15.237-05:00

The recent sharp decline in the price of natural gas has really shaken up the pecking order of home heating fuel prices. For the first time since I started tracking fuel prices in 2005, the cost to heat with natural gas is actually less than the cost of heating with corn. Based on the cost to produce 1mil Btu, and before factoring in heating system efficiency, it now costs $7.83 for natural gas

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-68650528975730440862009-06-14T07:11:00.004-04:002009-08-08T19:03:08.946-04:00

By the time you get done assembling the individual components of a pellet stove battery backup system you've spent somewhere around $400. Here's the breakdown: AGM type 75AH deep cycle battery $175, 1000 watt inverter $140, inverter cables $20, and finally a 3 stage battery charger for $66.When you think about it, $400 is a lot of money to spend on an equipment array that will power a typical

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-59090979440814495562009-06-11T07:03:00.002-04:002009-06-11T07:06:35.054-04:00

"Name the season's first hurricane Zelda and fool Mother Nature into calling it a year." ~Robert Brault Personally, I wouldn't dream of shopping for a portable generator until the wind has been blowing 80 miles an hour for at least a day. That way, if I'm lucky, there'll only be one generator left and I won't be forced into making a life or death decision.Nothing makes me more anxious than

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-42537174491450604832009-06-10T06:41:00.007-04:002009-06-10T08:13:22.759-04:00

Here we go again. Crude oil (CL) closed above $70 a barrel yesterday. The red lines on the weekly chart above show levels of price resistance at roughly $10 intervals. In general, as the price of a stock or commodity breaks through a level of price resistance, what was formerly resistance becomes the new support level for further upward price movement. The excuse for the run up this time is fear

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-43606678792945619232009-06-06T16:02:00.004-04:002009-06-08T11:39:33.261-04:00

You can learn a lot by reading portable generator reviews, I know I did. While the majority of the complaints voiced by reviewers are legitimate, others are just plain nit picking. Of the legitimate complaints, the following three issues seem to surface most often. Complaint #1: BreakdownsIf you search online for best selling portable generators it should come as no surprise when you discover

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-37082827341701662762009-05-25T06:11:00.006-04:002009-05-26T06:31:02.848-04:00

As I thumbed through a recent edition of USA Today I noticed an ad for the Cool Surge Portable Air Cooler. The look and feel of the ad was vaguely familiar, something like deja vu. Then it hit me, the Amish Heat Surge portable heater!What tipped me off was the familiar phrase "engineering genius from the coast of China" also used in the Heat Surge ad. A quick phone call to the customer service

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-75381732750468674612009-04-20T07:29:00.005-04:002009-05-09T13:16:04.686-04:00

The wood pellet early buy programs are being rolled out for the 2009-2010 heating season. I know it's cruel to make you start thinking about next winter when the memory of this one is still fresh, but now's the time when the best deals can be had.Typical savings are 10% off peak heating season prices. For example, LG Granules*, pictured on the left, are available for April delivery at $265 a ton

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-45241942044684784302009-03-07T08:43:00.001-05:002009-03-07T08:46:37.446-05:00

Firewood is the original renewable fuel and still being used as the sole source of heat for approximately 1.5 million homes. Recently, an eco-friendly alternative to firewood has been introduced to the consumer under the brand name BioBrick. If you're not familiar with BioBricks, they can be described as a two pound, 2"x4"x6" brick made from compressed sawdust – just like wood pellets. The bricks

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-6114534669875380822009-02-21T18:00:00.006-05:002009-02-22T19:11:24.808-05:00

Federal energy tax credits have been extended through December 31, 2010 with some changes. Most noteable is the elimination of caps, or limits, on the amount you can claim toward the purchase of geothermal, solar electric, and residential wind systems.New rules now allow you to claim a 30% tax credit against the cost to purchase and install any of the three systems just mentioned.Previously, the

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-19303933368340456552008-10-30T20:14:00.001-04:002008-11-30T14:51:42.452-05:00

I love this Country. We don't manufacture as many products as we used to, but we'll always be the masters of the marketing universe. No other country can take something as mundane as a 1,500 watt space heater and repackage it as the Second Coming. A perfect example of this marketing ingenuity is the Amish Heat Surge Electric Fireplace. It Rolls! It Glows! The Heat Surge miracle heater is a

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-32414809257975521362008-10-06T19:20:00.001-04:002008-10-06T19:31:35.865-04:00

I've just finished updating the Fuel Comparison Chart at my alternative heating site and corn is once again the least expensive alternative fuel. Even at its all time high of $7.60 a bushel at the end of June, it was still the least expensive among all other fuel types . Since then the price has retreated to $5.42/bushel or $12.10 to produce 1 MM (million) Btu of heat. (The cost to produce 1

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-91626637232989811332008-09-25T18:52:00.007-04:002008-09-26T07:14:31.360-04:00

Home heating energy assistance programs will be be in greater demand this year due to higher oil prices and higher unemployment. The national average cost to heat a home with oil this winter will be $2,524, up from $1,962 last winter according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.About 5.8 million families got help last winter and some 2 million more families are expected to

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-62313285304853233892008-09-14T10:05:00.005-04:002008-09-18T16:35:19.371-04:00

It seems like every other week I discover another manufacturer of roof top wind turbines. Although exact sales figures for roof top systems are hard to come by, current and anticipated demand must be high to warrant all the interest from various manufacturers.I think the principal allure for those who purchase a roof top system is the low cost to participate in the renewable energy movement. The

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-30832149984828603602008-08-31T12:42:00.003-04:002008-09-06T12:11:21.477-04:00

This morning I read yet another piece in the newspaper predicting the loss of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in renewable energy investments if Congress allows the Energy Tax Credit programs now in place to expire on December 31 of this year.These ready to expire tax credits benefit not only large scale projects, but also homeowners like you and me. Without these tax credits, the cost

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-22362247188808308442008-08-23T16:38:00.010-04:002008-09-06T11:59:34.228-04:00

I just came across this ad for homemade wind power that shows how to build your own dyi wind turbine for under $200.The wind power plans include directions for a grid-tied or battery system from parts readily available from any home improvement store.I wanted to try this home wind power kit out for myself, but my lovely wife and I now live in a condo.So I thought maybe I could advertise for a

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-41283423622731245192008-08-17T18:01:00.005-04:002008-08-23T16:38:11.060-04:00

I can understand why everybody in the neighborhood hates the guy with the outdoor wood burning furnace; he's saving tons of money on his heating bill while literally rubbing the collective noses of an entire neighborhood in a haze of smoke that makes Beijing look like an asthmatics paradise.However, unlike China where smog is a measure of industrial achievement, the ingenuity of American

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-7239745238617255952008-07-26T16:35:00.000-04:002008-07-26T16:46:56.659-04:00

Masonry stoves offer good solutions to many of the problems associated with wood burning. They provide clean combustion at a high temperature, good efficiency, a high degree of safety, and little or no pollution. Masonry stoves were designed to burn much hotter than a standard wood stove. Moreover, they are able to retain that heat much longer than the traditional fireplaces that preceded them.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-55163151620781666942008-07-17T18:21:00.005-04:002008-07-18T07:12:43.082-04:00

I've just finished updating the Fuel Comparison Chart on Alternative-Heating-Info.com, and once again the least expensive fuel to heat with is corn. Although corn reached a high of $7.60 a bushel at the end of June, it has since retreated to $6.31/bushel. This works out to $14.06 per 1 Mil Btu of heat.Compared to heating oil at $4.71/gal, or $33.41 per 1 Mil Btu, corn is almost 60% cheaper.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-76644765300967992442008-07-03T06:50:00.002-04:002008-07-07T17:38:56.160-04:00

After years of reading about "The Bright Promise of Solar Power" (boy, did the media work that title to death), I have come to the following conclusions: Our government will never have a coherent energy policy, solar power is still terribly inefficient, and the folks who buy solar power systems care more about the environment than money.For decades, homeowners have been tantalized by the thought

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-65644924067857445552008-05-27T11:38:00.002-04:002008-07-05T00:30:05.805-04:00

The following is an excerpt from Colin Twiggs' Trading Diary that explains in a few short sentences the reasons for oil's recent spike in price."There has been much debate in the last week over causes of the recent spike in oil prices. Oil tanker leasing rates have apparently trebled since April as Iran and Venezuela stockpile crude oil, restricting supply in anticipation of even higher prices

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-77050299163262036532008-05-03T19:02:00.001-04:002008-07-05T00:23:52.861-04:00

Today I heard a prediction for $7.00 a gallon gas from an oil analyst talking on the radio. I wasn't too surprised because I remember hearing a similar prediction for $3.00 gas in 2004. The trend is definitely up, and we all learned in grade school science that a body in motion tends to stay in motion.Along the way, speculators in crude oil futures will liquidate profitable positions causing fuel

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-25499741020175151182008-04-06T16:46:00.000-04:002008-04-06T16:49:49.702-04:00

On February 27, 2008, the House passed $18.1 billion in renewable energy tax incentives (H.R. 5351), including an extension of the tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements. The bill is similar to the one passed last year, which was ultimately removed from the 2007 Energy Bill signed into law in December 2007. This bill must still pass in the Senate, and be signed by the President to

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-64354315152236258612008-03-08T18:15:00.001-05:002008-03-08T18:26:46.100-05:00

Current oil price trends. Crude and heating oil jumped to all time record high levels in futures trading on Wednesday. Spurred by a weak inventory report, OPEC keeping output levels the same and political hyjinx by Venezuela threatening Columbia, traders took those signals and bought bought and bought some more.While gasoline prices haven't jumped quite so far, keep your auto gas tanks topped off

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-44447004422430878782008-02-21T18:21:00.001-05:002008-02-21T19:27:47.448-05:00

Wood pellets on sale. I found this announcement on BNET from Pellet Sales.com that should be of interest to you "pellet burners" out there."Many homeowners are feeling the squeeze of higher heating costs this winter. Wood pellets are a carbon neutral alternative that can cut heating bills by 30% or more. PelletSales.com is proud to be the first to broadly offer consumers the opportunity to lock

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-78354738476724154222008-01-06T13:57:00.000-05:002008-01-06T14:08:58.721-05:00

Will the consumer tax credits for home improvements be renewed for 2008?As of December 31, 2007, the consumer tax expired. You have until April 15, 2008 to report these credits on your 2007 taxes. Legislation to extend the tax credits was proposed in December 2007, but did not pass both houses of Congress. Congressional leadership has said they will look for opportunities to move this legislation

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-18106251308715277632007-11-18T16:07:00.000-05:002008-01-06T13:56:44.839-05:00

Buying a used pellet stove for your home requires no more time or effort than buying a new one. In one respect it's easier since you have fewer choices. But lack of choice doesn't have to mean lack of quality. I'm sure the original owner of the stove you're looking at believed it was the best possible choice at that time. The information below should help you choose the best possible used

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-83468619535016957152007-09-08T08:37:00.001-04:002008-02-21T18:21:14.548-05:00

The State of California leads the way in renewable energy initiatives and offers generous rebates of 50% for select wind power systems.The wind power systems described in this article are connected to the utility company, or grid tied, and don’t incorporate storage batteries. In California excess power generated by a wind power system can be sold back to the utilitiy (net metering).The 5 basic

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1163246807252048492006-11-11T07:06:00.000-05:002006-11-11T07:06:47.966-05:00

In case you haven't heard, quartz infrared heaters are the "hot" item this heating season. Although they've been around for 20 years, homeowners are only now discovering this inexpensive heater that costs nothing to install or maintain and heats your favorite living space for only pennies a day. At the heart of these infrared heaters are the quartz bulbs. They provide even, non drying,

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1158423498361756542006-09-16T12:14:00.000-04:002006-09-16T12:18:32.553-04:00

Cheap Pellet Stoves Lately, quite a few visitors have arrived at the web site by using the search phrase *cheap pellet stove*. There aren’t any articles to help you find a cheap pellet stove, so I shopped around and came up with these suggestions for inexpensive, quality built stoves from reputable manufacturers. The first stove that comes to mind is the PelPro model HHPP2BD wood pellet

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1157505739843069142006-09-05T21:20:00.000-04:002006-09-10T00:35:30.663-04:00

Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House, was fond of saying; “All politics is local”. The same can be said of alternative heating. WHERE you live is the most important factor in determining which alternative heating or cooling option is most cost effective for your home. Even if you owned a million dollar townhouse in Boston’s Back Bay, there just isn’t enough room on a 25’ x 100’ lot for

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1156609485478944282006-08-26T12:22:00.000-04:002006-08-26T12:24:45.986-04:00

If you live in a suburban or rural area near a source of cheap wood, you could heat your home for the entire season for the cost of one month’s electric heat bill. An outdoor furnace requires less tending, eliminates respiratory problems caused by burning wood indoors, and keeps the wood burning mess outside. There are a surprising number of outdoor furnace manufacturers with a wide range of

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1156011303184968782006-08-19T14:12:00.000-04:002006-08-19T14:15:19.050-04:00

Now, more than ever, it’s possible to stop wasting energy and be rewarded handsomely for doing so. Whether you’re refinancing your home with an Energy Efficient Mortgage, getting a rebate from your local utility for purchasing an Energy Star appliance or earning a tax credit when you install a new boiler, the savings are immediate, and over the long term, substantial.When you buy, sell, refinance

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1155700623082994092006-08-15T23:55:00.000-04:002006-08-19T09:27:44.086-04:00

This unique cooling technology from Freus, shouldn’t be confused with a swamp cooler. Although water is used to assist with the cooling, it is sprayed over condensing coils rather than pads. The water cooled condensing unit is a residential application of the 250 ton split system chillers already used by commercial buildings. Think of this technology as a mini-chiller for residential use.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1154830142649653862006-08-05T22:05:00.000-04:002006-08-05T22:14:50.940-04:00

The temperature has been a sweltering 103 degrees for a week. Luckily, you don’t install tar and gravel roofs for a living, your car is air conditioned, and when you get home, all or part of it is air conditioned. But when you go to take that refreshing dip in your pool, you end up basting in 25,000 gallons of braising liquid. Do you try to cool the pool off or use it as a crock pot? Let’

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1154829485518966882006-08-05T21:57:00.000-04:002006-08-05T22:01:41.920-04:00

The much anticipated Skystream 3.7 residential wind turbine by Southwest Wind Power has just been released and will start shipping in August. But what's the payback period for the latest in wind power technology? What sets the Skystream 3.7 apart from other residential wind turbines is the all-inclusive wind generator with the controls and inverter built in. Rather than converting an

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1153664688564679442006-07-23T10:19:00.000-04:002006-08-05T21:49:24.540-04:00

1. Oprah said so. 2. It looks like the robot from “Lost In Space”. 3. Brad and Angelina are adopting one. For those of you who make your decisions based on real information, here are some cool portable air conditioner facts. A goldmine of enlightening information can be unearthed by visiting forums. For instance, when I wanted to tap into the experiences of actual portable air

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1153432600568980422006-07-20T17:24:00.000-04:002006-07-22T17:57:15.713-04:00

It might surprise you to know that buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won't necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that's too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit.This is because room units work better if they run for relatively long

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1152570192839704742006-07-10T18:22:00.000-04:002006-07-20T05:29:44.756-04:00

I purchased a Soldius1 solar charger last year to charge my granddaughter's cell phone and iPod while we were camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It comes with seven adapters for charging 250 different devices including power hungry iPods, Zen Micro MP3 players, Blackberrys and cell phones from Nokia, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola.The charger worked just like they said

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1151185538330892262006-06-24T17:30:00.000-04:002006-07-20T05:27:34.526-04:00

Another rainy week in Boston has given me the opportunity to post three new articles to the web site.Whole house ventilation gives you some pros and cons for attic fans. Questions to ask when buying a corn stove is pretty thorough and could also be used if you're looking at wood or wood pellet stoves. Buying a pellet stove online raises some interesting issues you might not have thought about.I

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1150056796830132282006-06-11T16:07:00.000-04:002006-07-20T18:22:07.933-04:00

I've just added an Alternative Cooling section to the web site. Come by and I'll tell you what my favorite alternative cooling method is.

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105800.post-1149819222159217952006-06-08T22:03:00.000-04:002006-07-20T18:24:16.470-04:00

Since Alternative-Heating-Info.com debuted last March, traffic has tripled.A huge amount of the credit has to go to the visitor inspired articles added to the web site.One suggestion "pellet vs corn stoves" is read hundreds of times a week. Hopefully not by the same person.As a way of saying thank you I have arranged for Energy Federation Inc. to give you good folks a 10% discount on all of

Sam Streubelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958636539658394106noreply@blogger.com0