Alternative Fuel Price Update: Fall '08 By Sam Streubel At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

I've just finished updating the Fuel Comparison Chart at my alternative heating site and corn is once again the least expensive fuel. Even at its all time high of $7.60 a bushel at the end of June, it was still less expensive than 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 MM Btu of heat from any given fuel is useful as an "apples to apples" method of comparing fuel prices).

Based on today's prices, $1 of fuel corn provides the same amount of heat as $2.25 of heating oil.

The price for a ton of wood pellets has risen 10% since the Summer '08 Update and now averages $299/ton, or $18.69 per 1MM Btu. The reason behind the increase is a shrinking supply of sawdust (the raw material for wood pellets) due to the slowdown in new home construction. Also, some manufacturers of wood pellets report having to send their trucks as far as 400 miles to retrieve raw material contributing further to rising costs.

Despite the recent increase, wood pellets are still 30% less expensive to heat with than oil.

A cord of seasoned hardwood for the '08 - '09 heating season now costs around $295, or $17.90 per 1 Mil Btu. This is a third less than the cost of fuel oil for an equal amount of heat. If you want to save even more by seasoning your own hardwood, green wood usually sells for $50 less per cord than seasoned.

Bear in mind, the 1 MM Btu "apples to apples" cost comparison does not take into account the fuel efficiency of your heating appliance. The efficiency of your furnace or stove has a huge impact on what you actually end up paying to heat your home. For example; an 80% efficient heater will consume 23% less fuel than one rated at 65%.

Unlike the struggling auto industry, heating appliance manufacturers have always understood the value of fuel efficiency. Many newer model pellet stoves, outdoor furnaces and fireplace inserts offer efficiency ratings well above 80%.

The two pillars of cost effective heating, alternative or otherwise, will always be burning the least expensive fuel in the most efficient heater.

You can control fuel costs to some degree by waiting, if possible, for prices to moderate as is the case with corn. If you heat with wood pellets the best deals usually occur right after the end of the heating season. And anyone who heats with wood already knows the cheapest wood is the wood you cut yourself.

You do, however, have much more control over the efficiency of your heating appliance by adhering to a regular maintenance schedule. If you haven't already tuned up your furnace or pellet stove this year for maximum efficiency, time is running out.

Please note: The prices quoted for corn, wood pellets and seasoned hardwood in this article were accurate on the day it was written but will continue to change as market forces dictate.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=307561&ca=Home+Management

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.