Who is looking for alternative forms of energy to try and lower energy cost?

[SOAPPRO]

Im checking into to pellet stove to reduce my natural gas bill?

[PRICEPLUS]

Is that like the stove that burns dried corn? Is it just wood pellets?

[ren]

Don't know anything about them, but I know out here (California) a lot of utilities will give rebates for things that make your home more energy efficient. If rebates are available in your area, that might offset the cost of the stove at least.

Sorry I can't help more.

[JanH]

Checking on rebates is a good idea. I think the energy company here has discounts or rebates if you completely change out your cooling/heating.

[msnln]

You might want to do some more research on pellet stoves. I read somewhere that due to surging demand for these, pellets have been hard to come by and the prices have soared. The article mentioned that many consumers, who thought they would end up saving money b/c of cheap pellets are not happy as pellet heating costs just as much as oil or natural gas but cannot buy pellets due to lack of supply.

[cptacek]

My BF has a friend that put in a corn stove...St. Croix or something. He farms, though, and grows his own corn. He said that it was totally worth it. Their propane bill before the stove was around $200 a month, but they put it in last winter and have only had to use $400 for the whole year...But they do have to keep bringing in buckets of corn to burn.

My BF has a fireplace and pretty much starts a fire every evening. He can get it up to 80 degrees in his small house, so the heater doesn't kick on until it is burned out, usually sometime in the wee hours of the morning. He chops the wood (ok, so he uses a chain saw) himself, so it is cheap.

[PRICEPLUS]

The corn stove sounds like something to think about if you live in a rural or semi-rural community. I am just thinking thatcost and storage elsewhere might make it impractical!

[shelbylovesmelby]

You may want to make sure your home owners insurance will cover your home if you use that type of stove. As my dh's families cabin had an old fashioned wood stove & he had a hard time insuring the place.

[cptacek]

Originally Posted by cptacek

My BF has a fireplace and pretty much starts a fire every evening. ... He chops the wood (ok, so he uses a chain saw) himself, so it is cheap.

I would like to amend this statement to say "He chops the wood ... and I carry it up the hill and load it into the pickup."

Oh, my aching back!

[Daylily]

Be careful on the difference between a corn/pellet STOVE vs. FURNACE.
My understanding is that the stoves don't have a regulator, so once you get them going it is going to be warm. If you end up having a warm day in February that stove is still going unless you completely let the corn/pellets burn out.

[JBinKC]

I heat my home with an EPA certified wood stove with FREE waste firewood. I think the key to getting insured is having an EPA stove coupled with an installation from someone who is certified (btw my insurance rates haven't raised since the install).

[tinapbeana]

i have a wood stove and a lot of downed tree limbs. woohoo!! also, the design and placement of our house would make poor-man's solar hot water a real possibility, so i'm still pondering that.

[frugalmomof1]

We installed a pellet stove last year. Even with the pellet shortage we saved money vs. using oil heat. There is no shortage around here this year.
This year DH found a deal on pellets in July, $225/ton so we bought 2 tons. Should last us into March. We haven't had to fill the oil tank (heat and hot water) since April '06.

There are 5 temperature settings and thermostat on the pellet stove (St. Croix), so the temp can be regulated.

One more plus about pellet stoves...they are not hot to the touch (just a bit warm) so they are safer than a wood stove if you have small children.

[PauletteGoddard]

I am.

Wood pellet stove
Solar panels
Water catchment/filtration system (hey, hydroelectricity is considered energy, and if hydro isn't an energy source here, it's at least a utility)
Fireplace insert

[vishenda]

unfortunately any form of alternative energy source is not possible in our area (sad face)