MONROE - As temperatures cool and the signs of winter draw nearer, people are thinking about fuel costs and how to heat their homes without spending too much money.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the price for a gallon of heating oil on Oct. 20 was $3.22, down from $3.61 two weeks earlier.
"Some customers try to beat rising winter prices by filling their storage tanks in the summer or early fall when the prices are likely to be lower. However, most homeowners do not have large enough storage tanks to store the full amount needed to meet winter demands," the Web site www.eia.doe.gov said. "Because homeowners may have to refill their tanks as often as four or five times during the heating season, possible rising or spiking prices are a concern."
In response to the rising heating prices and the concern that prices could increase a great deal before spring, alternative heating systems have become popular.
Whether by electricity or burning corn or wood pellets, the search is on for ways to heat homes and save money.
The EdenPure infra red heating system is sold at Harris Ace Hardware in Monroe while supplies last and has been popular this fall, store employee Laura Stietz said. Each system costs about $400. The system can heat 1,000 square feet, is safe for children and provides comfortable heat.
Stietz said the advantages to the EdenPure system is that it's on wheels and can move to different areas of a home.
"If you use the kitchen and living room most during the day, you can move it there," she said. "If you want it in the bedrooms at night you can move it there."
Stietz said she's heard from several customers who have come to the store to find ways to reduce their heating bills.
Bob Johnson, who works at Harris Ace Hardware, said he owns two of these heating systems. He bought his second system earlier this week. He said they make a difference in his fuel bills.
"I've been running it for a month and it cost me $30 in electricity," he said. "That's $1 a day. Even if it costs me a $1.50 a day, it's still pretty cheap to run."
Corn and wood pellet burners also are becoming more popular.
Wood pellet burners can heat up to 1,000 square feet for 18 hours at a cost of about $4 a day.
Wood pellet burners cost between $1,700 and $3,500, depending on the quality and features of the burner.
Advantages of wood pellet burners include easy starting, efficient burning, pellets take up less storage space and pellet bags usually are packaged in 40-pound bags and can be easily stacked.
Some disadvantages are that pellet stoves make a constant noise as they run.
Corn burning stoves can heat 1,000 square feet for about $2 a day.
According to "The Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living," corn burner sales increased from 65,000 in 2005 to 125,000 in 2006. Corn burner sales were expected to reach about 350,000 in 2007, the Web site www.daviddarling.info said.
Outdoor wood stoves vary in price from about $5,000 to about $7,750, depending on how large an outdoor system is desired. Wood is used to heat underground pipes that then heat the home. The outdoor wood stoves can heat homes up to 10,000 square feet.
Owners use wood in the stoves. A disadvantage of these kinds of stoves is that the owner must have a place to cut wood or buy the wood already cut.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the price for a gallon of heating oil on Oct. 20 was $3.22, down from $3.61 two weeks earlier.
"Some customers try to beat rising winter prices by filling their storage tanks in the summer or early fall when the prices are likely to be lower. However, most homeowners do not have large enough storage tanks to store the full amount needed to meet winter demands," the Web site www.eia.doe.gov said. "Because homeowners may have to refill their tanks as often as four or five times during the heating season, possible rising or spiking prices are a concern."
In response to the rising heating prices and the concern that prices could increase a great deal before spring, alternative heating systems have become popular.
Whether by electricity or burning corn or wood pellets, the search is on for ways to heat homes and save money.
The EdenPure infra red heating system is sold at Harris Ace Hardware in Monroe while supplies last and has been popular this fall, store employee Laura Stietz said. Each system costs about $400. The system can heat 1,000 square feet, is safe for children and provides comfortable heat.
Stietz said the advantages to the EdenPure system is that it's on wheels and can move to different areas of a home.
"If you use the kitchen and living room most during the day, you can move it there," she said. "If you want it in the bedrooms at night you can move it there."
Stietz said she's heard from several customers who have come to the store to find ways to reduce their heating bills.
Bob Johnson, who works at Harris Ace Hardware, said he owns two of these heating systems. He bought his second system earlier this week. He said they make a difference in his fuel bills.
"I've been running it for a month and it cost me $30 in electricity," he said. "That's $1 a day. Even if it costs me a $1.50 a day, it's still pretty cheap to run."
Corn and wood pellet burners also are becoming more popular.
Wood pellet burners can heat up to 1,000 square feet for 18 hours at a cost of about $4 a day.
Wood pellet burners cost between $1,700 and $3,500, depending on the quality and features of the burner.
Advantages of wood pellet burners include easy starting, efficient burning, pellets take up less storage space and pellet bags usually are packaged in 40-pound bags and can be easily stacked.
Some disadvantages are that pellet stoves make a constant noise as they run.
Corn burning stoves can heat 1,000 square feet for about $2 a day.
According to "The Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living," corn burner sales increased from 65,000 in 2005 to 125,000 in 2006. Corn burner sales were expected to reach about 350,000 in 2007, the Web site www.daviddarling.info said.
Outdoor wood stoves vary in price from about $5,000 to about $7,750, depending on how large an outdoor system is desired. Wood is used to heat underground pipes that then heat the home. The outdoor wood stoves can heat homes up to 10,000 square feet.
Owners use wood in the stoves. A disadvantage of these kinds of stoves is that the owner must have a place to cut wood or buy the wood already cut.