HEATING SERVICES

Natural gas is a natural fuel source consisting primarily of methane.

Pros:

• Clean, highly available, reasonably priced

Cons:

• Current extraction includes fracking which may have negative environmental repercussions
• Availability of gas lines can vary

Propane is a hydrocarbon and is sometimes referred to as liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG.

Pros:

• Propane is a clean burning fuel that does not emit any greenhouse gasses

Cons:

• Switching to propane can be expensive - depending on your current heating situation, propane may or may not save you any money

Electric baseboards and other resistance heaters are powered by electricity. In moderate climates, electricity can provide energy efficient and inexpensive heating and cooling.

Pros:

• Electric baseboards and other resistance heaters are able to convert 100% of electric energy into heat energy

Cons:

• Higher priced electricity can make it a cost-prohibitive heating option for many homeowners

Heating oil is a low viscosity, liquid petrol product used as a fuel oil for furnaces in buildings.

Pros:

• Oil heating systems cost relatively less to purchase and oil has a relatively higher BTU output

Cons:

• Because it is shipped overseas, oils cost can vary greatly
• Oil furnaces require a tank in your yard, which also requires regular oil delivery
• Oil furnaces need to be cleaned more frequently than gas furnaces

Anthracite coal, often referred to as hard coal is a hard compact variety of coal, and has the highest energy density of all types of coal.

Pros:

• Relatively inexpensive, abundant supply, substantial existing infrastructure

Cons:

• Coal has high CO2 emissions, it is non-renewable

Electric heat pumps essentially draw heat from the outside air into your cold home during the winter. The process is reversed in the summer.

Pros:

• They can produce up to 400% percent of the energy the consumer needs

Cons:

• These systems will not provide enough comfort in extreme summer heat or areas with extended periods of below-freezing weather

• Water heaters
• Boilers
• Furnaces
• Outdoor wood furnace