| Today I heard a prediction for $7.00 a gallon gas | | | | fuels depending on how close you live to the |
| from an oil analyst talking on the radio. I wasn't | | | | source. The closer you are to the source, the |
| too surprised because I remember hearing a | | | | cheaper the fuel becomes. |
| similar prediction for $3.00 gas in 2004. The trend | | | | For instance, if you can't name the location of the |
| in home heating costs is definitely up, and, as we | | | | nearest grain elevator or cornfield off the top of |
| all learned in grade school science, a body in | | | | your head, wood pellets will probably be easier |
| motion tends to stay in motion. | | | | (and cheaper) to get a hold of. On the other hand, |
| Along the way, speculators in crude oil futures will | | | | if you can't drive more than a couple of miles in |
| take some profits and cause prices to temporarily | | | | any direction without passing a corn field, corn |
| retreat. This is when consumer complacency | | | | would be the obvious choice. For those of you |
| usually sets in, and all those plans to do something | | | | living in the North Central region of the U.S., you |
| about next years heating bill quickly evaporate. | | | | have the luxury of choosing between an ample |
| This is especially true during the warm summer | | | | supply of wood pellets or corn depending on |
| months. The last thing you want to think about | | | | which is cheaper. |
| while sipping margaritas in your backyard is next | | | | Once you've found a reliable source of cheap fuel, |
| years heating bill. And who could blame you? | | | | the next step is to pick out an appliance designed |
| But this is absolutely the best time to shop for a | | | | to burn the fuel you've chosen. |
| pellet stove. As much as shopping for a pellet | | | | For $2,000 or less, you can choose from a wide |
| stove in July goes against human nature, you'll be | | | | variety of stoves and fireplace inserts fueled by |
| one of the savvy shoppers taking advantage of | | | | wood pellets, corn, or both. A typical 45,000 Btu |
| favorable prices resulting from lower summertime | | | | stove or insert will heat 1,200 square feet of living |
| demand. | | | | space. This is sufficient to comfortably heat a |
| Before you start shopping, you have to figure out | | | | ranch style home, modular home, or the main |
| which type of alternative fuel you're going to burn. | | | | floor of a two story house. |
| Although many of the new pellet stoves classified | | | | With heating oil prices hovering around $4.00 a |
| as "Multifuel" can burn corn or wood pellets, | | | | gallon, a pellet stove should pay for itself in two |
| there's a large swing in prices between the two | | | | heating seasons or less. |