Consumers again aim to beat the heating game (The Citizen, Auburn NY)

[jpak]

http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2006/11/19/news/local_news/news02.txt

With memories of last year's fuel price hikes still fresh in their minds, people aren't waiting around to see if this year's winter heating bills will continue their upward climb.

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“Anything not 90 percent efficient, I would take a hard look at replacing,” Peek said. With energy prices rising, the payback time is sooner than before because the price of furnaces has not increased in proportion to oil.

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Performance Systems Contractor is building a custom-designed home in Union Springs with a geothermal system, photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system and with Energy Star label.

“Certainly, there's a growing interest in new construction to have (alternative energy). I have more and more customers asking about PV and geothermal,” said Peter Arena, sales manager for Performance Systems.

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[pooja]

1. hmm.. seems like the demand is hitting the market.. maybe someone

would catch in and make a fortune.

[Vorta]

2. A cheap partial solution to heat and ac is clothing

I have a friend whose bill is outrageous year round. The reason is that he cranks the heat in the winter while going about the house in shorts and a t shirt and his partner insists on cranking the AC in summer to avoid a drop of sweat. Sensible people (like me of course) keep their AC at about 78/82 in the summer and try not to use the heat at all in the winter- at most setting it at 68ºF. So here I sit in Florida in sweats and two shirts with a blanket on the couch because it's 68ºF in here. I also have one the lowest utility bills of anyone I know. My highest bill this year was $225 and that's only because I have a friend living here who wastes AC when I'm not home and uses warm water to wash clothes.

[Donnachaidh]

3. no offense, but you failed to mention you live in FLORIDA

milder climates can get away with tinkering with the thermostat, but our neighbors to the north can and do face life-threatening COLD that they face each winter. Many times I've had to watch neighbors roll their thermostats back to just above what they need to keep their pipes from freezing - because they couldn't afford more than that and put food on their tables and gas in their cars to make it to work.

there is NO comparison. IMO of course.

[angstlessk]

4. You're freezing at 68?..here in VA it is 56 I have a window open and in

short sleeves. Tis cool but certainly not COLD..and 68 is WARM