For many, electric is the way to keep warm this winter
Space heaters are a popular sale item in the face of rising natural gas and propane prices.
10/24/05
By Chris Marr, Rome News-Tribune Business Editor
Predictions of high natural gas and propane prices this winter have many homeowners looking for ways to keep their heating bills down, including buying electric space heaters to use instead of their gas-fired furnaces.
“We’re seeing a lot of those sell right now,” said Dwayne Wheeler, a manager at Ace Hardware on Turner McCall Boulevard. “I think more people are scared about rising fuel prices and plan to rely more on electricity for their heat.”
The electric heaters range in style and price, but Wheeler said the most popular sellers at his store are the medium-large $49.99 models.
“The ones that people are mostly buying are the ones big enough to heat up whole rooms,” he said.
Alabama resident Perry Cromer is looking to use an electric heater this winter instead of her propane-fired heat system, and she shopped at The Home Depot in Rome for the most efficient style.
“I’m moving into the back room (of my home), and I’m going to set an electric heater in there,” she said. She made the decision after she went to prepay for her propane supply.
“They wanted $1,300 to prepay, which was almost double what it was last year,” Cromer said.
Natural gas customers are concerned about the same kind of problem once cold weather arrives.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted that households using natural gas for their primary heat source should expect to spend $350 more this winter than last, or about a 48 percent increase.
Not only are people buying electric heaters in preparation for winter, they’re also frequenting “how-to” clinics at home improvement stores such as The Home Depot to learn about ways to weatherize their homes and save energy.
“People are concerned about energy costs,” said Bob Zumbrunn, manager of The Home Depot in Rome. “Everybody’s trying to save.”
According to product displays at Home Depot, the types of electric heaters available include fan-forced, convection, radiant and ceramic. Fan-forced heaters tend to spread heat efficiently around a room, while radiant heaters are designed more for spot heating of the area directly in front of them. Convection units are ideal for heating a space only while it’s occupied, and ceramic heaters are usually fan-forced and cool to the touch.
Wheeler said oil-filled, electric radiators are a popular form of space heater, but one disadvantage is that they tend to be hot to the touch, which can pose a danger for children in particular.
10/24/05
By Chris Marr, Rome News-Tribune Business Editor
Predictions of high natural gas and propane prices this winter have many homeowners looking for ways to keep their heating bills down, including buying electric space heaters to use instead of their gas-fired furnaces.
“We’re seeing a lot of those sell right now,” said Dwayne Wheeler, a manager at Ace Hardware on Turner McCall Boulevard. “I think more people are scared about rising fuel prices and plan to rely more on electricity for their heat.”
The electric heaters range in style and price, but Wheeler said the most popular sellers at his store are the medium-large $49.99 models.
“The ones that people are mostly buying are the ones big enough to heat up whole rooms,” he said.
Alabama resident Perry Cromer is looking to use an electric heater this winter instead of her propane-fired heat system, and she shopped at The Home Depot in Rome for the most efficient style.
“I’m moving into the back room (of my home), and I’m going to set an electric heater in there,” she said. She made the decision after she went to prepay for her propane supply.
“They wanted $1,300 to prepay, which was almost double what it was last year,” Cromer said.
Natural gas customers are concerned about the same kind of problem once cold weather arrives.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted that households using natural gas for their primary heat source should expect to spend $350 more this winter than last, or about a 48 percent increase.
Not only are people buying electric heaters in preparation for winter, they’re also frequenting “how-to” clinics at home improvement stores such as The Home Depot to learn about ways to weatherize their homes and save energy.
“People are concerned about energy costs,” said Bob Zumbrunn, manager of The Home Depot in Rome. “Everybody’s trying to save.”
According to product displays at Home Depot, the types of electric heaters available include fan-forced, convection, radiant and ceramic. Fan-forced heaters tend to spread heat efficiently around a room, while radiant heaters are designed more for spot heating of the area directly in front of them. Convection units are ideal for heating a space only while it’s occupied, and ceramic heaters are usually fan-forced and cool to the touch.
Wheeler said oil-filled, electric radiators are a popular form of space heater, but one disadvantage is that they tend to be hot to the touch, which can pose a danger for children in particular.
posted by Webmaster at 10/24/2005 08:05:00 AM
1 Comments:
I for one hope everyone uses electric heaters and puts a dent in all the gas companies wallet for a change. I know I am!
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