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From the Energy Committee |
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Norwich Happenings
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Written by Ames Byrd
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Are you concerned that you are using too much heating fuel? Here is a simple way to determine whether your home is reasonably tight or could use some help. Call your fuel provider and get the number of gallons of home-heating fuel or propane that you used last season. Call the lister’s office and get the number of square feet of heated living space. For home-heating fuel a good ratio is 3 to 1. For example if you have a 3000 sq ft home you should be burning 1000 gallons or less. If you heat with propane the ration is 2 to 1, as propane has fewer BTUs per gallon. A cord of wood is equivalent to 170 gallons of heating oil and 240 gallons of propane. These ratios represent what we feel are adequate numbers, but you can do even better by further insulating your house. My house currently is 3 to 1. After implementing the recommendations of an audit I am sure I can get it down to 4 to 1.
If you decide you need an audit you can call Energy Smart at (802) 476-2093 or call SERG in Thetford at 785- 4126. There was legislation last year that passed in Vermont to help with house envelopes. The plan is in the works so there may be some incentives soon. Here are a couple of energy-saving tips: if you have hotwater baseboard heat, Simple Energy of Lebanon, (603) 298-7200, sells a controller made by Intellidyne for $400 that guarantees a ten percent reduction in fuel usage. For do-it-yourselfers, go to www.aceee.org and order “Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.” We can also do a house call to help you with all this. Give me a call is you need any further assistance at 649-1269.
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