First I would say to get a comfy set of thermal underwear .. shirt top and pants to wear under your clothes ... it's the biggest 'bang for the buck'... Also a sweater or sweat shirt as a 3rd torso layer is also a good step.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtydave
I figured If I only use the space heater in the room I am in it would be cheaper but after seeing the bill I'm not so sure..
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You paid $72.26 for 124 Therms of Natural Gas
You paid $74.12 for 513 kwh of electricity.
1 Therm is roughly ~29kwh of energy.
124 x 29 = 3,596 kwh of input energy
Looks like an old heating system ... Average efficiency in the 1970's was around ~65% .. Current modern systems range from 75% to 97%.
If your heating system is a bit better than the average in 1970... ~70%
3,596 x 0.70 = roughly 2,517 kwh of heat energy into the living space.
2,517 kwh of living space heat for $72.26 =
Roughly ~ $0.03 per living space kwh of heat.
Electric heater ~99% efficient.
(74.12 / 513 ) x 0.99 = roughly ~$0.14 per kwh of living space heat.
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The space heater is a better fit for more targeted smaller zone heating .. but I wouldn't even consider it unless it were at least smaller than 1/5 the volume to be heated... Say a nice toasty warm bathroom for a shower , instead of trying to heat the whole living space to that same toasty warm temperature... but you leave the overall total living space at a lower temperature.
That targeted smaller volume logic is why there are also heating blankets , pads , etc ... because those also greatly reduce the total size of the space you are trying to heat , thus less total energy is needed.
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Also dry air feels colder than more moist air ... even if they are both actually the same temperature.
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Make sure your bubble wrap is forming an air tight seal around the windows ... it isn't enough to just put it on loosely with air gaps.
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A basic infrared thermal gun (most hardware / home improvement stores) ... can also be used to look for heat leaks.