The high cost of home heating oil has many people looking for alternative ways to keep their homes warm this winter. According to a sales clerk at Maine-based Downeast Energy & Building Supply the cost for a gallon of No. 2 heating oil as of mid-August was $3.94.

The clerk estimated it would take between 700 and 850 gallons of oil to heat a home of 1,700-1,800 square feet, such as a three-bedroom Cape. For such a homeowner the cost of heating oil for the winter would be $3,349.

But, making the switch now to heating with a pellet stove would actually cost $1,171 more than using oil, if the cost of purchasing a pellet stove is included.

In contrast, heating with wood, natural gas or solar would be much cheaper – if you can find wood for sale, can get the most possible energy out of installing solar panels or have access to natural gas and can easily convert your oil or propane furnace to gas.

The following chart looks at the costs of alternative heating sources as the sole source of heat for the home. Certainly, using a wood stove or pellet stove to supplement the use of an oil furnace would reduce the costs for each type of fuel used, as would using an electric space heater.

The cost of a small, 1,500-watt electric space heater would be between $20 and $50. The added cost to an electric bill of running an electric space heater eight hours every day would be about a $30 a month, according to a Central Maine Power customer service clerk.

Cost comparisons

• Oil

Cost of oil furnace: about $1,500

Fuel cost for winter season: $3,349

FMI

Downeast Energy – (800) 339-3251

• Pellet stoves

Cost for stove: $1,700 and $3,000

Fuel cost for winter season: $2,820 for wood pellets. Corn pellets are somewhat cheaper.

*Before you purchase a pellet stove, be sure there is a reliable pellet fuel supplier in your area. It is also important to know the type of pellet fuel available before you shop for a stove. Most pellet stove dealers either maintain a supply of pellets or can recommend a local supplier.

FMI

Frost & Flame

629 Main St.

Gorham

856-1000 or

Route 302

North Windham

893-2876

Finest Hearth & Home

9 Commercial St.

Portland

772-2155

• Wood furnace

Cost for furnace: About $1,500 for a wood-burning furnace

Fuel cost for winter season: $2,275 (Assuming the cost of a cord of wood is between $284 and $325)

FMI

Frost & Flame

629 Main St.

Gorham

856-1000 or

Route 302

North Windham

893-2876

Finest Hearth & Home

9 Commercial St.

Portland

772-2155

• Natural gas

Cost of natural gas furnace: about $1,500

Fuel cost for winter season: $1,792

FMI

Maine Natural Gas

4 Industrial Parkway

Brunswick

(877) 226-7427

• Solar

Cost for two, 4-foot solar panels and required tubing: $1,774 (if you have radiant floor heating)

Cost for fuel: none

*If you don’t have radiant floor heating, heating with solar would most likely involve using forced hot water. This type of system could cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

FMI

Saco Solar Store

743 Portland Road (Route 1)

Saco

283-1413