I recently received my 2nd utility bill and the total was $49.78, just slightly higher than the 1st bill. As I've mentioned in the past, this prototype home (built with Eco-Panels) is run solely on electricity so the $49.78 figure is the cost for everything. It's been very cold here in Asheville and the home is still performing exceptionally well. The ERV is now set to run on 40 minute intervals and the dehumidifier in the crawl space is currently off. This home has dual zones--one for the upper level and one for the main level. Because of the stack effect I mostly (about 75% of the time) us the lower zone during the winter as it heats the whole house. My programmable thermostat is set at 66 degrees. In the summer, I will do just the opposite when the A/C is running.
I've been researching pellet stoves as I designed the house to incorporate one of these in the future. Between the costs of the stove, installation, electrical usage and pellets, it will still be much more affordable to run the heat pump even when it is using auxillary heat. I'm convinced, based on the 1st two months of living in this home, that even a small pellet stove could heat the entire home and reduce further dependency on fossil fuels (coal locally). It will also help resale value and create a certain ambiance for the living area. I will revisit this most likely in the spring hoping there are some good sales. My next post will focus on the water saving features of this prototype.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
