How Much Oil Are We Saving?
- coalkirk
- Member
- Posts: 5185
- Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
- Location: Forest Hill MD
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal
In light of some recent posting by the Union of Concerned Scientists on this site and a recent ad campaign to denegrate coal usage as hopelessly dirty, I thought it might be interesting to tally how much oil us coal burners are saving annually. Maybe someone could start a similar thread for propane savings.
Because I heat with coal, I'm not burning 1,200 gallons of oil a year. The next person should state their oil savings and then add it to my 1,200 gallons for a constant running tally.
Because I heat with coal, I'm not burning 1,200 gallons of oil a year. The next person should state their oil savings and then add it to my 1,200 gallons for a constant running tally.
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- Member
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun. Aug. 24, 2008 11:29 am
- Location: South Glens Falls ny
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Alaska stoker 140 Coal
I couldn't say, I've burnt coal or wood for so long now I've totaly lost touch with how much I'm saving, I do figure that by next year my new stove (3 years old now) will have paid for it's self. Would have been this year but the bottom has dropped out so I'll add another year.
Last time I can remember back I paid $400 to $450 a month heating my home with gas, That was a December only bill, probably 12 years ago..
Last time I can remember back I paid $400 to $450 a month heating my home with gas, That was a December only bill, probably 12 years ago..
This is my first year burning coal, it's nice to keep the house a lot warmer for less money I use to burn aroud 750 gals. of oil a yr.coalkirk wrote:Because I heat with coal, I'm not burning 1,200 gallons of oil a year
1200
750
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1950
About 1100 gallons per year
1100
3750
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4850
1100
3750
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4850
I've posted this before but this is an almost impossible calculation.
One has to account for every bit of oil burned and emissions made along the way. For coal this is easier. It's the energy consumed and consumed to mine it out of the ground, deliver it to the breaker, process it and get it to the end user. Many people make a living off of anthracite coal but few are getting wealthy off of it.
Now consider oil... it's much more complicated... To pump a barrel of oil out of the ground 1/2 way across the world, pipe it to a supertanker, haul it 1/2 way across the world to a refiner, refine it, truck it through many layers distribution and get it to the end user... A very difficult calculation. How much of that barrel of oil pumped out of the ground actually YIELDS as BTUs in one's house when taking into account all of the energy (oil) consumed get it to the point where it can be burned for BTUs? Compounding this is the outrageous profits to be made along the way. It costs the Saudi's $1-2 (fully burdened) to pump a barrel of oil out of the ground. Even with oil at $40/barrel the profits are outrageous and it's not done there... Any monies made along the way in the oil business is used to consume goods and services that require energy (oil) to provide. One has to also account for the oil burned in the many private jets and Yachts the Saudi King travels in.
This has become personal... I'm still smarting from $4.50/gal at the pumps. While the sub-prime collapse might have been inevitable IMHO higher oil prices made for a much harsher crash landing. Since I've been turned onto coal (just this year) I am burning it as a matter of strengthening US Foreign policy
One has to account for every bit of oil burned and emissions made along the way. For coal this is easier. It's the energy consumed and consumed to mine it out of the ground, deliver it to the breaker, process it and get it to the end user. Many people make a living off of anthracite coal but few are getting wealthy off of it.
Now consider oil... it's much more complicated... To pump a barrel of oil out of the ground 1/2 way across the world, pipe it to a supertanker, haul it 1/2 way across the world to a refiner, refine it, truck it through many layers distribution and get it to the end user... A very difficult calculation. How much of that barrel of oil pumped out of the ground actually YIELDS as BTUs in one's house when taking into account all of the energy (oil) consumed get it to the point where it can be burned for BTUs? Compounding this is the outrageous profits to be made along the way. It costs the Saudi's $1-2 (fully burdened) to pump a barrel of oil out of the ground. Even with oil at $40/barrel the profits are outrageous and it's not done there... Any monies made along the way in the oil business is used to consume goods and services that require energy (oil) to provide. One has to also account for the oil burned in the many private jets and Yachts the Saudi King travels in.
This has become personal... I'm still smarting from $4.50/gal at the pumps. While the sub-prime collapse might have been inevitable IMHO higher oil prices made for a much harsher crash landing. Since I've been turned onto coal (just this year) I am burning it as a matter of strengthening US Foreign policy
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
About 850 gpy
total up to 7450
total up to 7450
eelhc wrote:I've posted this before but this is an almost impossible calculation.
One has to account for every bit of oil burned and emissions made along the way. ....>8
Agreed! Although the origin of most of the oil the US consumes originates from the North American Continent, keeping our $s here is most important. Just look at our current economic numbers. All of the positives and negatives are very real but difficult to quantify. For the home user, coal is a bit ( ) more work than just paying the bill and adjusting the thermostat, it supports additional energy related American jobs originating in/from America.eelhc wrote: ..... 8< Since I've been turned onto coal (just this year) I am burning it as a matter of strengthening US Foreign policy
I disagree. Ya turning up the thermostat is easier than emptying my ash bucket or loading my coal. But it takes 5 minutes a day. That is it. How much work would you have to do to pay for your oil? Meaning if you work 40 hours a week. How many hours of that week does it take to pay for your oil? You need to think of it that way.VigIIPeaBurner wrote: For the home user, coal is a bit ( ) more work than just paying the bill and adjusting the thermostat, it supports additional energy related American jobs originating in/from America.
Anyway I've only been burning coal for a month or a little less. But normally I would have already cut about 16-20 full cord of wood. Not including the time I spent installing and building my system it took me about 4.5 hours to get my coal and shovel it in the basement. And 5 minutes a day to refill barrel and empty the ash.
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
cArNaGe, we actually agree! The "bit" I refer to is what most non users see as additional work. I've been doing it with coal for 7 years and did it with wood for over 20. It keeps most of the job$ here in the US, not to mention what's local. It's a premium most are able/want to pay for. Most don't think about all that's behind completing the entire task of writing the check (or clicking!) and setting the thermostat. We do! Sort of like getting food from the supermarket - it's just on the shelves. It's parallels what eelhc brought up in his statement.cArNaGe wrote:I disagree. Ya turning up the thermostat is easier than emptying my ash bucket or loading my coal. But it takes 5 minutes a day. That is it. How much work would you have to do to pay for your oil? Meaning if you work 40 hours a week. How many hours of that week does it take to pay for your oil? You need to think of it that way. ...>8...VigIIPeaBurner wrote: For the home user, coal is a bit ( ) more work than just paying the bill and adjusting the thermostat, it supports additional energy related American jobs originating in/from America.
sorry if this seems to be going off topic, but it's just not all numbers.
Another suggestion... can we add how many tons of coal we are using to show the comparison?
IE: 850 gpy #2 oil vs. 3.95 ton anthracite