How many homes are heated with natural
gas?
In all, 52 percent of all heated households have natural gas heat. Of the remainder,
31 percent heat with electricity, 9 percent with fuel oil, 6 percent use propane
and 2 percent use wood, kerosene or other fuels.
How does weather impact natural gas
prices?
Weather is a major factor in how much energy people use to heat their homes.
If it's colder, people tend to use more energy. So, even if the price of natural
gas stays the same from one winter to the next, consumers will receive higher
bills if they consume more energy than they did the year before.
What is the impact of natural gas
price fluctuations on the U.S. economy?
Natural gas meets one-fourth of the United States' total energy requirements.
It is used to make steel, glass, chemicals, food and many other products. Higher
natural gas prices put America at a competitive disadvantage, since natural
gas costs less in many other countries.
Is it okay to use a digital thermostat
with a hot water heat/radiator system? Would I save energy if I kept it at 65
or 70 all the time? I think I'm wasting gas because the system has to work harder
to heat up with the temperature diffentials.
It can take heat pumps, electrical resistance heat, steam and radiant floor
heating systems longer to recover due to their slow response time. You might
save energy if your system recovers quickly, but if you have an older hot water
system, it may not be as efficient and that could extend the recovery time and
use more energy. Be sure to weatherize your home to reduce heat loss and speed
recovery when you turn up the temperature. Consider checking your home for air
leakage as well. Check where pipes, wiring and cables enter the house. If you
have a basement, inspect foundations and windows for air leakage. When checking
for air leaks, it’s best to start in the attic and work you way down to
the basement. If you pull back the insulation in the attic and find a black
area on the insulation, that is an indication that there is a leak and the black
residue is dirt being drawn in from outside. Fill the openings and cracks with
caulking or spray-in foam insulation.
