Relative Cost of Heat

All heat output is measured in terms of BTU's. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree. Column 4 gives you a measure of the approximate cost of heat available from each alternative source of fuel. However, column 5 is the key column, as it incorporates the efficiency of a particular unit, to ensure the effective cost of that energy for heating your home.

It is important to realize that, even within a state, average energy or fuel prices can vary widely. So, to determine the specific cost comparisons in a particular region or country, just change the price structure in Column 3, to determine the resulting costs on Columns 4 and 5. Similarly, different efficiency levels can be substituted in Column 5 to allow flexibility here to test various heating units.