Wanting to stay warm
Dream big, and dream warm. After a dialogue this morning that started with “What does a tank of heating oil cost”, I’m distracted by the idea of surviving winter. Of course, a twenty-five minute wait for a bus at -25C tends to keep one on that topic. Others dream of a beach in the Caribbean. I dream of a house that isn’t “influenced” by a gale wind, or sub-zero readings on the weather station console.
The price of oil varies (usually in an upward direction). Right now, a full tank of Ess0’s quality grade comes in around 1 K$. Tax that, several times and then live with the risk of a spectacular environmental incident until the tank is empty. Start all over again, another two or three times before spring springs. Or go “green”, and chop down trees for a week or three. Cut, split and cord. Burn until the pile is just a hideout for bugs. Live with the fine dust and asthma risk.
It’s been five years now, and the dream of geothermy in the basement endures.
The calculated risk involves the electrical utility, and its own habit of “going dark” in those same gale winds and sub-zero moments. The smart thing is to plan ahead, and drop the cash required for, say, a propane generator, 10KW or so in capacity (Generac comes highly recommended). Heavy enough to foil the thieves with a pickup truck, and the LP tank will also serve as a source for the BBQ in high summer. I’m starting to get a feel for this. Not all warm and cuddly, but close enough.
