Sweatshirts, Wool Socks, Selling the Ranch.......and alternatives

Enter a typical American home on any given cold, wintry day and you will likely see families dressed in warm, outdoor-type clothing.  One would think the family members were preparing to leave home and go sledding, ice skating or any number of activities associated with winter.  Upon closer observation, however, it becomes evident that no such excursion is planned.  Families are simply donning sweatshirts and wool socks in an effort to stay warm inside homes where thermostats are being turned lower and lower as heating bills rise higher and higher.  This scenario is not only occurring in homes throughout the United States, but in businesses as well as we all struggle to get through the major heating crisis that has suddenly made the decision on where to set our thermostat not just a matter of comfort, but a matter of necessity.                                         

Although the cost of heating homes and businesses has been steadily increasing over past years, nothing could have prepared us for opening that December or January fuel bill and, after picking ourselves up from the floor, trying to decide whether we were going to have to “sell the ranch” to pay the bill, or if we could possibly divide it into smaller monthly payments over several months in order to pay it off.  If we were fortunate enough to have a savings account, we were hopeful that we wouldn’t have to expend the entire amount contained therein.

In an Associated Press release, October 13, 2005, it was noted that winter heating bills will be a third to a half higher for most families across the country, with the sharpest increases expected for those who heat with natural gas.” This quote was taken from information as forecast by the Energy Department.  While we might have doubted the possibility of this forecast being realized, we now open our fuel bill and know that the Energy Department was right on target with that prediction.

For many families and businesses, the sharp jumps often mean more than just turning down the thermostat a little more all the time.  It means more than just putting on a sweatshirt and wool socks indoors.  The Associated Press release put it well when it said that “it can mean making choices between “whether to eat or keep warm.”  Tom Costello, NBC News, said that according to Governor Bill Owens, “in snowy Colorado…the choice this winter could be between groceries and heating homes.”  These are not choices American families should have to be making.

…AND IT’S NOT OVER YET

No…the end is not in sight.  In an MSNBC article, Senior Producer John W. Schoen notes that “with winter not yet half over, the surge in the cost of heating a home has already begun to stretch consumers’ budgets to the limit – and beyond.”  Mr. Schoen told of a Massachusetts mother who suffers from multiple sclerosis and one of her daughters is diabetic.  Without help paying the heating bill, the family faces some very hard choices. “Maybe (my daughter) won’t test as often as she should using the strips,” she said.  “Maybe I’ll go an extra day, miss one pill during the week.  You do what you can.”

WHY? WHY? WHY?

With over 50 percent of U.S. homes being fueled by natural gas, it is becoming apparent, as reported in U.S. News & World Report by Marianne Lavelle, that “Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did far more to the nation’s energy equation than spoil Labor Day vacation drives.  The storms upset the already precarious balance of the nation’s supply and demand for fuel.”  Lavelle further wrote that “even before the deadly storms struck, the country was consuming more natural gas than it produced and prices were at record highs.  When you are consuming 100 percent of your supply, there’s not much room to maneuver.”

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE CHOICE?

More and more consumers are beginning to look for an alternative choice rather constantly feeling victimized by the ups and downs of natural gas.  And with the trend leaning toward “ups” rather than “downs,” these choices are proving to be great alternatives for heating homes and businesses.  An article from the University of Wisconsin, written by John Merrill, states that “in recent years a type of heating system dating back thousands of years has been making a come-back.  This system uses air, electricity or, most often water to heat surfaces, which then radiate heat into the adjacent room.  Most of the systems are designed to heat floors.  According to the Radiant Panel Association, a trade association for the radiant heating industry, the industry has experienced a 700% increase in sales since the early 1990s.”

In explaining how radiant energy works, the Radiant Panel Association put it this way:  “What exactly is radiant energy?”  Hold your hand over a hot cup of coffee and feel the heat.  The logical conclusion is that heat rises.  Logical maybe, but incorrect!  “Hot air” rises but “heat” can travel in any direction.  That is why you can feel the heat of the cup when you place your hand to the side of it.  Radiant energy transfer is caused by a warm surface giving up its heat to a cooler surface.”

One company specializing in radiant heat is Warmzone.  Warmzone.com offers many radiant heating products, including low voltage mesh, low and line voltage heating cables, hydronic floor-heating, roof deicing and gutter melting products.  Warmzone.com also offers snow melting solutions for all types of projects, from small residential driveways to large commercial parking structures.  A visit to Warmzone.com can provide a wealth of information regarding the many radiant heat products that are available through this experienced and innovative company.  Visit them on the web at http://www.warmzone.com; telephone them at 1-888-488-WARM, or via fax at 801-326-5199.  Warmzone consultants welcome your calls, e-mails, faxes and will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions and with help in designing a system that will provide you with an effective alternative to the dilemma of the skyrocketing cost of heating your home or business. 

© 2006 Warmzone Media.  Various trademarks and additional copyrights are held by their respective owners.

SOURCES:
www.msnbc.msn.com
www.usnews.com
www.warmzone.com
www.uwex.edu
www.radiantpanelassociation.org
NBC news