NDL Hearth Blog

Bitter cold and repeated heavy snowstorms helped make winter in the Northeastern U.S. particularly brutal this year. Adding to the chills were soaring prices for heating oil that are likely to be the highest on record.

By the time the six-month-long winter heating season is over, the average homeowner in the Northeast will have laid out $2,431 for fuel to fire boilers and furnaces, Reuters reported, citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which provides forecasts of energy costs. The amount is about $200 more than the Energy Department predicted in October -- and almost $500 more than the average just a year ago.

Temperatures were indeed colder than average in December and January, but that's not the source of the high price for heating oil. "[R]ising oil prices, not colder weather, have been the primary cause of the increase in forecasts of average winter season heating expenditures for households heating with oil," the EIA said in its statement.

The price of heating oil rose to $90 a barrel this month, up from $78 in October, Reuters noted. That rise pushed the average retail price for residential heating oil to $3.59 a gallon this week, up 73 cents from a year earlier, the EIA said.

Demand Is Down, But Not Prices

The increase in the cost of heating oil as crude prices have steadied or fallen in recent days is a conundrum, says Josh Garrett, managing editor of HeatingOil.com, a Manhattan-based information service for both dealers and consumers.

With healthy supplies of heating oil and rising temperatures in the Northeast, prices have little reason to remain at such high levels, Garrett says. Mild weather in recent days has lowered demand 20% from levels typical for this time of year.

Garrett offers no predictions about where heating oil prices will go as the Northeast heads into the final six weeks of the heating season. "I'm at a loss," he says. Prices should slide lower because supplies remain high. But, he adds, that's been true the entire season, and plentiful stores of heating oil haven't had much effect on lowering prices.

Budget Cuts Target Home Heating Assistance Program

Sustained high prices for home heating oil raise the specter of fewer people being able to afford to keep their homes warm come next heating season. That will be especially true if cuts to the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are implemented.

As part of his draft budget released last week, President Obama targeted $2.5 billion in cuts to the $5.1 billion program that helps low-income households with energy costs. Obama justified the cuts by noting that the price of natural gas, a dominant heating source nationwide, has fallen steadily in the last two years.

But that's not true for heating oil, says Garrett, in a blog post at HeatingOil.com. After hitting their highest levels ever in the summer of 2008, crude oil prices crashed along with the economy in late 2008 and early 2009, making heating oil "quite affordable." Since then, however, prices have risen sharply, doubling during the slightly more than two years since Obama took office and rising 38% in the last year alone.

Garrett doubts that the proposed 50% cut in LIHEAP funding will make it into the final budget, noting that strong negative reactions from constituents and lawmakers "will translate into a much less severe cut." Legislators from Maine to Maryland, regardless of party, will work together during budget negotiations to ensure that the cuts to the program aren't made, he says.

"They realize this is a huge issue for their constituents," says Garrett, "and they're definitely not going to stand idly by and let the program get gutted."

View Original Article By David Schepp, DailyFinance.com - Click Here

Pellet stoves are probably the easiest stove to operate. Add this to the fact that pellet stoves are efficient, economical and use renewable energy and they are a win win for any home. Pellet stoves today are very convenient for the homeowner with a busy lifestyle, or those who just do not want to fuss over their stove. Typically, you only need to load a pellet stove with wood pellets 1-2 times per day, depending on the size of stove and the hopper. Because their burn efficiency is so high, pellet stoves do not produce any smoke, little ash and as a result require low maintenance cleaning.

They are also perfect for a home setting because as they burn, the exterior of the stove remains merely warm to the touch. There is virtually no external heat on the outside of the stove. Because of this, you can place the stove very close to a wall, and they remain safe for homes with young children and pets.

The pellet burning process is very efficient making less pollutants and particles that are released into the air. Additionally, wood pellets are actually made from the byproduct of wood; they are not the primary product. They are mainly produced from recycled wood at sawmills, usually sawdust, wood shavings and some forms of nuts. This makes the big advantage of pellet stoves the costs of fuel. Using a pellet stove could create significant cost savings in your heating bill. So, not only will you have a beautiful, easy to use stove in your home, you will be paying less to heat your home, while using renewable energy to do it! Consider a pellet stove to help heat your home this winter.

Last night, the House voted 177 to 148 in favor of the $858 billion Tax Cut Compromise Package of 2010 that reduces the biomass heater tax credit to 10 percent with a $300 cap. The bill now goes to the White House for the President's signature. Another significant change that further restricts the tax credit for biomass appliances is that Congress removed the lower heating value measurement and only allows the credit toward the purchase price and not for installation.

Energy efficiency provisions were shortchanged even further by a clause that says the $500 tax credit is a lifetime maximum, meaning that if a homeowner has used this credit anytime since 2005, it cannot be used again. During the past two years, the credit up to $1,500 could be used regardless of whether the family has used the credit between 2005 and 2009.

The reduction to 10 percent tax credit affects all energy efficiency measures that had enjoyed 30 percent credit for the past two years. Many members of Congress felt the 25C tax credit program had cost the government too much money and should not be extended in its current form at 30 percent up to $1,500.

This setback for incentives for wood and pellet heating systems is a result of biomass appliances being considered an energy efficiency device instead of a renewable energy system. Solar, wind and geothermal systems still enjoy the full 30 percent tax credit with no maximum and are not set to expire until 2016.

"This creates a terrible double standard for incentives between renewable energy systems favored and affordable by the wealthy and systems favored and affordable by average American families," said John Ackerly, president of the Alliance for Green Heat. "Fortunately, we understand that Congress will be revisiting these tax credits again in 2011 and advocates for cleaner and more efficient biomass appliances need to be prepared," he said. Instead of using tax credits based on a percentage of purchase and installation costs, Congress is likely to consider performance-based credits.

This report prepared by the Alliance for Green Heat.

Our fires are lit, and you surely remember the dry air inside your home from winters past. For the health of both your family and the wood furniture in your home, consider how you will humidify your home this winter. One of the most practical fireplace accessories on the market today is a wood stove steamer.

At NDL, we offer steamers in many shapes and sizes manufactured by Condar, Minuteman, Imperial and Last Waltz Clay Studio. These steamers come in styles that range from traditional teapots, to animal shapes, to hand-made and hand-glazed clay designs. With this many varieties and manufacturers, you are sure to find one to match your style. They are quite easy to use, just fill them with water and place it on the stove. You may also turn these steamers into aromatherapy solutions by adding potpourri, spices, or stove scents to the water. Once the steam begins to be released into your home, it not only becomes a room humidifier, but it will release the sweet smell of fragrance as well.

Wood stove steamer add decorative value to your home. Due to their unique shape and quality, just leave these decorative pieces on the wood burning stove for all to see. If you wish to add a unique touch to your home or you need extra humidity; a wood stove steamer is what you are looking for.

Of course, NDL offers a full range of fireplace accessories including fireplace glass doors, fireplace tool sets, chimney caps, and ash buckets. Let us direct you to the finest hearth dealer in your area. Contact us today.

This winter, if you are having trouble keeping the cold at bay, consider adding a fireplace or fireplace insert to your home. Not only will you add comfort and atmosphere, you will add value to your home as well. A working hearth is considered a plus to home buyers, thus increasing the value of your home. Fireplaces and inserts can be fueled by natural gas, electricity, pellets, or wood and all these fuel sources have their advantages. Pellets and wood are considered renewable energy sources and are economical. But that is not all. Many fireplace inserts have a tax credit as well!

Gas and electric fireplaces and fireplace inserts are generally easier to use with less mess and effort. They are also very efficient and can be hooked up to a thermostat and remote. This way, you have constant heat which you can enjoy with the touch of a button. Whichever fuel source you choose to run your fireplace or insert, one thing is certain; working fireplaces add atmosphere and ambiance to any home. New home buyers love the idea of a working hearth and they make your home more enticing. If you are remodeling for your own enjoyment, a room with a burning fire adds a whole new dimension to entertaining.

Pellets stoves offer an alternative means for heating your house. They are traditionally compared to the wood burning stove, because the heat they put out is similar, but in some schools of thought, pellet stoves offer some advantages over traditional wood stoves.

At the top of the list of advantages is the fact that pellet stoves are easy to load as compared to wood burning stoves. The pellets themselves are small and can be stored in a small space efficiently, whereas wood needs to be stacked and hauled, and needs a large space to be stored. Pellets burn very hot, therefore, they create very little ash because they burn very efficiently.
Pellet stoves run on electricity. The hopper electronically feeds the pellets into the stove. The hopper can be programmed to evenly and consistently dispense the pellets, so in effect; pellet stoves can be programmed to burn at an even rate and can remain at a consistent temperature over time which is a huge advantage.

Overall pellet stoves can save people quite a bit of money in areas where heating costs are typically higher than in other parts of the country.