true there added heating costs in the wintertime, but the same can be said about switching from incadesent to CFL or leds....or swapping out your old energy ineffecient fridge.. all equalls added heating costs in the winter time
but really are you heating 6 months out of the year ?? unless you live where I do then yes ( as i have snow on the ground for +6 months out of the year then yes maybe but otherwise most people only heat 4 months out of the year..)
if you are looking at saving cost on heating and hot water heating then install a simple air to air heatpump that does hotwater and household heating as they give you COP of 4 as mentioned above if you live in a climate zone of 5 or higher ( otherwise ground loop is better) and that will be cheaper then natural gas at .10kwh or a couple of evacuated solar panels they do 80% of your hotwater needs
for the last few years that is how I have done my house and water heating.. with an average winter temp of -17c my house heating ( water and building) requirements is only 150$ per year which is down from 1500$ i was paying previously - for a house that is 1300sqf I currently use a 7kw heatpump and 7kw of evacuated solar water heating panels to heat my house and my hotwater basically my heat pump only comes on from dec - feb the rest is heated by the sun
but really are you heating 6 months out of the year ?? unless you live where I do then yes ( as i have snow on the ground for +6 months out of the year then yes maybe but otherwise most people only heat 4 months out of the year..)
if you are looking at saving cost on heating and hot water heating then install a simple air to air heatpump that does hotwater and household heating as they give you COP of 4 as mentioned above if you live in a climate zone of 5 or higher ( otherwise ground loop is better) and that will be cheaper then natural gas at .10kwh or a couple of evacuated solar panels they do 80% of your hotwater needs
for the last few years that is how I have done my house and water heating.. with an average winter temp of -17c my house heating ( water and building) requirements is only 150$ per year which is down from 1500$ i was paying previously - for a house that is 1300sqf I currently use a 7kw heatpump and 7kw of evacuated solar water heating panels to heat my house and my hotwater basically my heat pump only comes on from dec - feb the rest is heated by the sun