efficient heating

[Pandemic]

So, my only heating option is electric. I pay $0.07/kwh and normally pay about $86 per 500kwh. I've not been using the heat too much to try to save money.

To provide SOME heat, I have one of my beefiest machines mining bitcoins. Under full load, it'd use about $1.75 per day, use about 700w and generate heat + about $3/day in bitcoins. So, from that I'd make $1 per day at the current value. Problem is I'm running at half capacity so it's tough to really make a dent in the heat. Even running at 100% would only take the edge off.

My apartment has two large sliding glass doors. One in the bed room, one in the living room. They're single pane but are double thick (2x2 glass doors). They're not very efficient to say the least.

So, what's the most efficient method of heating?

a). buying a 20lb propane tank and fitting a propane heater to it?
b). Kerosene heater?
c). just use electric?

I've not asked my landlord about using anything else but electric as it'd probably be a safety issue.

In Japan, my Wife and I used electric for the first year at $0.14/kwh and then used kerosene the next year. The savings were immense.

[Bullhorn7]

Idk how it is up there but kerosene is very expensive around here. Get a more efficient electric heater or cut the thermostat. If you owned your own house you could get a heat pump which works wonders or you could try some DIY heaters like this one http://lifehacker.com/5574597/build-...n-solar-heater. Of course they only work in the daytime.

[deevergote]

I've never been comfortable with portable heaters, be it kerosene or propane. I'm sure there are safe models available... but my father instilled the fear of those things in me at an early age! We used to have one, until he heard they were often the cause of fires.

Seeing as you're renting, there's really no option to change the heating setup... so I'd say stick with the electric, and keep plenty of blankets around. My friend and I moved into my house in 2003... we were young and broke, and oil heat (which is what I have) isn't cheap... so we kept it on enough to keep the pipes from freezing, and just bought a TON of blankets!

Your computer idea is interesting, though. If the computer is generating cash for you just by running... and making more than it's costing you... then that's a no-brainer. As long as running constantly at full capacity isn't going to cause expensive parts to break quickly (because then it's a drain.)

Is $86/mo what you're spending? If so... that's super cheap! My electric bill alone is between $85 and $130 (AC in the summer is electric.) My oil tank costs about $600 to fill, and I do that 2-3x a winter.

[Bullhorn7]

Is it just around here that have piped in natural gas? Or its popular? Of course its not much cheaper then electric. Our gas bill is around 200 in the winter and 80 in the summer, most of our appliances run off of it though.

[deevergote]

We have gas... my hot water and stove are gas. My neighbors converted from oil heat to gas heat, and told me they regretted it... it was no cheaper.

[C91BLX7]

Work on insulating first.

I use a little electric radiator. Seems to work well for my space.

[tm123]

insulate definately.
blankets or curtains over the glass doors
something under each door for the drafts
cycle the ceiling fan for a few to get the heat from the top of the room down
not much else that i know
our heat is out in my 2 level 3br house and we have a $30 convection heater keeping the bedroom warm. i could live like this til spring lol but its our landlords responsibility to fix the unit

[Chrisisiced]

This may be obvious but at night be sure to cover large windows and sliding glass doors with drapes. There are actually some drapes you can buy that have some sort of heat saving spec... Either way the theory is window coverings help as a sort of insulation and to block drafts.

[GeoffM]

Work on insulating first.

I use a little electric radiator. Seems to work well for my space.

insulate definately.
blankets or curtains over the glass doors
something under each door for the drafts
cycle the ceiling fan for a few to get the heat from the top of the room down
not much else that i know
our heat is out in my 2 level 3br house and we have a $30 convection heater keeping the bedroom warm. i could live like this til spring lol but its our landlords responsibility to fix the unit

Renting means no insulation.

I also use my computer for heat, but just because loading roaming profiles takes a long time. I turn it on when I wake up, and leave it on till I go to sleep.

[C91BLX7]

Renting means no insulation.

I also use my computer for heat, but just because loading roaming profiles takes a long time. I turn it on when I wake up, and leave it on till I go to sleep.

I rent. There's a lot you can do.

Like mentioned. Drapes work wonders, specally the energy efficient ones.

Plastic window cover kits.

Calking up cracks under doors windows/ door frames.

[deevergote]

Exactly. You can't tear down the sheetrock and install fiberglass insulation, but drapes, rugs, tapestries on the walls, covering any drafty areas... all doable in a rental property, and it can move with you when you move.

[Leung]

I rent. There's a lot you can do.

Like mentioned. Drapes work wonders, specally the energy efficient ones.

Plastic window cover kits.

Calking up cracks under doors windows/ door frames.

This.

I live in my mother's basement and it is cold as hell down here during the winter, putting in tile flooring made it even worse lol. To make my room a little warmer, i have caulked up the area around my windows to make sure it sealed up and then i bought a roll of plastic to put over my window. All that in combination with the thick heavy curtains my mom made for my room a little warmer. When i go to bed, i wear thick socks and a fleece sweater.

[Pandemic]

Well, this place is as insulated as it'll get. In the day time, with the sun, it gets toasty in here. When there's no sun it remains chilly.

Regarding my computer crunching numbers, I've already had my power supply die. Lifetime warranty on most parts though so I'll just have to spend $30 sending it back. Wish I was able to run at full power though but I've only got a 550w in it to hold me over (had a 1050w).

Most electric heaters I see are 1500w. If I can run my computer at under 1050w, make money and heat, then it is a no brainer. Just wish I had the ability to run at full power. Could always try it and see what happens :P