Lets do a poll. Best heat source for your house. 4 choices.

[oneoff]

For residences

building construction (vapor barrier, 2x6's; double wall construction);
natural gas where you add your voice to right to trench 3 feet deep and supply of CSA gas line at what it actually is sold for; installation cost should be about $1000 plus above costs
Chip away at solar or preferably cogeneration and other supplemental supply where opportunity arises and is within budget or capability.

For rest of farm and way more substantial energy costs
aeration, large shop and electrical bills in thousands of dollars...... this warrants serious thought. Carbon taxes will be onerous and we're going to suffer and absorb those costs. Is it worth planning and fighting for some relief?. Don't expect it from the politicians or electorate who will have decreasing sympathy. They'd foolhardedly expect those costs to be absorbed.

[dalek]

Wood is easy for me. Putting up a new sheep barn in the spring so I’m trying to get ahead of EAB and put a whole bunch of ash through the sawmill to make framing and strapping, the slab wood off that should keep the outdoor furnace going for 2-3 years. Plus the unmarketable wood after I sell firewood and try to keep ahead of thinning 200 acres of hardwood and I can’t burn it fast enough. Kinda thinking about making a kiln to heat with the boiler in the next year or two, seems to be a pretty good market for kiln-dried live edge slabs for the yuppies moving out of Toronto that need the “farmhouse” look

[foragefarmer]

dalek, is the EAB a problem in your area, or are they near by? Where about are you in Ontario, NW region?

Not trying to be nosey but I'm in the Eastern half of MB and a bit nervous about them. I have been watching closely and there are no signs of them as of yet.

Thanks

[dalek]

dalek, is the EAB a problem in your area, or are they near by? Where about are you in Ontario, NW region?

Not trying to be nosey but I'm in the Eastern half of MB and a bit nervous about them. I have been watching closely and there are no signs of them as of yet.

Thanks

I’m almost exactly halfway between Toronto and Ottawa. We’ve had it here for about 5 years now but it hasn’t been as thorough as expected yet, I’d say maybe 10% of my ash overall have been affected in the last 5 years but it’s patchy, 5 acres will have it bad and then 15 acres won’t have any at all.
We’re starting to get hit with maple blight as well which could hurt more than EAB

[jamesb]

If I had the choice I would have natural gas heat. The farm didn't get it in the 80's when they plowed the lines in and the cost to run a mile of line now is unbelievable. The main farm house that I grew up in and live in today was built in 1974 with baseboard electric heat. Not good on one hand but the best thing we did was to reside the house , new windows , doors and lots more insulation. From the before and after test it is amazing the effect on heat retention. Best investment there is IMO. We did add a pellet stove that we burnt cheap grain for years which makes a nice heat. For the past 10 years, we have burnt wood pellets bought at the coop as it makes more sense to sell the grain and buy pellets. You can burn most grains in it but things like light barley and oats create lots of ash that have to be cleaned often whereas the pellets don't make much ash. Its been a great addition. When you have a new build its a lot easier to choose heat but on the international farm you play the cards you are dealt. Solar will come at some point , the technology is improving and the locals that put in the highly subsidized set ups are generally happy.

[jazz]

Solar will come at some point , the technology is improving and the locals that put in the highly subsidized set ups are generally happy.

After I saw that video from Klaus Schwab about the power grid getting hacked, on farm solar looks better and better everyday.

[jamesb]

After I saw that video from Klaus Schwab about the power grid getting hacked, on farm solar looks better and better everyday.

IMO the power grid in rural Sask is the most fragile its ever been. There is a lot of 1950's vintage power poles out there. There has been many gen sets bought the past few years. With the oil patch the way it is there are real deals on power plants nowadays. Just upgraded our this year cheap compared to new.

[MBgrower]

IMO the power grid in rural Sask is the most fragile its ever been. There is a lot of 1950's vintage power poles out there. There has been many gen sets bought the past few years. With the oil patch the way it is there are real deals on power plants nowadays. Just upgraded our this year cheap compared to new.

I'm concerned about the power grid here too in MB, looking into getting a back up diesel genset big enough to power the entire home, electric furnace included. I could go cheap and just get a pto powered one, but a fully automated backup system would be awesome.

[shtferbrains]

IMO the power grid in rural Sask is the most fragile its ever been. There is a lot of 1950's vintage power poles out there. There has been many gen sets bought the past few years. With the oil patch the way it is there are real deals on power plants nowadays. Just upgraded our this year cheap compared to new.

I think your right about the grid . The other looming problem is the last of the boomers are timing out and question who is going to drag thier ass out of bed on those cold stormy nights get those repairs done.
I been thinking cheap genset too. What kind of price range for a decent ocasional use 3 or 4 cyl unit?

[seldomseen]

Mostly wood heat here from an air tight wood stove in the corner of the living room. Old 1928 two story farm house with an open interior to let heat go up stairs. Added insulation to the exterior walls and then put 1 1/2 of Styrofoam on the outside but still a little drafty. Also have a propane furnace with a fan that runs all the time and that helps keep the heat even throughout the house.
I have lots of poplar on the farm and if it is seasoned gives decent heat. I have never tried birch but have heard it is nice. It always feels good to get out in the bush and cut wood for a few day in the winter.

[blackpowder]

JamesB, your story sounds a little familiar. Dad said "dont take the gas, they'll have you for good then!"
Of course I vetoed and brought it in for free.
To some degree he now sounds right LoL.
BTW, I'd have to be 25 years younger and gas would have to quadruple for me to give a shit and consider a change.

[jamesb]

I think your right about the grid . The other looming problem is the last of the boomers are timing out and question who is going to drag thier ass out of bed on those cold stormy nights get those repairs done.
I been thinking cheap genset too. What kind of price range for a decent ocasional use 3 or 4 cyl unit?

RB has had lots go cheap but the gen set rental shops for the oil patch have their lots full of them and everything is for sale at a price. Last year before we upgraded powder to new bins I was looking at a generator in the 125 KW range to run a couple fans and the prices was from a few thousand to new price. Sask powder ended up trenching in more power quicker than we expected so went that way. Wasn't expecting to but this spring at auction ended up buying a complete oil rig generator power shack from an oil field auction. 320 KW generator powered by 3406 Cat. Under $20 K . Will power everything for sure.

[oneoff]

RB has had lots go cheap but the gen set rental shops for the oil patch have their lots full of them and everything is for sale at a price. Last year before we upgraded powder to new bins I was looking at a generator in the 125 KW range to run a couple fans and the prices was from a few thousand to new price. Sask powder ended up trenching in more power quicker than we expected so went that way. Wasn't expecting to but this spring at auction ended up buying a complete oil rig generator power shack from an oil field auction. 320 KW generator powered by 3406 Cat. Under $20 K . Will power everything for sure.

Holy Geez You're not going to stall that one.

[chuckChuck]

For residences

building construction (vapor barrier, 2x6's; double wall construction);
natural gas where you add your voice to right to trench 3 feet deep and supply of CSA gas line at what it actually is sold for; installation cost should be about $1000 plus above costs
Chip away at solar or preferably cogeneration and other supplemental supply where opportunity arises and is within budget or capability.

For rest of farm and way more substantial energy costs
aeration, large shop and electrical bills in thousands of dollars...... this warrants serious thought. Carbon taxes will be onerous and we're going to suffer and absorb those costs. Is it worth planning and fighting for some relief?. Don't expect it from the politicians or electorate who will have decreasing sympathy. They'd foolhardedly expect those costs to be absorbed.

That's why the provinces should design their own carbon price system. Then they can rebate the revenue back to farmers if that is what is needed.

Back at the peak of oil prices and high diesel prices everyone just absorbed the increased costs and most farms survived very well.

And saskpower's net metering program for solar which was available to anyone who wanted it, provides carbon tax free electricity at rate lower than what Sask Power charges.

[chuckChuck]

As pointed out by several posts, insulation and proper building design is the most important strategy in reducing energy costs.

Once you have done that then any heat source works well.

Passive solar design with lots of thermal mass will also increase efficiency a lot.

There are several builders that will build you a Net Zero house in Edmonton and Calgary.