I need to convert my old oil furnace?

Question

Electric or Gas, Gas or Electric?
I WANT SOLAR
I need to convert my old oil furnace and all the ducting to a new energy system. What about solar? If that's not a viable option, wouldn't an electric furnace be better than natural gas one? I don't want to use fossil fuels anymore than is absolutely necessary or required because of lack of other options. Electricity can be powered by wind and solar if you buy "green" with your utility. It's too bad the oil money stifles development of alternatives. The worlds oil productions have peaked and are now in decline, as evidenced by the US. In the 70's the US WAS the Saudi Arabia of oil. Not to mention all the polutents I would spare all of us, if I could go solar. Hasn't anyone out there accomplished this? If so, please share?
Sincerely, Tracy

Answer 1

Electric furnaces cost more than Natural Gas to operate.

I do not think you can convert your existing furnace to solar. What solar will do is collect energy and use that to run your equipment from a battery.

Chances are, the power plant you get your electricity from is supplied by natural gas. So, even if you do use electric, you will be contributing to "fossil fuel" consumption.

If you are serious about replacing your furnace (and let's be practical here), the the best thing you can do is to replace it with the highest energy efficient one that you can find. It will not be cheap.

If you have the luxury of room for a solar panel to store energy, then install that and use it to run smaller appliances.

Answer 2

As an oil furnace is actually run on a kind of deisel, it might be prudent to enquire if there is an availability of bio-fuel to run it. That way you would be taking the green option without the excessive outlay of a new system.

Answer 3

forget fossil fuels
use wood