Churchbridge Grain Stoves
Burning
Grain: An Affordable Natural
Energy Source
All heat output is measured in terms of
BTU's. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to
raise one pound of water one degree. Column four
gives a measure of the approximate cost of heat
available from each alternative source of fuel.
However, column five is the key column, as it
incorporates the efficiency of a particular source, to
ensure the effective cost of that energy for heating
your home.
It is important to realize that, even within a
province, average energy fuel prices can vary
widely. So, to determine the specific cost
comparisons in a particular region or country, just
change the price structure in column three to
determine the resulting costs in column four and
five. Similarly, different efficiency levels can
be substituted in column five to allow flexibility
here to test various heating units.
| Fuel
Type |
BTU Value
Per
Unit |
Units Required
to Produce 1,000,000 BTU's |
Fuel Price
per Unit |
Cost to
Produce 1,000,000 BTU's |
Efficiency |
Cost
to Produce 1,000,000 BTU's |
Cost
Compared to Grain Stoves |
Average
Annual Farm Cost*** |
| Grain |
9,400/pound |
106.4/pound=1.9 bushels |
$3.00/bushel |
$5.70 |
92% |
$6.20 |
100% |
$1860.00 |
| Electricity |
3,413/KWH |
293/KWH |
$0.1106/KWH |
$32.41 |
100% |
$32.41 |
523% |
$9723.00 |
| Natural Gas |
34,594/cubic
meter |
28.91 cubic meters |
$0.4291/cubic
meter |
$12.41 |
85% |
$14.59 |
235% |
$4377.00 |
| Fuel Oil |
37,549/litre |
26.63 litres |
$0.8390/litre |
$22.34 |
70% |
$31.92 |
515% |
$9576.00 |
| Propane |
24,035/litre |
41.6 litres |
$0.499/litre |
$20.76 |
70% |
$29.65 |
478% |
$8895.00 |
| Wood |
16,464,000/cord |
0.0607 cords |
$200/bush cord |
$12.14 |
60% |
$20.23 |
326% |
$6069.00 |
| Wood Pellets |
7800/pound |
128 pounds (0.0651 tons) |
$237.50/ton |
$15.46 |
80% |
$19.33 |
312% |
$5799.00 |
| Coal |
13,200/pound |
75.76
pounds
(0.0379 tons) |
$120.00/ton |
$4.55 |
75% |
$6.06 |
98% |
$1818.00 |
-
1 BUSHEL OF GRAIN = 20.8 LITRES OF PROPANE
-
1 BUSHEL OF GRAIN = 13.6 LITRES OF FUEL OIL
-
1 BUSHEL OF GRAIN =
148 KILOWATT HOURS OF
ELECTRICITY
-
1 BUSHEL OF GRAIN =
15.9 CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL
GAS
* Based on January 2006 rates
**This chart is intended to be a
guideline and is for basic comparison purposes
only
***Based on average annual shop and home use of
300,000,000 BTU
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