by bobbi
6. January 2010 09:47
Share on FacebookBrrrrr. It's really cold outside. Temperatures are in sub-zero range at night and some days too. I'm sure glad the wind isn't blowing too bad.
We're staying warm. The shop isn't insulated very well, and since the accident last fall there hasn't been anyone to finish insulating the ceiling. SO - well that adds to the corn consumption. Dale turns down the thermostat in the shop to 55 so that helps. (corn consumption)
We did run out of corn yesterday. That would put our usage at 400 bushels over the last three months. We're heating this huge shop (poorly insulated) and our home with that.
At least most of the time, the automatic feed keeps the stove full of corn so there's no bucketing! Corn prices yesterday, (we buy bottom of the bin corn, it's cheaper) was $3.00 bushel. Last fall it was $2.70 bu. Looks like we got some soybean mixed in this time. Soybean is good in the corn, it burns nice and hot and is normally 8.00 bu.
End of my January report. Winter.
by bobbi
20. October 2008 16:56
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Note added Oct. 19, 2008: Ahhhh - the good old days. Back when corn was $1.85 a bushel? - well, this is one for the history books.
Below is a chart that compares the heating value of corn versus other heating fuels. Compare and follow the steps below to find your savings.
|
Fuel Source
|
BTU Value
|
Units Required to Produce 1,000,000 BTU's
|
Fuel Price
|
Total Cost
|
|
Dry Shelled Corn
|
8,000 per lb.
|
125 pounds
(2.25 Bushel @ 56# per Bushel)
|
$ 1.85
|
$ 4.16
|
|
Electricity
|
3412 Per kwh
|
293 kwh
|
.08/kwh
|
23.44
|
|
Natural Gas
|
1000 per cu ft
|
1000 cu ft
|
.13/ccft
|
13.00
|
|
Fuel Oil
|
139,000 per gal.
|
7.2 gallons
|
1.89
|
13.61
|
|
Liquid Propane
|
91,000 per gal.
|
11 gallons
|
1.40
|
15.40
|
|
Wood
|
16,500,000 per cord
|
.06 cord
|
100/cord
|
6.00
|
To find your savings: Example:
|
Step
|
1. Find current fuel source |
|
Liquid Propane |
| |
2. Determine amount used last year |
|
950 gallons |
| |
3. Multiply units used by BTU value per unit |
|
950 X 91,000 btu = 86,450,000 |
| |
4. Divide total by 450,000 BTU per bushel |
|
86,450,000 ÷ 450,000 = 192.1 |
| |
5. Multiply bushels by price of corn in your area |
|
192.1 x $1.53 = $293.91 |
| |
6. Subtract this amount from your last years bill
This is the savings you would have had last year
|
|
$798 - $293.91 = $504.09 |
| |
7. Estimate this years cost: Current cost x usage |
|
$1.45 x 950 gallons = $1377.50 |
| |
8. Subtract answer to #5 from #7 |
|
$1377.5 - $293.91 = $1083.59 |
| |
9. Estimated Savings for this year |
|
$1083.59
|
|
|
|
by bobbi
20. October 2008 16:52
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I put together a range of potential payback periods for a person who is interested in using Corn to heat his home.
This customer is paying $1.69 gallon for propane, which is pretty reasonable. He will fill up his propane tank 3 - 4 times a year and spend $400 - $500 per fill. I estimated a low range and a high range based on a corn price of $5.00 bushel. I understand this to be true, if you buy corn in the fall, it can be purchased for $3.50 a bushel.
First, let's take corn at 3.50 bushel, which I understand is what we could get it for in the fall.
Cost per Million BTU "Useable Heat"
LP gallon 92,000 75% $ $24.49
Corn bushel 381,248 60% $ $15.30
At those prices, corn costs 62% of what propane costs.
If you fill up 3 times a year, and spend 400.00 for each fill - that will be 1200.00. 1200*.38 - providing 456.00
If you fill up 4 times a year and spend 500.00 for each fill that will be 2000.00. 2000*.38 - 760.00
That translates to a 8.5 year payback period.
Second, let's consider what the corn will cost if you buy it in January:
Cost per Million BTU "Useable Heat"
LP gallon 92,000 75% $ $24.49
Corn bushel 381,248 60% $ $21.86
At those prices, corn costs 89% of what propane costs. So I will take 11% of the yearly bill and take it off the cost of the corn stove.
If you fill up 3 times a year, and spend 400.00 for each fill - that will be 1200.00. 1200*.11 - providing 132.00
If you fill up 4 times a year and spend 500.00 for each fill that will be 2000.00. 2000*.11 - 220.00
That translates to a 29 year payback period. (Not so inviting, I know)
There are other reasons to heat with corn. Reasons such as
- Independence from foreign oil
- Renewable source of fuel
- The enhanced comfort that emanates from this source of heat
I hope that helped. Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you.