Home heating systems (including central systems, wall/window mounted systems, roof mounted units, radiant systems or steam heated radiators) are fired by gas, electricity, coal or oil. In most parts of the country gas is far less expensive than any of the others making gas (natural or propane) our fuel of choice. Not only is gas inexpensive, 98 percent of all natural gas is pumped right here in the good old US of A. The other two percent comes from Canada. Additionally, natural gas produces only one-half the CO2 produced by coal (no matter how clean it supposedly is) and 30 percent less CO2 than oil – and you know where we get most of our oil.

In other words if you are against making the folks in the Middle East even richer than they already are you may want to look more closely at what powers the furnace in your home. Again, gas is less expensive, burns cleaner and it is NOT an import.

Folks in the Northwest get there electricity from the Columbia River for pennies compared to what we pay for it in other parts of the country. Hydroelectric power plants along the Columbia River are about the best and cleanest power generators that we know of. Unfortunately, hydroelectric plants like those on the Columbia can’t be built just anywhere.

What’s the point of all of our mumbo jumbo about power sources? It’s because we know that most electric power plants use imported oil or coal to generate electricity. The utilities would have us believe that plugging in an electric car for an overnight charge will save on gas or diesel fuel. Charging an electric car in your garage doesn’t eliminate the use of fossil fuels – it only changes who’s burning the fossil fuel – you or the power plant.

Thousands of folks in the northeast are switching from oil burring boilers to gas fired units. We know that in many cases this can be somewhat expensive, and even a hardship, but we hope that if you are using oil to heat your home that you change as soon as possible. It will be good for you and good for the country.

If you rent an apartment or a condo that uses oil heat speak to your landlord about upgrading to gas. If the landlord won’t listen, move to a rental unit that uses clean, inexpensive, energy efficient gas. Your rent check has the power to change the way we live – and breathe.

With everyone in the world claiming that there product is now “green” it amazes us how little real change has actually taken place. We can control our planet by making choices that benefit it and us. Eventually, gas will be replaced with wind, solar, or hydrogen energy. Until then we have to make the best of what’s available.