you need a "traditional" backup fuel for any kind of solid fuel heating. Solid fuel heating is considered a supplementary heat source (even if it's pretty much all you use) and a heat source that requires no attention is the primary heat source. Most homeowners' policies require something other than solid fuel heat to be present and be considered primary heat. Additionally, if you are away from home for an extended period, you will want to have a 100% maintenance free backup. Often, these two fuel sources can be combined in the same unit - most on the market today offer that ability. Thus there is no need to have two furnaces or boilers sitting beside each other and the associated costs that would create. With anthracite coal heat, the initial investment is usually far less and the payback much faster than most other "alternative" energy options. Anthracite coal heat is not for everyone, but, with the modern appliances on the market and the significant cost savings, it's an option that's worth looking into.

What the 2-hot water tanks mean is that the geothermal desuperheater will produce hot water at about 110°F that will be stored in a passive buffer tank and will feed an active electric hot water tank. This should result in an energy savings of at least 33% with regard to producing hot water. This is not a Âcombination unit that would provide both forced air heating & cooling and full capacity hot water production for in-floor radiant heating. All geothermal units should be available with a desuperheater option for the production of domestic hot water. During the summer time when youÂre air-conditioning, much the heat thatÂs being extracted from your home will go into your hot water tank as opposed to being vented into the outside air as is the case with a conventional air-conditioner or heat pump. In the A/C mode with a geo system your hot water is considered essentially free. What type of ground heat exchanger (ground loop system) is being proposed? SR

Ted: For a fuel comparison, compare the cost of 1 million btu's of heat for several fuels. Insert your own costs and efficiencies for a more accurate number. Propane at $3/gallon, 80% efficient furnace: (1,000,000 btu / 91,000 btu per gallon) x $3/gallon / .8 = $41.21. $36.63 for a 90% efficient furnace. Oil at $4.50/gallon, 80% efficient furnace (1,000,000 / 139,000 x 4.50 / .8 = $40.46 The difference in the operating cost of oil heat and 80% efficient propane furnace is negligible (2%) at the above prices. 90% propane furnace is almost 10% cheaper. With today's prices, oil and propane are now the most expensive heating fuels. Electric resistance heat w/electricity at 12 cents per kw-hr delivered: (1,000,000 / 3413 x .12 = $35.15 Heat pump w/electricity at 12 cents per hw-hr, COP = 3.25 at 35F ambient = 35.15 / 3.25 = $10.82 Heat pumps produce cheap heat but require auxillary heat as outdoor temps drop below 32F or so. Wood Pellets at $225/ton, 90% efficient pellet stove: (1,000,000 / 16,500,000) x 225 / .9 = $12.27 Good luck.

Thanks for the replies ... Since I live in a rural area, propane is used by most homes for something. I actually changed propane suppliers a couple of years ago when I was doing some remodeling, and it was very painless. Wish I could say the same about the oil companies ... I can't tell you all what the BTU's would be on a new oil boiler since I am still waiting a week later for my oil company to call me back about a new boiler. It's getting to the point where I might just switch to propane because I get great service from the company that currently supplies my propane. They are working up an estimate for me to replace the oil boiler. I switched oil compnies 2 years ago because the local oil company I used was no longer servicing boilers, they only wanted to deliver oil. The new local oil company admitted to me last year, they now have too much business because of that. So their service is awful. I'm getting tired of dealing with them, so this might be a real easy decision. If they ever call me back, and I get some real numbers on what they propose as a replacement, I'll let you know btu's, etc.