Some of you have read my posts of designing a radiant system SOLELY FOR maximum efficiency of BTU output with the lowest water temp. I always use plates and insulation. see "staple up" and "why OIL is going higher"

With energy prices rising in a parabolic upward curve including electric, oil , gas and propane one must extract and retain (BOTH) the most btus/ftsq.

Superinsulation is now mandatory in every home. How can we afford to lose BTU's when the cost of each BTU is skyrocketing and unemployment and foreclosures are following the same path.

Also, is your job secure? If your a w2 think again? better make sure your own castle is energy efficient.

I originally thought a 10.77 btu/sq ft avg total heat loss (some sq ft higher some lower) was great for my 5000 sq ft NYC home but I will be spray foaming my attic shortly. I just can believe that energy prices are going higher so fast.

First Solar went from 20 bucks to over 300 bucks per share spurning public offerings of anything SOLAR dot com.

I remember the dot coms well....BUST.

Now will OIL bust or the American US Ecomomy burst?


I say take energy efficiency into your own control and design radiant heat with no short cuts.


Can I get some more Stimulus George W?

Good luck to all those that have oil heat like me. It's time to put on my ski mask and do some "Fun with Dick and Jane" just kidding.


 Mike in New York City
 where 1 million dollars still buys nothing!



from Yahoo.com today

Many traders buy commodities such as oil as a hedge against inflation when the dollar is falling, and a weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for investors dealing in other currencies. Analysts believe the dollar's protracted decline has been a major reason why oil prices have nearly doubled in the past year.

The euro strengthened further against the greenback Friday. A Labor Department report showing the U.S. unemployment rate jumped half a percentage point to 5.5 percent last month -- its biggest monthly increase since 1986 -- could drag the dollar even lower in the days ahead.

"Unemployment jumping as it did today will be in the market for a long time and will continue to pressure the U.S. dollar," Cordier said.

In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures rose 23.72 cents to $3.918 a gallon while gasoline prices rose 15.7 cents to $3.4915 a gallon. Natural gas futures rose 25 cents to $12.769 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, July Brent crude shot up $7.75 to $135.30 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

It's refreshing to see that others see through the 'Diminishing Returns argument! The basis of that argument is stable energy prices. Um, it's not really like that anymore is it?

I also consider Super Insulating not only 'Common Sense', but now mandatory.

But it is interesting how many people would prefer a Granite Countertop instead of a lifetime(of the home) savings in expensive energy.

It was funny when we were building everything I asked for insulating wise they said it would never pay for itself. They said our windows didn't need storms, we got them. They said the foundation only needs 1 inch of insulation and that is all anyone ever does, we did two. I asked them to spray foam the walls, they said the savings wouldn't pay for the difference. I kept telling them it was my house and my money and I wanted it done, they just shook their head and did it.

I think trying to convince builders it is the right way to go is harder then convincing the general public. If I didn't know what I do I would have believed the builders and not taken the extra steps.

I see it as paying for my energy right now and covering it out in to the future.