This makes my head hurt. Maybe someone who is better at math than I am, and more familiar with the numbers can interpret this for me. I realize that there are many factors that would affect exactly how much I would be paying (insulation, venting, air loss, etc.,) but I would just like to know at these prices which would be cheaper to heat with (gas or electric back-up) or if it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Here's the stats I've come up with. 1800 sf home located in Central Alabama which is listed as having 1800 annual degree cooling days based on 65 F. 3000 Annual degree heating days based on 65 F. Electric rates: Summer June-Sep -- up to 1000 Kwh 5.2923 per Kwh 1000+ Kwh -- 5.5452 Kwh Winter Oct - May up to 750 Kwh 5.2923 per Kwh 750+ Kwh -- 4.0923 Kwh Natural Gas rates: 1st 50 cubic ft. --- .9493 per CF next 150 CF --- .8036 per CF 200+ --- .7728 per CF I'm looking at having a York Stellar put in with an electric heat strip. A friend's husband who does commercial HVAC and "side jobs" for himself is giving us a very good price that will meet our budget --- just. Opinions on this? My preference is for electric, I just like it better, and I am *not* fond of our local gas company --- at all! But if the numbers were *way* out of whack, I'd suck it up.

I have vents in a new construction home - some in the floor and some in the walls. The ones in the walls - some are up top which I cannot adjust and some are on the bottom of the wall - which I can open close. I'm sure I'm supposed to regulate depending upon heat/cool, season, etc - just not sure when. Please advise and THANKS!