It may still technically be summer, but it won’t be long until the colder weather arrives. It’s something on the minds of many Maritimers with the climbing cost of home heating oil. “Once you get into the seniors’ bracket, it becomes an incredible burden and the colder it gets then, of course, the higher your costs have got to be for fuel,” said homeowner Dan Dolan. Dolan knows just how pricey it can get. “It was $800 for half a tank. I couldn’t believe it. It was astounding,” he said. Canadians for Affordable Energy president Dan McTeague said the costs are only going to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. “Prices are double what they were this time last year, so we’re looking at heating, furnace oil in the $2.45 to $2.50 (a litre) range,” said McTeague from Milton, Ont. “These prices are considered low compared to where they’re going and that price increase could happen overnight.” McTeague expects prices to increase another 13 to 14 cents this week. He said by mid-November, home heating oil could climb as high as $3.00 a litre. “The reason is very simple. The world is short of oil. The three major exporters globally of diesel, furnace oil, jet fuel – it’s all in the same family of distillates – two of the three are out of commission,” he said. ‘Smaller fixes’ For those looking for ways to save, Efficiency Nova Scotia recommends making the switch to a heat pump. “Even just installing one mini-split heat pump in your home can actually help reduce your energy bills by 25 per cent, so it can have a really significant impact,” said Janet Tobin with Efficiency Nova Scotia. “If you’re installing more than one unit, those savings really start to stack up.” Heat pumps aren’t the only way to find savings. Tobin said homeowners should consider getting a home energy assessment, where an Efficiency Nova Scotia contractor can conduct a comprehensive review. “They seal up your home. They do a blower door test, and they give you a report, and it outlines all of the options you might have. Heat pumps may be on that list, but there may also be things like insulation, draft proofing measures, windows and doors,” she said. “There might be smaller fixes that people can do. Things like installing a smart thermostat or small behavioural changes like adjusting the speeds or direction on their ceiling fans.” While Dolan mainly relies on wood to heat his home, he’s worried about the colder days when he’ll need to use oil. “I don’t know if I’ll be saving any money, but I’ll certainly try to keep the house as moderately heated as possible,” he said. Nova Scotia does have a Heating Assistance Rebate Program with applications opening Oct. 1. The program provides a $40 seasonal rebate for eligible households.
