I live in Sicily - since I didn't want another stupid-crazy bill every month, complete with an expensive "standing charge" one must pay whether or not one uses a single Kw of energy, I elected to heat my top floor with a pellet stove.
It works well but in spite of all the greenie cheerleading and hype about how efficient these stoves are the reality is much different: When you do the math, factoring in the electricity required to run the fans, sensors, ignitor etc. it becomes clear that they're no bargain to run and were, costwise, (until recently) equivalent to heating with natural gas.
And now, with the insane increase in the cost of electricity here, they'll be expensive to run, which is why I spent a good part of this summer busting my ass installing a solar electric system and battery bank in 110 degree heat.
I'm not buying pellets either this year - screw that - instead, I'll be using crushed olive pits in my pellet stove because they are less than half the cost of pellets now and only require minor mods to the stove, which I will perform.
I also bought two wood stoves and will install them next week. I can get wood for free, so that makes sense. Hate having to spend time and money to do all of this but the alternative is to be at the complete mercy of merciless, murderous, leftist/globohomo filth.
No matter what the Eurofilth orchestrating this latest crisis do, things will be ok in my house. Unfortunately, a lot of folks who have stood by helplessly and done nothing to prepare for the deprivation and misery that's definitely heading towards Europe are going to suffer badly.
From my perch it's looking more and more like violent revolution will be the only way out for much of Europe.
Interesting comments. Especially about the pellet stove. I remember the first one I saw had a windup mechanism for the pellets and an optional fan. I think the guy is still using it in a hunting cabin up north in Oregon. Wish I had access to crushed olive pits!
Thank you for your observations.
Harry wants to retire and move to Rapallo, Italy, dreaming of an idyllic existence in a villa by the sea. Unfortunately for Harry, his memories of Rapallo were from the summertime, when he was there during the war. Now it's winter, and Harry struggles in vain to keep the drafty old building heated.