DEAR SUN SPOTS; Your March 8 column on the efficiency of electric heaters did a good job of discussing how the two types of heaters work and gave some information on how they can be used. What was missing from the article though, and I think what is important for people to know, is how much it costs to operate the heaters.

They are advertised as being 100 percent efficient, and that’s true. Most oil and gas fired heaters are between 80 and 90 percent efficient. But the cost of the fuel is also important.

At our current residential electricity cost, oil would need to be about $5.20 per gallon for these heaters to save money for general purpose heating.

There are ways to use them wisely though. If you plan to work in one spot, or stay in a small room, you can turn the temperature in the rest of the house down and use one of these heaters to warm just the area you are in.

But it is really important for people to know that if they use these heaters as a substitute for their furnace to warm their whole house, the next electric bill will be a bit of a shock. — Denis Bergeron, professional engineer, Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots is grateful to Denis for this additional information and hopes he will continue to respond to future technical questions. He is, of course, quite right. Electric heat is quite expensive.

Mr. Sun Spots did an assessment of the cost of each type of heating, and his numbers showed that electric is by far the most expensive and wood the cheapest, although it requires considerable effort from the homeowner.

Another factor to consider is the energy wasted in generating electricity. According to green-energy-efficient-homes.com (http://tinyurl.com/765ucg6), for one example, coal plants are about 43 percent efficient in producing electric.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Twin City Spinners Square Dance Club is looking for a summer home. We need an indoor space about the size of a basketball court on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting June 14 and running through the end of August.

We are great tenants and take very good care of our home. If you have such a space, please contact me by phone or email. You could also join us for an evening of great fun and dancing! — Al Hipkins, [email protected], 841-7959

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Edward Little High School Class of 1952 will hold its 60th reunion on Saturday, July 21, at Martindale Country Club in Auburn.

We have just four classmates we are unable to locate. Any assistance would be appreciated in providing addresses for Verna Bourgoin, William O’Brien, Laurianne Ouellette Vachon and Patricia Rogers Williams.

If you can assist, please contact me at [email protected] or call 783-2501 at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your help. — Janet Howard Gibson, class secretary

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am an avid reader of Sun Spots. I am wondering if anyone out there would have yarn that they are no longer in need of. I would be willing to pay a reasonable price. Have a great day. — L.L., Oxford, 393-7469

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