WOW! TG,, you know as much about windows as most mfg. When building or remodeling I generally stay with Pella or Anderson due to the warranty. For sliding doors I have a company in your neck of the woods that puts out a good product with a great warranty and fantastic pricing. All windows are double pane (triple on high end jobs) with low e. throw in some argon too. Gives buyers some confidence. Agree the cost of replacement takes years to recover and especially agree it is how comfy you 'feel' thats important.
With the elec heat you do not 'feel' as warm as with oil. Oil is cleaner than gas and more comfy too. With a 1000 gal underground tank buying oil in the summer was an inexpensive heat. The heat pump did well until sustained cold temps moved in,, then the oil backed up. With the rebate from the power company the heat pump was less expensive to purchase. The drop of the load factor during winter put the power bill under the cost if heating with oil and the oil use really dropped-- another savings.
When building this house a gas furnace was installed. It is not a 'comfy' heat and certainly not clean. Dereg permitted a company to make offers. I recd a great 2 year price which expires this month. Their price would be much higher than the big guy that delivers the stuff too,, so I'm going back.
Fuel cel?? What I would rather have is my brothers situation. He has an oil well that produces little, but steady on his property. It pays a few bills. While drilling another oil well they hit gas. Now he gets free gas and a very nice check every qtr.
