As to the original question about supplementing electric heat (or better - replacing electric heat), we are building an off-grid solar electric home heated by solar hot water (evacuated tubes and underfloor radiant heating) with a masonry stove for back-up heat for the water (capturing heat from the stove and transferring it to the water tank). In addition, the house is high thermal mass, with a greenhouse on the south side. Thus our ONLY energy cost will be about 1 cord of wood a winter, no electric bill, no gas or fuel oil bill. For the foreseeable future, the sun will remain a free fuel source (though the government will probably try to figure out a way to tax it......)
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