What is the cheapest way to heat in Serbia this winter? Here’s how to spend the winter cheaply

To heat an insulated average living space of 60 square meters to 20 degrees Celsius for 16 hours a day throughout the apartment, 180 days in the heating season, an energy of about 9,000 kilowatt-hours is needed. AERS states that 150 kilowatt-hours per square meter is the estimated average consumption for heating in Serbia.

Lower energy costs for heating, for the established conditions, this heating season will have households heating with firewood in areas of Serbia where it can be bought at lower prices, for example 4,650 dinars per cubic meter and if they have stoves newer ones whose efficiency is greater, eg 65 percent. In that case, they need 38,300 dinars during the season to buy fuel.

How do you stay warm in winter?

Households that use more expensive firewood will have significantly higher costs, around 62,000 dinars, priced at 6,350 dinars per cubic meter, and will have less efficient stoves.

Based on the average price of natural gas in Serbia, 42,000 dinars should be reserved for heating throughout the winter season, with the additional advantage that its use is the convenience it provides.

Coal heating costs are slightly higher, from 48,000 to 52,000 dinars.

Households using thermal storage furnaces will cost 50,000 dinars, but only if cheaper nighttime electricity is used exclusively.

For citizens who heat with pellets, the annual costs are around 59,000 dinars, if burned in more efficient furnaces built for this fuel.

Recharging the TA furnace using more expensive electricity for just two hours a day increases costs by 44 percent, bringing them to about 72,000 dinars, which is more expensive than most alternative fuels.

However, those who use electricity directly in heating bodies and boilers for district heating, propane butane gas and heating oil will have the highest costs.

For the purchase of power or energy, which is needed to heat an average apartment throughout the season, they must reserve 133,000 dinars for electricity, 122,000 dinars for propane butane gas and 85,000 dinars for heating oil.

Compared to the previous year, unit prices for heating oil are 29 percent lower and propane butane gas is four percent lower. Other prices have not changed significantly.

These amounts include only the costs of supplying energy, that is, fuel, and do not include investment costs (for example, purchase of furnaces and installation of central heating installations) and costs of periodic inspections and maintenance.

AERS advises citizens to choose the form of heating, seek the help of experts, insulate the living space and change the windows, and if they buy new stoves and boilers, choose the ones that are as energy efficient as possible.