The graph shows the temperature in the chicken coop, the temperature of the air in the vent pipe coming from the biomeiler, and the temperature of the outdoor air. The electrical energy usage is shown for any days when the electric heater was used. The scale is the same, but the units are in kWh.
The best news is that we did not have to use any electric heat in February. All month long, the biomeiler warmed the outdoor air enough that the fresh air coming in through the vent entered the coop close to the desired coop temperature. The body heat from the birds was sufficient to provide the additional heat needed to keep the coop temperature in the desired range of 45 +/- 10F.
Unfortunately, the results seem a bit underwhelming when we look at the temperature of the outdoor air. February was quite a warm month. It was mostly around 10F and seldom below 0F.
The purpose of the biomeiler experiment is to find ways to use a compost pile to keep a chicken coop warm during the winter in Fairbanks, Alaska. On the one hand, it is definitely working. We have only paid $4.55 for electric heat this winter, which is impressive. On the other hand, this winter has been so warm that success is coming easily. On average, the experimental results are just “whelming.”
“Whelming” is on the positive side, and you have had some challenges before February that you conquered!