The Energy Primer launches free energy cost calculators

The Energy Primer has launched as a free, noncommercial website offering interactive tools and explainers on home heating, vehicles, water heating and household energy use. The site aims to help consumers compare real-world costs and efficiency without ads or corporate sponsorships.

Why it matters: - Consumers are getting another free tool for comparing energy choices based on real-world costs, not marketing claims. - The site is designed to help households make clearer decisions about heating, vehicles and appliance use. - The Energy Primer aims to make technical energy information easier to understand and use in everyday decisions.

What happened: - The Energy Primer officially launched on October 7, 2026. - The independent website is self-funded and noncommercial. - The site says it provides clear, data-based information about energy efficiency, costs and conservation. - The website is available at theenergyprimer.com.

The details: - The Energy Primer has interactive energy calculators for home heating, vehicles, appliances and everyday energy use. - The site has no corporate sponsorships and no advertising. - Home heating tools compare the delivered cost of heat from heat pumps, natural gas, propane, heating oil, electric resistance, wood, pellets and other common sources. - The heating calculators use adjustable energy prices and real-world efficiency assumptions. - Vehicle tools compare gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. - Vehicle comparisons use fuel prices, electricity rates, MPG, charging costs and overall energy efficiency. - Water heating and household energy tools cover heat-pump water heaters and other common household systems. - The site also includes energy myths, FAQs and explainers on energy, efficiency, electrification, conservation and emerging technologies. - The Energy Primer says its calculators, articles, formulas and assumptions are available as an independent educational resource.

Between the lines: - Craig Issod founded the project after nearly five decades in alternative energy, conservation and consumer education. - Issod said most energy advice online either oversimplifies the science or hides a sales pitch. - Issod said government sites may hold accurate data, but the information is often not distilled or explained. - The launch reflects a broader demand for consumer-friendly tools that translate complex energy data into usable comparisons. - Issod entered the alternative-energy field in 1978, starting with wood and solar heating systems. - His businesses later expanded into retail, wholesale, importing and manufacturing. - Issod later founded Hearth.com, an early large-scale consumer information site focused on home heating.

What's next: - The Energy Primer plans to keep expanding its collection of interactive calculators and educational resources. - Consumers can use the site to plug in their own costs and circumstances and compare financial and environmental trade-offs. - The company says the site will remain free to use and free of paid sponsorships.

The bottom line: - The Energy Primer is betting that clearer numbers, not promotional messaging, will help consumers choose the most practical energy options.