Staying Warm without Burning Your Budget
Every October, I find myself surprised by how quickly I go from wearing shorts and sandals to digging through the back of my closet looking for my sweaters. This year, with the rising cost of living, I also found myself trying to keep the thermostat set as low as possible without shivering. Which got me thinking, “What else can I do to lower energy costs this winter?”
For our friends who live in the more northern parts of the world where it snows and gets below freezing, this is an especially big concern this year with not only overall rising cost of living, but especially oil and gas prices. So, some of these tips will be especially helpful for you. But, even if you are in Southern California or South Carolina, you can benefit from some of the following tips that we might not think about often. Things You Can Start doing TODAY!
Here are a few easy, no-brainer things we can do to start saving money in the winter months.
Unplug electronics and appliances that don’t need to stay on. A lot of our electronics, when plugged in, are constantly creating a low energy draw. While it may seem like an insignificant amount, with the number of electronics and appliances most households have plugged in all the time, it can add up quickly. I usually have all of my electronics hooked up to power cords and that does certainly help reduce costs. But, it also makes it easier when wanting to make sure everything is unplugged.
Wear Socks and Slippers. The standard home design trend of hardwood and tile floors makes a big difference in the residual heat and ambient temperature of our homes compared to when everyone had carpet. In fact, our feet are a major regulator of our body temperature. So, keep those toes toasty! I actually have multiple pairs of in-house shoes for specific uses: work-mode, cozy-mode, cleaning-mode. Call me silly, but honestly having these different pairs actually helps my brain to function more effectively in each “mode”. If you do have hardwood floors and are tired of the cold, consider adding rugs to battle the chill. I absolutely love adding in rugs to my hardwood floors, it brightens the room and makes the space personalized and homey feeling.
Do the Thermostat Two-Step. When everyone is headed to bed, lower your thermostat 5-10 degrees. Then add an extra cozy blanket or comforter to your bed. Many of us have electronic thermostats that are programmable, as well. So, if you haven’t yet, set the thermostat to automatically adjust based on your normal sleeping habits. A Bonus Tip for staying warm at night is to use a rice bag at the bottom of the bed by your feet! You can buy rice bags from Amazon if you want. Here’s a great one. You could even put some rice in a sock and tie it off, then put it in the microwave for a few minutes- warm feet all night! On those really cold nights, I like to snuggle up with an electric blanket which really does a great job at keeping me warm and the thermostat low.
Keep the Windows Covered. Have you ever stood by a window on a particularly cold night and wondered if someone left the window open because it feels like there is a draft? Even with your windows closed, there is a lot of cold transfer through the glass. Blinds and blackout curtains can also help to personalize the space. I like to add a sheer curtain underneath it to keep the ambiance for each of my rooms. However, if you do have a south facing window and the sun is shining through it. Then let the sun in!
Get up and MOVE! There is something about winter that just makes us want to curl up with a blanket and cup of tea or hot chocolate and read a book, or watch a movie. The only problem is, when we are sitting around, we tend to get colder. So, put down your book, or press pause on your remote every so often to get up and get that blood flowing. Do some arm circles and jumping jacks, or go do another load of laundry, then empty the dishwasher. Anything that gets your blood moving will help you stay warmer.
Adjust your Ceiling Fan. If you have high ceilings, this is especially important since heat rises. Your fan should have a switch on it, or if you have a remote, it might be on there. This switch changes the direction the fan spins. During the winter, it should be set to turn Clockwise. If you turn your fan on low, it will circulate the heat and force it back down. During warmer months, it can be switched back to turn counter-clockwise.
Close Off Unused Rooms. If you have a guest room or any other room you don’t use often, adjust the vent so it is only blowing a little and close the door. You don’t want to completely close off the vent, but you also don’t need to keep an unused room at 70-80 degrees all year. If there is a gap under the door, just roll up a towel and put it down to keep it from creating a draft.
So, those are some great common sense things that you can do, literally right now. Again, some may be simple, but they are quick and cheap ways to make an impact on your heating bill!
