- Image by the_exploratorium via Flickr
It’s getting colder out there, which means more pressure on our home heating systems and a huge increase in electricity consumption. But there are things we can do to mitigate the environmental impact of staying warm in the cold season.
Keep doors closed. This may sound obvious but we tend to forget that it will take less power to warm up a room whose doors are shut. By doing that you’ll be able to get an adequate temperature in about 10 minutes on a low setting.
Stay clothed. Winter is not the time of the year to parade around the house in skimpy underwear or shorts. It is possible to stay warm and comfortable with thermal shirts, long underwear, socks, tracksuits etc The options are various and by staying properly clothed indoors you’ll be able to keep the heater on low.
Exercise. Winter tends to make us lazy and laziness makes us colder. When we exercise, our body temperatures go up, we drink more water and feel better. Try to walk or cycle to and back from work. It will take a lot longer for you to feel cold again when you arrive back home and that will translate into savings. Always remove outdoor gear as soon as you get in the house.
Recycle ambient heat from domestic appliances. For example, if you are going to be working at your laptop while a meal is being cooked, stay somewhere near the stove and receive the benefits of the heat it gives off. For delicious winter recipe suggestions, go here.
Block drafts coming from outside with foam padding. Drafts are a major source of cooling.
Create a cheap and green solar heater for less than $10. The video below will show you how to do it.
Easy FREE Home Heat! – Watch today’s top amazing videos here
Have fun!
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This is nice. Another reason why we tend to feel so cold indoors is because of the lack of humidity. One way to keep ourselves warm is to make sure that the air in our home is properly humidified. We can do this by hanging our washed laundry inside our home, evaporation should bring more heat to the home and stuff. Nice post btw.
Also, if your just building a new house, make sure to purchase a good quality insulation. That’s not a good place to skip corners, for this will save you money in the long run.
These are super easy and sensible tips! My condo has lovely big south-facing windows and is delightful during the daytime. Unfortunately the insulation isn’t what it should be, so these tips will certainly come in handy.