Tips for Keeping Warm and Saving Money this Winter
January 2004
If you live in a part of the world where the winters are cold, as we do, you may want to check that your home heating and insulation are functioning optimally to keep energy costs low and you warm! It has been shown that nearly half of global energy consumption comes from private use - from automobiles and home energy use. Natural gas and electricity costs have risen significantly in the United States to the point where they are beginning to outstrip costs elsewhere in the world. Therefore our energy decisions have an impact and we each have a responsibility, and it is in our self interest, to do our bit. My husband is an energy efficiency expert: we constantly check our house for cold spots and have improved the comfort level considerably with only modest cost.
- ROOF: Major heat losses can occur if the roof is poorly insulated - roof insulation is relatively cheap and easy to install: a depth of 30 cm (12 inches) is recommended and new insulation materials have greater thermal efficiency than ever.
- WINDOWS: This is the second area for major heat loss. Most new European buildings have double or triple glazed windows but if you live in an older house (as we do) there are several applications which will help save energy and money. Caulk and weather strip window frames; install storm windows outside or removable inside glass panels (which, in the United States, can be ordered inexpensively from hardware stores), install thermal film on windows (we have three large picture windows with primitive double glazing and we just covered them with thermal film - the difference is noticeable immediately); net curtains and insulating drapes might not be to your taste but they make a big difference in energy saving when drawn at night or in rooms that are not in use; even mini blinds can create an insulating layer between window and room especially when closed at night.
- DOORS: Weather strip doors to eliminate drafts, especially exterior doors and doors to basement or garage. We installed thermal plastic over the glass in our back door. Another attractive and inexpensive suggestion is to install a curtain behind exterior doors: tapestries and wall hangings fulfilled this function in stone castles!
- WALLS: Check for cold spots in walls. We discovered our house had a metal door to the outside originally used for passing wood through to the fireplace. It had no insulation and you could see daylight round the edges. Our house also had a pass through in the laundry room where the milkman would place milk (our house was built in the 1960s when milk was delivered). We put several layers of new insulation in these two spaces and cut down drafts dramatically. If ever you are remodeling a room and have the opportunity, increase insulation behind the exterior wall.
- THERMOSTAT: Set the thermostat a little lower (ours is now at 17 degrees centigrade daytime and 15 degrees centigrade at night - some may like it a little warmer, but a couple of degrees makes a huge difference in the total energy use) and wear slightly warmer clothing - warm slippers, tights under pants, a silk or cotton undershirt under your blouse or turtle neck and a woolen sweater on top. Your body is a good furnace and burning a few more calories is not all that bad for weight loss Another tip is to use a small space heater to warm the room you are using (e.g. an office) and keep the doors closed. This is less expensive than heating the whole house. Finally, have the boiler serviced before the winter. Here's wishing you a cozy winter!
Valerie G.
FAWCO Environment Committee Chair
