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But not knowing your situation, I can't say if this will help or not. You might call your electric provider and ask if they do efficiency audits - some do (our co-op power co did) some don't. Our situation is this: We own our 1400 square foot house. It's gas heat, a gas cooker and a gas hot water heater. It's a single level, with hard surface floors throughout. we don't have kids, but we do have a houseguest.
1. Electronic, programmable thermostat. Yes, it's $80, but installing one of these so you can program the heater to be shut down during the day when the sun warms the house and you're not home anyway is a great thing. Set it at 60 for day time (or lower, depending on your tolerance) and a few degrees warmer for evening, when you're home and morning before you leave. Ours is set to go up to 65 at about 5 am and to go back to 58 at 8 am, after we leave, M-F. It kicks back on at 4:30 to bring the house back up to 65 until 10 pm, when it goes back to 62. I work at home, but I don't mind it being cool in the house during the day; I'm dressed for work, after all, and that means layers - either a suit and blouse or a twinset and wool skirt or a casual jacket over a long dress and tights. (If I'm working, I should be professional, right?)
2. Seal the windows. The clear film that sticks on with doublestick tape and stretches tight with a blow-dryer is a great thing. If you can, put a third layer on the outside, using clear plastic sheeting, heavy clear packing tape and staples. Some areas don't allow this. To be safe, put a utility knife (2/$1 at the dollar stores) near each window that might be an exit in case of emergency and teach anyone who has to know how to use it how to use it safely. If any one asks, you're drilling for Homeland Security emergencies.
3. Flooring: If you have carpet, great. Vacuum it really well, then go find carpet remnants, used but still functional rugs, or those thick acrylic/wool blankets from Mexico. Put a second layer of insulation on your floors. If you have hardwood or another hard surface, put down rugs, painted floor cloths, or rug-like blankets. Secure with thin rubber matting, like is used for cabinet lining. Get something else under your feet. If you or other housemembers like to lay on the floor or sit on the floor, get mats, heavy blankets or pet-bed pillows to go under you - you'll feel less cold and less likely to turn up the heat.
4. Check your insulation: get into the crawl space, look around look at the depth. Add some. If you have access to under your house (like a mobile home) make sure you're sealed underneath, the skirting's in good shape and there's enough insulation down there, too. If your house is built in piers (like in the South and coastal regions) put straw bales around the foundation.
5. Don't use the exhaust fans in the bathroom unnecessarily. (They're needed after a steamy shower because the humidity can contribute to mildew, but don't use them for ... stinkyness or white noise. Candles are better for the former, and there's plenty of the latter around.) They can exhaust all of the heat in a house in 30 minutes.
6. It's okay to love candles. In fact, lighting candles while you're in the room and attentive to them can both psychologically warm you (fire does this for people) and warm the room. A single pillar candle can heat a car enough to prevent freezing in the winter (so keep one in the car in the emergency kit...).
7. Move those space heaters around. Use them where they're needed, and close off rooms that aren't needed or used. If you have kids, you might consider asking them if they'd like to share a room for sleeping and turn the other room into a play room. (The playroom can then have the vents closed when it's not in use.) Make sure you close off the vents in rooms you're not using. There are sheet magnets that go over the vents to make sure they stay closed. If you have room in the kitchen, move the dining table in there and close off the dining room for the winter. If you're open plan (we are), try to use the bedrooms for as little as possible and keep the main activities in the main space. Be willing to move furniture around spring and fall to better suit the needs of the house.
8. Keep the house humidified. Moist air carries warmth better than dry air. Drying clothes with an indoor clothes line is both better for the clothes and puts moisture in the air, and lowers your energy bill. If you have ceiling fans, turn them to the winter setting so they are pushing the warm air down, and keep them on low.
9. Rule: If there's sun on the window, the blinds are up and the curtains open. If not, they're not. This assumes that someone's home during the day to do this, but if someone is, then it's worth it to get the solar boost. If not, then use sheers and heavy drapes on the western and south walls, and insulating drapes on the north walls. I use bamboo matchstick blinds and gaffers' tape and upholstery fabric for my insulating blinds on the north side. Cut the fabric to the size of the blinds, either plus 2 inches or minus 2 inches and tape the fabric to the blind. (This works well for a minimalist or Asian themed room. For something else, try the fabric store.) The blinds then insulate against the cold. Solar drapes for the most part block out heat, not let it in. They will insulate the heat and keep it inside provided that you're heating the house sufficiently. We don't, so bringing in the warmth is better than blocking it out.
10. Got a fireplace? If it's just a brick hole in the wall, have it closed off for the winter. It will not contribute enough heat to make it worth the heat loss going up the chimney. Alternately, look into a pellet stove insert. These are very efficient and relatively low cost and low emission. If you don't have one, check your heater's flue and the filters to make sure they're clean and drawing well. Have your duct work vacuumed out because clean ducts conduct heat better than dirty ones.
11. Bake, roast and broil instead of frying, grilling and stewing. It takes about the same amount of gas to bake a pot roast as it does to produce a pot of stew on the stove top, and you get to reuse the heat. Alternately, use the small electrics, like crock pots, bread makers and similar.
12. Replace your hot water heater with a tankless hot water heater. They're about the same price as one with a tank, use less energy and produce more hot water. Lowe's carries them, and they're no harder to install than a regular hot water heater. Alternately, get a timer for your hot water heater, and put it on vacation from 10 pm to 4 am, and from 10 am to 4 pm. Why should you be paying for hot water when there's no one there to use it?
13. Use only the bathroom closest to the hot water heater for baths and showers. Why pay to have half the heat in the water disperse before it comes out the spigot?
14. Buy cheap fabric and a few pounds of beans. Make 42 in tubes of the fabric (4 inches in diameter) and fill with the beans. Use them in window sills and against door sills to block out drafts. Caulk any gaps in window frames or around doors. Make sure everything hangs tightly, and if not, get it fixed.
15. Dress in layers. Not only does it look professional and cool (the idea behind layers is that it shows conspicuous consumption by allowing a person to dress in many garments at once), it regulates the core temp better.
16. Grow out your hair. Longer hair keeps you warm - chin-length to nape of neck length will do.
17. Wear hats. Most body heat is lost through the skull. Most thrift stores have a great selection of hats. (Having a hat-friendly hairstyle helps here.)
18. Do cozy activities. If you have kids, teach them to knit or crochet instead of playing videos or games. Play board games as a family. Get out the mending and fix all those missing buttons. Make a quilt - by hand. Take up cross stitch or embroidery.
19. Exercise. 20 minutes of calisthenics will keep you warm for two hours. Wear sweats and take a walk in the treadmill or watch a favorite show while using the exercise bike (if you have them.)
20. Get a big thermos that can handle hot liquids, and an assortment of teas and herbal tisanes. Fill the thermos with boiling water when you get home from work and sip on hot tea whenever you want a drink. The warm beverage will warm you up, help you get enough fluids (we feel cold more when we are dehydrated) and keep you from drinking the cold tap water. The pump thermoses are usually available at thrift stores (if not, I have an extra, if you're willing to pay for the shipping.) With a tray and an assortment of neat cups, you can have tea-time anywhere and make it fun.
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