Dinker and Giggles

Winter is almost here along with high heating bills! Not to mention the amount of gases that are sent into the air we breathe.  This winter does not have to be spent wrapped in a blanket or thermal wear and cranking up the heat full blast.  There are many simple ways you can stay cozy and keep the air you breathe cleaner.

One of the simplest ways to save on energy is to take a look at your windows.  Most people do not even think of this when they are considering the cold winds blowing.  Your windows are one source of cold air that adds to the work your heating system is doing when it is struggling to keep the temperature at the setting you have chosen.

Wrap those windows! If you don’t have storm windows and can’t afford them right now, then get some of that plastic insulation stuff.  You know…the stuff that looks like saran wrap and you heat it up with a blow dryer?  It’s clear so you can still see out your windows.  You will be surprised just how much of a difference this can make in your home.

Another way is the ceiling fan.  They are not as expensive as they used to be! Setting it to reverse and on the lowest speed can help spread the heat.  Everyone knows heat goes up so what better way to push it back down to where you are than to use an inexpensive ceiling fan and enjoy the warmth.

Many people are finding that solar power is a great alternative to electrical power.  For instance, there are many solar hot water heaters in use these days.  This is an excellent way of heating your water.  Solar panels can be installed in roofs to capture the warmth of the sun and distribute it to many different household uses.  Much of the recent news about solar power is concerned with using it to actually generate electricity to save on your utility bills.

Shut those doors! The rooms that you do not use do not need to be heated!  Shut off the openings by closing the door.  You can even close off the vents in those rooms and put something near the bottom of the door to seal it off even more.

Use a timed thermostat. When you are not home turn the thermostat down to a cooler setting, you are saving energy that would just be wasted when the house is empty.  Turn the heat on/up just before rising in the morning, before everyone is due to be home, and this can also be used for turning the hot water tank on and off.

Get the whole family involved. Sit down with your family and talk about this together.  You might be surprised at some of the ideas your family will come up with.