Stay Warm Without Turning On The Heat

Here at Charles & Hudson, we're all about conserving energy -- and saving money, too! Depending on your home's heating source, bills can skyrocket during the winter months, especially if you live in parts of the country that feel the brutal wrath of the season.

You may be holding out on turning on your heat to save a little cash, and if that's the case, we have a few tips for you. It certainly helps if you live in a loft, condominium or apartment building. If the building is well-insulated and you find yourself on a middle floor, you can usually get by a lot longer without heat thanks to your neighbors.

Yet if you're in an older building or home, you're probably no stranger to drafts. And speaking from my personal experience, the windows in my loft are incredibly oversized and not properly sealed. (Side note: I discovered a hairline crack under the window ledge through which I can see daylight, so I need to caulk it ASAP!)

A temporary solution? Try a window insulation kit, which comes with several pieces of shrink wrap that you use to cover your windows. Apply heat using a hair dryer, and the wrap adjusts to create a relatively weather- and temperature-proof seal. Sure, it's not the most sightly of solutions, but it can certainly make a noticeable difference until you have time to properly seal or replace your windows.

Think extra throws and blankets, moving the furniture closer to the center of the room, adding a few strategically placed piles of clutter and a couple of low wattage light sources that give off a warmer glow than an overhead fixture.

Do you go as long as possible before turning on your home's heat? If so, do you have any tips for staying warm as the temperatures drop?

Photo: jagwired

Katy Ryan | Comments () |

Jang9333

Burn more candles, the Catholic ones in the store, in tall glass are cheapest, and you don't have to be a Catholic to burn them. I save the empties and clean them, now one holds plastic straws I save and wash, they are now my "stir sticks" for making my coffee in the morning.
To keep apts warm, I did not even contact the gas company for hook up, I cook with electric stove,and when the chill gets too much, I turn on the elec oven for a few minutes , then off again with the door open. It takes off the chill,and I have no gas bills! The apt owner pays for hot water, so I am on low income electric, now my ONLY utility bill is a $20-$30 dollar per month elec bill !! Cheap!!

I sleep in socks, I have several blankets on my bed at night, I have one small led light to see if I am up in the dark,I have a nite light also.
I also sleep in sweat pants and tops.

Jeff Williams

Only heat the rooms you occupy most and balance the heating system. In my house I mostly close the vents in the rooms that are not used all the time. Also I have more vents open in the lower level than the upper since heat rises. Of course a programmable thermostat is a big win. Set it low for when you are away and have it kick on 15 min before you get home.

I wish there was an hvac system where all of the heating vents had thermostats in them and would communicate with the main thermostat and adjust the louvers for a balanced system by themselves.

Jeff Williams

I realize my comments were for when the heat has to be used but to minimize cost while maximizing its effect. On the topic of ways to stave off having to use the heat in the first place I have one tip, close drapes at night and open them during the day to let the sun shine in.

Charles & Hudson

Those are great tips Jeff!