From the article: How to Save on Heating Costs
Cold weather doesn't have to lead to big heating bills. Tell us what you're doing to keep your heating costs under control. Share Your Answer
wood stove
- Three winters ago, I had a small wood burning stove installed in my living room. Heat costs were 37% lower than the previous year. I get one load of wood each winter and supplement that with logs rolled from newspapers. I burn 4 or 5 newspaper logs for every wood log. Then I dump the ashes from the stove in the yard for fertilizer. I also keep the temp set at 68 when I'm home and 65 when I'm gone.
- —catlovercj
Heating Costs
- I never turn on my heater. I live in Southern California and I just bundle up during the day. My gas bill during the winter is about $40 a month.
- —Guest Mark
Heating Costs
- To keep my central air from running constantly, I set a fan at the bottom of the stairs in my basement and have it blow the cool air from the basement upstairs. This keeps the air circulating, and with my ceiling fans going upstairs on low and my curtains pulled, my electrical bill is only $123 a month. I hang all I can on my wooden drying rack and put my rugs and sheets out on the deck to dry.
- —Guest Cheryl
heating costs
- I have a SUPER insulated modular home. It's very economical to heat and cool. My electric budget is just $109 a month for heat/cool/well/ALL electric home..I am VERY happy. I DO open and close window blinds according to the sun :) I turn the thermostat down to 67 at night and when I am gone for more than 5 hours in a day. My MAX setting in the Winter is 70. Max for cooling in the Summer is about 77 when I am home alone. I have a home business so sometimes I need to change settings for the comfort of my customers :) I dress WARMLY in the Winter and COOLY in the SUMMER :) I close doors and windows when applicable. I turn off lights. I only do FULL loads of laundry. There are MANY ways to save on energy costs... Keep the refrigerator door closed. Don't take 20 minute showers. Don't heat or cool rooms that aren't being used. If I have to add just ONE opinion.....CHECK YOUR INSULATION IN YOUR HOME..... MANY people are under-insulated. That just KILLS your heating/cooling budget :(
- —cheryllynnsalyers
Capture Passive Solar Energy
- I capture passive solar energy by putting water and a little oil in dark plastic closed containers. Then I put the jar on the window sills of sunny windows. The oily water retains the heat from the sun long after sundown.
- —Guest Miss DBT
