Home Heating tips 101

Louise Danielle A. de Vera

Marjette Ylreb U. Barbaza

Did you know that?

According to the U.S. Energy Information

Administration, home heating accounts for

approximately 40% of our entire energy

consumption. And over 95% is done with non-

renewable fossil fuels; such as oil, natural gas or

electricity from coal plants.

Your home may have one of several types of heating systems. They can range from blowing hot air through duct work to piping hot water through your floor.

Whatever type of heating system you have, it will have advantages and disadvantages.

Types of home heating

Forced Air

Radiant Heat

Hydroponic (Hot Water Baseboard)

Steam Radiant

Geothermal

Benefits of Home Heating

keep your home warm

use less energy in keeping warm and acclimate to the

seasons.

Insulation

Increase wall insulation.Probably not the simplest job but certainly the most effective,

adding insulation to your walls makes an enormous difference in

your home heating bill.

Use recycled insulation.In the form of recycled paper or old blue jeans,

this eco-friendly insulation can be blown

into the walls or attic.

Drafts

How to find drafts:On a windy day, use a stick of incense, a small candle or tea light or a strand of

hair or string and slowly "trace" around all windowsills, door jams, vents etc looking for the flame to flicker or the smoke or hair to be blown away.

Don't forget pet doors.Drafts from a pet door can't be avoided completely but can be protected

against with weather-stripping or even a heavy curtain on either side of the door.

If your pet door is within a removable pane for sliding glass doors, be sure to

weather-strip around it as well.

Seal all drafts.Silicone caulking or foam sealant works for drafts in non-movable

sources, such as window frames, and these draft gaskets work well

for electrical outlets and switches. For movable sources, like

windows or doors use weather-stripping. Or for an inexpensive

alternative you can make you own weather-stripping from glue and

scrap material from old towels or other fabrics, or using a rolled up

towel along the bottom of the door.

Home Heating Conservation:

Passive solar heating.Utilize the low winter positioning of the sun to warm your home by opening

curtains on south and west facing windows during the day, and removing solar

shade screens until warmer weather returns.

Perform regular maintenance on your home heating system(s).Efficiency is lost with poorly maintained units. Get regular service done and keep

exhaust filters clean.

"Reuse" oven heat.When you've finished in the oven, leave the door open to warm the kitchen

further.

Avoid using exhaust fans.Running a bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan for one hour can deplete your home

of its warm air. Minimize their use by not using them or turning them off as soon as

possible.

Skip the gas fireplace.A gas fireplace will use more energy to heat a room than central home heating.

Reverse your ceiling fans.Most, if not all, ceiling fans have a reverse setting for winter. By reversing your fan blades to rotate clockwise you draw down the risen heat from the ceiling and

prevent it from dissipating through the roof or walls.

Keep the thermostat low.Challenge yourself to set the temperature one or two degrees lower each year.

Keeping it at 55 degrees at night and 6o during the day is a common energy-

efficient setting. Beware not to turn it off completely or set it too low, as this can

burst pipes or cause hypothermia.

Keep the temps steady.Turning the heat off while you leave or more than 5-8 degrees lower at night than

during the day can cause your unit to work harder when trying to warm the

place up again. Pick a nice steady range instead.

Utilize the wood fireplace.Wood-burning fireplaces or wood-burning stoves give off more heat than a gas

fireplace and can burn scrap wood, fallen trees or branches or wood pellets,

which are made from sawdust and are one of the most cost-effective forms of

home heating.

Reverse your ceiling fans.Most, if not all, ceiling fans have a reverse setting for winter. By reversing your fan blades to rotate clockwise you draw down the risen heat from the ceiling and

prevent it from dissipating through the roof or walls.

Winterize Your Home And YourSelf

Hang curtains over windows.Heavy curtains or blankets hung over windows will add an exterior barrier to the cold, especially if you don't have double-paned windows.

Place rugs in high-traffic areas.Placing rugs on tile, linoleum, concrete or hardwood flooring will assist in insulation

efforts.

Utilize body heat.Cuddle up close when watching movies or institute a family bed at night to share warmth.

Just you and your partner?Well, then. You should have plenty of creative ways to stay warm, shouldn't you?

Dress for the season.If you're wearing a t-shirt and jeans indoors, your thermostat is too high. Try flannel pajamas for the nighttime with thick socks, dress in warm layers during the day, invest in some wool socks and sweaters andturn that thermostat lower.

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