Winter isn’t easy in the Pacific Northwest. As if the cold weather weren’t enough to deal with, our wallets are hit with the year’s highest energy bills.
“No one enjoys the season’s heating costs, but for some they’re downright painful,” said DuWayne Dunham, Clark Public Utilities energy services supervisor. “Most renters and people on a tight budget don’t have the luxury of investing in home weatherization, but there are plenty of clever ways they can lower their heating bills and stay comfortable.”
Program your central air system’s thermostat around your lifestyle. The heat should peak when you’re active at home and drop when you’re asleep or away. If you have electric zonal systems like baseboard, cable ceiling and wall heaters, close the doors of unused rooms and only heat the rooms in use.
Windows are one of the biggest areas of heat loss in the home. Cover them, especially large ones, with insulating drapes. But allow the sun to shine through the southern- and western-facing windows during the warmest parts of the day. That will allow the heat to passively warm the room. Remember, the closer you sit to a window the colder you’ll be.
Cover uncarpeted floors with large rugs — the thicker the better. They’ll add a layer of insulation and prevent heat loss. Plus, they’ll act as a barrier between the cold floor and your feet and make the room feel more cozy.
On the coldest days or in a poorly insulated home, hang large blankets on the walls. Drafty castles were filled with hanging tapestries for a reason: the thick fabric holds the heat in. This can be done simply with just a few thumbtacks, or treated like a decoration and mounted to a homemade frame. But no matter the aesthetics, the room will feel warmer.
Cook instead of eating out. Not only is eating in much cheaper, the cooking process will warm the home. After you’re done with the oven, leave the door cracked to allow the heat into the room. But never use an oven as a heating appliance, only utilize the residual heat after you’re finished cooking.
Fill the gap
If your exterior doors have a gap at the bottom or are missing a threshold, use a piece of pipe insulation to make a draft guard. Unlike a rolled-up towel, the insulation seals the gap every time the door is shut. Pipe insulation is widely available and cheap; just be sure to purchase the proper thickness. It’s not a permanent solution, but it’ll help in a bind.
It may be counterintuitive, but an open fireplace can actually pull more heat out of a room than it provides. Don’t use yours unless it has an insert or glass doors.
But one of the easiest things to do is to head to the closet.
“Putting on an extra layer or grabbing a blanket costs nothing. Also, electric blankets are a cheap investment and cost very little to use,” Dunham said. “There’s no better zonal heating than having the warmth right against you, so maybe cuddle up with your partner or your favorite pet.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
