Staying Warm This Winter

Our last blog post talked about turning down your thermostat in order to keep your heating bill down as cold weather approaches. But there are a number of other ways to keep warm and save energy this winter, and they may save you some money on your apartment, too.

• Wear layers of clothing. Stay comfortable by adding or removing clothes as needed rather than constantly adjusting the thermostat.
• Make sure your heating vents and air registers are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Make sure your windows are closed properly.
• If you have a fireplace, close the damper when you are not using it.
• Open your shades and/or drapes during the day to allow the sun’s heat to enter your home. Then close them at night to retain the heat.
• If you have a ceiling fan, set it at a low speed in the clockwise direction. This should produce a gentle updraft, which will circulate the warm air trapped near your ceiling.
• Take advantage of natural light whenever you can.
• Use your exhaust fan to blow the hot air out of the kitchen when you are cooking.

Your safety and the safety of those who live around you is always of the utmost importance.

• Do not use your oven to heat your apartment. This is dangerous and a fire hazard.
• Be extremely careful and responsible in your use of candles. Never leave candles unattended and keep them out of reach of pets and small children. Always extinguish all candles when leaving your apartment.
• Do not use propane, butane or kerosene heaters or grills indoors. These can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which is lethal, and they are also a major fire hazard.

You can stay warm this winter without resorting to drastic measures. Please try these common sense energy saving tips to keep out the cold in your apartment. Let us know if you have any other ideas for preventing the winter blues.