home heating tips 101
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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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