Climate March: February. Turn Down the Heat!

In the Mid 1970s, Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House and purchased some cardigans. “Turn down the heat. Put on a sweater,” he said. “Conserve energy.” We did. The Reagan took the solar panels off and the ideas of conservation fell by the wayside. But they are still valid—conservation is the best way to prevent Climate Change and save money. Energy that we do not use does not need to be generated. So, I am back to the original idea. Turn down the heat. But, when you do, you need to make some changes in your home so that it does not feel cold and unwelcoming.

Dress for the weather.

1.       When you come home, change your socks. They may not feel damp, but they usually are. Damp socks mean cold feet.

2.       Put on a light weight wool hat or a sweater.

3.       Eat warm, home made food for dinner.

Dress your house to feel cozy. Even as a renter, you can do these things!

1.       Have afghans and blankets around to pull over your feet or shoulders when you are sitting still.

2.       When you replace your lightbulbs, make sure that you are using warm light, rather than cool light. Many older LED lights are very blue, which makes the space feel colder. Pay close attention to overhead bulbs, especially.

3.       If you can, paint the walls warm clear colors, not shades of blue grey or bright white. If you can’t paint (and, as a renter, I painted regularly, not always with permission) then bring in warm colors in other ways.

4.       Light a candle in the evening.

5.       Close curtains at night to keep out the drafts. Open during the day for the light.

Insulate! Save energy and have a quieter home.

1.       Start from the top. Ceiling, then windows, walls, then floor. Plug the chimney.

2.       Weather-stripping is great to seal leaks around the doors.

3.       Clear plastic stretched tightly across windows helps keep the cold out.

4.       Curtains will also help keep the cold out.