A Whimsical Look at Trying to Keep Warm

Speaking as someone who didn't know the difference between housework and exercise just to let you know how much I know about consuming energy, I will attempt to essay on the proper consumption of energy to attempt to make a significant impact on your bill.

First of all for many of us concerned with both saving fuel and doing our part in saving planet Earth, we are obviously comfortable and by that I mean financially and are looking for ways to not aggravate ourselves, as just being is hard enough, but to avail ourselves and our progeny with equal time of enjoyment of our planet.

As intelligent consumers and aware eco-system savers, we want to reduce our consumption of fuel and if that reflects on saving money that's the best deal going.

But, and here's the catch, to save money on heating bills one must first spend money. The worst thoughtless consumers of that all important fuel are our windows. If your windows are over fifty years old, they do need to be looked after. You should consider getting new windows, or finding a masonry pro who can patch cracks in surrounding lintels. Your basement windows should also be checked and if cracked, replaced.

Next on your list, if your furnace is more than fifty years old, you are throwing heat out the window, literally. You should consider spending money to upgrade to a more fuel efficient type. Those two whopping bills will cut down nicely on your monthly fuel bill.

If, however, you can't manage those two elementary tasks, then proceed to do the following. Designate one door and let your family know that it is to be used to enter and exit. Allow only one bathroom window to be cracked an inch even if you do have installed attics fans. Bake in large amounts for a week instead of daily. Use the microwave to heat your foods. Use cold water to wash as many of your laundry loads as you can. Use detergent that calls for cold water. Take hot baths instead of hot showers, that thirty minute hot shower can be really expensive. And, Tally in your automobile gas bill in figuring out how much energy you waste. Make one trip to the grocery store in a week.

Do you really want to joyride when the streets are icy and snow covered? Actually, if you just stay home, wearing a nice sweater and drinking iced tea you won't mind the bill at all when it comes.