Ways to Keep Your Home Warm Without Heating Up the Planet
(These house-warming suggestions were provided by Ideal Bite, the best place to find bite-size ideas for light green living, covering everything from organic cosmetics to seasonal recipes from local chefs!)
Sliding Into Home
If the cold makes you wanna stay at home base, instead of cranking up the heat, hang some eco-friendly, cold-busting curtains, throw down a rug to keep your toes insulated from a cold floor, or cuddle up in a blanket. Still got goose bumps? Sit yourself down in front of an eco-fire (or energy-efficient space heater) instead of heating up the whole house. Safe.
Major League Draft
You can caulk your way out of chilly drafts (find a greener sealant in #6 of our Top 10) or you can decorate. Just by adding curtains, thick-pile rugs, and fabric-covered draft blockers, you’ll keep the heat in and give your CO2-pumping heater a break.
Windows
- Open up curtains during the day (warm sunlight in) and close ‘em at night (arctic winds out).
- Energy Saver Linen Tab Top Curtain – set of two window coverings with linen outer layer and a lining to trap heat inside – note: The lining is plastic (not ideal), so if you go for these, be sure to maintain ‘em for the long haul ($130).
Doors
- Recycled Patchwork Draft Blocker – dog-shape draft snake handmade from scrap material that slides against doors to keep heat in; also a cat; proceeds go to animal shelters around the world ($15).
- DIY Bite – Make your own draft snake with fabric scraps around the house – courtesy of our SF edition.
Warming Up to Bat
If you’ve got a fireplace and the chills, light it up – just go for less-polluting, wood-saving fire logs. If you’re electric-only, lower the thermostat and use an oil-free space heater when you’re staying put in one room.
Fire Logs
- Java-Log Fireplace Logs – crackling logs that burn for 3 hours. Made from old coffee grounds and vegetable waxes, and packaged in recycled materials. Find stores here ($32/6 logs).
Space Heaters
- Holmes Energy Save Heater Fan – set this hot-air blower to Eco-Smart, which automatically swings from high to low wattage to conserve energy, while maintaining a consistent level of warmth ($40).
Cover All the Bases
This year, consider skipping the electric blanket – they soak up energy and cause thousands of fires each year (and the jury’s still out on whether EMFs are unhealthy for you too). Instead, snuggle up in a blankie made from recycled or organic materials.
- In2Green Branches Blanket – recycled-cotton and acrylic, 50-by-60-inch throw with a modern branch and moon print; comes in gray, light blue, brown, or maroon ($125).
- Blue Lotus Santa Cruz Blankets – lightweight, recycled-fleece and nylon, 60-by-72-inch blanket with carry-bag; one side is waterproof (great if you need to use it outdoors); prints include leopard spots, poppies, animals, and botanicals ($79).
Read even more great tips about how to warm up without cranking up the heat at IdealBite.com!
Nice inspiration article, yeah I agree with above article we must start to save our planet from global warming by doing little thing that I can do.
I liked the tips in the article. I like the plug for the door sweeps that are from recycled fabrics. I’m doing some research on what is cost effective and what are the best ways to heat your home using the least energy. I’ve interviwed several employees from different heating and cooling companies ( local -who know I’m not going to buy anything) and they disagree that a space heater will save energy. Not only is it not effective heating very large areas, but they use a lot of energy to create the heat. One guy estimated that by using just one space heater everyday in your home a household electric bill could increase by $80 dollars. For about the same price in Tucson, you can heat the whole home. If it’s going green we’re talking about, space heaters don’t necessarily save you money or the planet. It’s still consuming large amounts of energy, only it’s heating 5x less the space.