Asylum Forums (http://www.asylumnation.com/asylum/index.php)
- The Lost Forum (http://www.asylumnation.com/asylum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=3)
-- Burn your unnecessary furniture for fuel this winter! (http://www.asylumnation.com/asylum/showthread.php?threadid=43189)

Burn your unnecessary furniture for fuel this winter!

Was reading a recent article that estimated we'd be spending 50% more on our electric costs this winter, due to all the recent issues (war, natural disaster, politics, fingernail biters anonymous). Was wondering how everyone in different climate zones saves on heating/cooling costs. The reason I'm curious is because I took an ecological design course some time ago that discussed how people in some parts of the Middle East work with the local climate, as opposed to against it, to maintain good living conditions.

Here in Southern Illinois, we go back and forth in our weather, esp. this year. So putting up rolls of plastic over the windows would only be good for a few days, and deeply stupid on others. I'm going to sew up a bunch of draftcatchers for my windows -- using stuffing, sand, and fabric -- spread them out inside the windowsills to add another degree of protection. Aside from keeping the heat lower, and trying to study more during the day (thus using less light at night), not sure what else I can do, with limited budgeting.

So, share, y'all ... for everyone's benefit.

Bunks? You + me + case o' Dickel + one sleepin' bag = no heatin' bills.

Amen.

WA gets its natural gas from Canada, so I expect that my heating will go up about 50% this winter. Most of the natural gas accross the country will go up 90%. Those of you that have electric or oil heat, I feel sorry for you.

This summer, I tore off the front of my house and restudded it and put in new windows, and a new front door. This has helped seal the house from the old leaky windows, and the new door has excellent weatherstripping around it. Just that in itself will cut my heating costs 20%. For the rest of the fight against high bills, I turn on the heat just long enough to heat the house in the day and turn it off, plus dress more warmly. I turn the heat off at night while I sleep.

One thing I'm doing new this year: riggin' up a cover for the crawlspace access under my house. I kinda put something together out of spare landscaping parts and plastic last year, but I don't think it did much good. I saw some spare insulation in the attic in the garage, and I don't think anyone will notice if I nab a few feet of it, wrap it up, and fix it into place somehow. That alone should help a bit. Redoing my windows and doors and other insulation won't help, though. :- ( Ain't my house, and don't have the cash for it.

Michcon got the OK to raise natural gas prices 59% for this winter.

I think this winter, I'll stay in California. Southern California. It might dip down to 60...shudder.

I was reading about the prices going up around here too. We have natural gas and electric but they are both from a monopoly, so only one bill. It can get below 0's here and wind chills makes it feel like 40 below.
We have portable space heaters (kerosene) we use,*add a pan of water on top for a humidifer* plus I have gotten ahold of some thermal insulated curtains to replace my lace panels for the season. We have been weatherproofing lately, getting ready, checking doors and window seals. We installed a new water heater and I put wrap on the pipes in the basement to help, still need to have the furnace checked up done and get new filters for it.
My brother in law moved out so we closed off the attic for the winter now, no need to heat it if we don't have to.
I am home most all day, every day besides running errors and I hardly use any electricity, keeping the blinds open lights the house well. We lucked out really because this place is insulated pretty good, but every little bit helps. Our plans are to finish renovating and sell it, then move somewhere south in the next year or so. Some place where it is warm most the year.

I'm having a house built that will be heated by natural gas. I tend not to have the house enormously hot anyhow (and I like it to be pretty cold at night, too) but it's going to be expensive, because it gets bastard cold up here. On the plus side, the house is well enough insulated and the windows are OK. Going to set the digital timer with a mind to saving money, though.

i live in an apartment and heating (and warm water) is included in the rent. it's provided from a central point in the city and is fairly cheap and reliable.

i present you fernwärme wien:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Smug Git
I'm having a house built that will be heated by natural gas. I tend not to have the house enormously hot anyhow (and I like it to be pretty cold at night, too) but it's going to be expensive, because it gets bastard cold up here.

---

72?!?! I keep my shit at 63.

Fortunately, hereabouts the demand is for cooling about 9 months of the year. I ran the furnace one day last winter. I expect it will be much the same this winter. Temp has to drop to around 45 degrees inside before I'll turn on the heat. Which virtually never happens, as my downstairs neighbors like to keep it in the 70's.

Bigger than 2000 square feet, T. But I'd have it at 55-60 when I'm not there and at night, and maybe 65 or so when I am there, during Winter. I'm not turning the heating on in the place I'm currently in, really, yet.

I got a new energy efficient furnace thanks to my home insurance. The old one was as old as the house and the electricals burned out and the fuse didn't work so it started sparking. I got my fire extinguisher and empied it. Finally it stopped sparking on it's own. So while I tried applying for assistance in fixing said furnace,my insurance ran an investigation and decided faulty fuse was at fault. So I ended up with a brand new 4,000 dollar furnace.
Meanwhile,my LEAP assistance said I qualify for someone to fix the old furnace,but I told them never mind. They stated my being so honest and the simple fact that I have NEVER asked them for help so as a generosity,some people came over and winterised my entire house.
Aparantly,LEAP will do that to a lot of homes,just by applying. The poor bracket went up considerably here so if you never qualified before,you may now.
I hate it,though. The ladies here like it at 70 fucking degrees. I'm fucking roasting here.
We also run the fireplace a lot with real wood. I need to get that fan thing that blows the heat from the fire into the house. That would be cool.

__________________

I want a Chia Obama
For Christmas

quote:

---

Originally posted by J E B Stuart
Bunks? You + me + case o' Dickel + one sleepin' bag = no heatin' bills.

Amen.

---

And save on visits to the clinic.