The cold weather has arrived in Rochester. Although we (hopefully) still have some time before we see our first snowfall, the chill is in the air and odds are your heat has been on.
If you are in the position where you don’t want to turn up the temperature in your home (whether due to cost, energy conscious reasons, etc), there are some tips to keep warm without relying entirely on your heating system:
- Make sure all the windows in your house/apartment are firmly closed and locked. I’ve been embarrassed too many times when I thought a window was closed, only to check back and realize that it was open slightly. Similarly, to help with insulation, put the blinds down on all your windows.
- Dress warmly! Wear a comfortable sweatshirt, hoodie, and even gloves. Put a hat on your head to help mitigate heat loss through the top of your body. Also, be sure to layer your clothes for added warmth.
- When it’s time to go to sleep, make sure you have extra blankets, or preferably a sleeping bag, as these are the best ways to keep warm at night.
These tips are also useful for when – goodness forbid – the power goes out, and you need to find ways to quickly maintain warmth.
In any event, don’t be afraid to try some of these tactics when you’re a little cold, but don’t want to blast the heat in your house. Not only will some energy be saved, but it will be less detrimental to your pocketbook, too!
Written by Dax Emerson, Class of 2021
Photo Credits: Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash