As any Rochestarian knows, it gets really cold up here in the winter. While you certainly will need to turn up the heat to a reasonable level, there are a few strategies you can use to keep the temperature lower than you may have planned which can decrease greenhouse gas emissions and save you money!
In the United States 38% of greenhouse gas emissions from residential housing are from heating and cooling rooms. At a larger scale, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $3.16 billion in funding through the Weatherization Assistance Program. This will help states retrofit thousands of low-income homes to make them more energy efficient, therefore saving their residents money every month. If you have the money yourself, it may be worth looking into upgrading your windows and insulation to lower your energy bill every month. Keep reading for some more practical tips you can implement in the short term!
- Layer up!
Layering is key in the winter! Sweaters, sweatshirts, and warm pants are perfect for staying warm both indoors and outdoors. These can be combined with thermal underwear to really keep you toasty, or just another shirt underneath a bulkier sweater or sweatshirt. Check out Sierra Trading Post for affordable thermal underwear and thick socks and thrift and consignment stores such as Plato’s Closet for sweaters, sweatshirts, and even jackets.
- Don’t underestimate blankets
Thick blankets are an amazingly cozy way to stay warm while lounging on the couch or sleeping in bed. If you want to take it to the next level, you could purchase a heated blanket, but will still consume electricity. If you’re more of a crafty person, there are many fun DIY tutorials and quilting patterns. Stores such as TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods are good sources of fluffy blankets at reasonable prices.
- Drink warm liquids
If you needed an excuse to drink hot cocoa, this is it! Drinking warm beverages such as hot cocoa, coffee, and tea is a nice way to feel warm and enjoy a nice drink. For a meal, try making a nice soup. Check out this list of 31 soup recipes for inspiration!
Written by Sarah Woodams ‘24(T5)
Photo by Amin Hasani on Unsplash
Hey there! Thank you very much for sharing these tips on how to keep a home warm and comfortable. Proper insulation is indeed a crucial factor. Additionally, I would like to suggest the use of rugs and carpets. This way, you kill two birds with one stone. First, carpets can greatly enhance the coziness of your home. Second, they provide an extra layer of insulation, which is particularly useful for wooden floors. Wooden floors often have small holes and cracks through which heat can escape, and carpets can help mitigate this issue.
Also, remember the home insulation. The better your home is insulated, the less heat it loses. Start with your doors and windows, then move on to the walls and the attic.
By the way, some studies have shown that proper home insulation can make a big environmental difference and reduce total CO2 reduction by 4%!