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Seven Ways to Stay Warm (Without Going Broke)
 The forecast for the winter of 2006 is cold -- colder than it has averaged for
the past decade. That's particularly bad news for people in the Northeastern
United States who rely on heating oil, but higher energy costs mean that it's
going to cost everyone more to stay warm. Weather forecasters EarthSat
predict that natural gas consumption-weighted heating degree days -- a measure
of temperature
below 65 degrees Fahrenheit -- will average about 7.5 percent greater than
last year for December through February.
What can you do? Besides stocking up on sweaters, make sure that you've implemented
as many of the home energy-saving tips below as possible. Not only will you
save on energy costs, but you'll also be doing the planet a favor.
1. Lower your hot water heater to 120 degrees and drain any sediment.
Adjusting your hot water is a huge potential energy saver. Though you need
to keep your water heater to at least 120 degrees to prevent bacteria from
building
up, many hot water heaters are set too high. Experts also recommend draining
a pint or so of water from your water heater a few times a year to reduce sediment
and increase efficiency.
2. Add insulation to your hot-water heater.
As long as you're dealing with your water heater, you might as well add some
insulation. Since the standard hot water heater is on all the time, adding
extra insulation will save more energy than you think. Most hardware stores
sell pre-made
insulator "jackets" that can be easily wrapped around one's water
heater. Experts estimate that adding insulation to your water heater and any
exposed
pipes can knock up to 15 percent off the costs of heating water.
3. Install a low-flow shower head.
Low-flow shower heads are also a worthwhile investment (especially for renters,
because you can take them with you) that will reduce the amount of hot water
you use and hence the energy needed to heat it.
4. Check for and seal any cracks or gaps.
Experts estimate that all of the tiny gaps and cracks in an older home are
roughly equivalent to a one-foot square hole punched in your wall. Sealing
gaps with
caulking and weather stripping keeps that heat inside your home and saves you
money.
5. Tighten windows and loosen your budget.
If all windows were as efficient as the best products now widely available
in the marketplace, the average household would save $150 a year and reduce
its
carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,300 pounds per year. A cheaper and easier
method than replacing windows is to insulate your windows during the colder
months with transparent film that keeps the heat in and the cold out.
 6. Heating ducts: Keep the air flowing.
If just one in ten households used current technology to upgrade their inefficient
heating systems, we could keep 17 billion pounds of pollution out of the air.
You can also save money and cut pollution by having your heating vents and
ducts cleaned regularly, and having your furnace serviced.
7. Get a smart thermostat.
Upgrading to a programmable thermostat will enable you automatically to set
back your thermostat during those times when you don't need as much heat
(everyone's at work or underneath down comforters). The Department of Energy
estimates that you can save as much as 10 percent a year on your heating
bill by turning your thermostat back 10 percent to 15 percent
for eight hours a day.
More on Clean Energy and Energy-Efficient Solutions:
Photos: NERL
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