Farmfresh
City Biddy
It is SO much easier to save money (= lower bills) now that it is just hubby and me. He likes those low bills too!
When we had kids at home there were always basement lights left on, TV left on, computers left on, and doors left open. Even with the programmable thermostat keeping things nice and warm (72) someone (read kids) was always cranking it up. I would be getting sweaty and go check the dial to find it up to 78, then search the house to find some kid (and they all did it) laying around it shorts with the fan on!
My - I do love children.
We do the "close off rooms" thing too. The basement is just heated enough to keep pipes warm and floor from being icy, upstairs vents are closed - enough heat rises through the floor, bedroom door is shut during day until about and hour before bed, and family room door is closed unless we are using it. Heating in this way allows us to use less wood and keep the rooms we are using toasty. We also open the shades wide when the sun shines and close them all night or when it is dark. The furnace seldom comes on. Also letting the sun in keeps us from using electric lights. This old house was built before the days of air conditioning and has nice large windows that really let in the light. Of course without proper curtains those same windows can really let out the heat when it is cold.
When we had kids at home there were always basement lights left on, TV left on, computers left on, and doors left open. Even with the programmable thermostat keeping things nice and warm (72) someone (read kids) was always cranking it up. I would be getting sweaty and go check the dial to find it up to 78, then search the house to find some kid (and they all did it) laying around it shorts with the fan on!
My - I do love children.
We do the "close off rooms" thing too. The basement is just heated enough to keep pipes warm and floor from being icy, upstairs vents are closed - enough heat rises through the floor, bedroom door is shut during day until about and hour before bed, and family room door is closed unless we are using it. Heating in this way allows us to use less wood and keep the rooms we are using toasty. We also open the shades wide when the sun shines and close them all night or when it is dark. The furnace seldom comes on. Also letting the sun in keeps us from using electric lights. This old house was built before the days of air conditioning and has nice large windows that really let in the light. Of course without proper curtains those same windows can really let out the heat when it is cold.
