Saving energy during cold weather

This is a topic relevant to many of us.  The cost to heat a home during a Winter in the Northeast is rising inexorably.  There are some simple steps that anyone can take to stay warm and save energy.  First of all, instead of worrying about heating your house by burning gas or oil in your furnace, think about how you can reduce heat loss from your house.

How heat is lost:

Heat travels in three main ways:  conduction (best through solids), convection (in liquids and gases, hot convection currents are less dense and thus they rise, give off heat, and then fall back down), and radiation (solids, liquids and gases can lose heat by radiation).  Air is a very poor conductor of heat, so trapping air is always a great way to reduce heat loss by conduction.  Examples of trapped air that insulate are fiberglass insulation or wool sweaters.  Insulating the attic can help reduce heat loss from hot air that rises through the house while shiny reflective surfaces can reduce heat loss by radiation.  Dark, matte surfaces tend to absorb heat.

Ways to reduce heat loss and save energy:

First of all, make sure you have sufficient insulation in your attic.  There are free inspections that will examine your house for heat leaks but it really isn't rocket science to find major sources of heat loss.  One great way to see if your house is properly insulated is to examine your roof after it has been covered in snow.  If the snow melts immediately in certain areas of the roof, then you may be losing serious amounts of heat from those spots.  Compare your roof to your neighbors' and see if the snow stays intact on your roof for a longer or shorter time.  Check for gaps or spaces around window air conditioners and under doors.  You can tape plastic over air conditioners and you can get a stuffed cloth "snake" that will fit snugly under the gap between the door and floor.  Cover large open windows with heavy drapes on very cold days.

Ways to generate heat without fossil fuels:

Probably the most important thing is to get control of your thermostat.  We leave ours off for most of the time, except early in the morning and during very cold Winter days.  Instead of keeping your home at a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit, why not use a bathrobe, sweater, sweatshirt or sweatpants when you are chilly?  Wearing an extra layer of clothing costs nothing in fossil fuels.  Another tactic is to drink warm liquids such as green tea or soup.  This warms your body core and helps you be comfortable at a lower room temperature.  A third tactic is physical activity.  Take walks, do light exercise while you are watching television or listening to the radio.  This will also raise your body temperature without using fossil fuels.