If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
One of the best stuff to help conserve heat into homes is given by Nature itself: Snow!!!!!
It's highly heat reflective (very hard to increase or decrease of 1 degree)... so let it pile up a bit on the roof (couple of inches), and also block your cellar windows with it.
Also plugging up the vents around your foundation helps keep cold drafts from cooling your floors and robbing heat if you have central air by cooling the ducts ...
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them ... John Bernard Books
Indian Chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white government official; "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."
The Chief nodded in agreement.
The official continued; "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"
The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied.. "When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, Medicine Man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having sex."
Then the chief leaned back and smiled; "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."
Oh, it's the time of year to read over this again.. I am quite disturbed by how much it costs to heat our place. We live in a very small two bedroom flat. The master bedroom is large however, so it has 3 radiators. We only use one in there.. the one in the alcove where we set up our futon. We have a radiator in the hall, which seems pointless using, and one in the space between the kitchen and bathroom which we also never use. However, it is starting to cost us almost £15 in gas per week to head the FOUR radiators we use and the thermostat was struggling to get above 16 degrees today. I'm starting to wonder if I should be using all the radiators and just have them on low in the areas we don't use. But this will be, what £80 a month? To heat a tiny downstairs flat? It is so annoying... We use a timer so the heating isn't on all day.. just two hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening, except weekends, when JP is up and about through the day. It blows my mind that it can be costing us this much.
夕方に急なにわか雨は「夕立」と呼ばれるなら、なぜ朝ににわか雨は「朝立ち」と呼ばれないの? ^^If a sudden rain shower in the evening is referred to as an 'evening stand', then why isn't a shower in the morning called 'morning stand'?
Are the windows insulated, Jembru? You can do that with a clear plastic sheet. I believe they even sell them for windows, otherwise folks use trash bags.
My windows are double glazed, but it's a very old building, so built before being thought to insulate outside walls. There is a common problem in these kinds of old buildings, where they can tend to get very damp around the outside walls. I heard it is because of double glazing and central heating. Our place isn't too bad, but when we blast the heating, I start to notice it. When Magpie sits on the windowsill, her little paws sometimes get wet!
夕方に急なにわか雨は「夕立」と呼ばれるなら、なぜ朝ににわか雨は「朝立ち」と呼ばれないの? ^^If a sudden rain shower in the evening is referred to as an 'evening stand', then why isn't a shower in the morning called 'morning stand'?
I'm probably going to get unhappy folks about this, but most of my warmest clothing is either wool, fur, or down-filled. Animals were meant to be used!
I'm probably going to get unhappy folks about this, but most of my warmest clothing is either wool, fur, or down-filled. Animals were meant to be used!
Not sure I agree with 'meant to be used', but I can't argue against them being bloody good at keeping warm! Mine just won't stay still long enough to warm my toes..
夕方に急なにわか雨は「夕立」と呼ばれるなら、なぜ朝ににわか雨は「朝立ち」と呼ばれないの? ^^If a sudden rain shower in the evening is referred to as an 'evening stand', then why isn't a shower in the morning called 'morning stand'?
At the shelter we use to joke that getting a big dog who thinks he is a lapdog was the best way to go. Or maybe a couple of smaller dogs... Or like... a dozen ferrets? :P Maybe not that one.
That's why I bake and cook long meals on the stove a lot more often in the winter, keeps me nice and warm! Not just the heat from the oven, but eating all that warm food too.
Absolutely! Summer is for grilling outside to keep the house cool, but winter is for baking in the oven to keep the house warm. Tonight -- meatloaf.
"No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical." -- Niels Bohr
Im in the process of making a couple of draught excluders for our front door, back door and my bedroom. Because we live in a terraced house, its sooooo draughty!
Oh, it's the time of year to read over this again.. I am quite disturbed by how much it costs to heat our place. We live in a very small two bedroom flat. The master bedroom is large however, so it has 3 radiators. We only use one in there.. the one in the alcove where we set up our futon. We have a radiator in the hall, which seems pointless using, and one in the space between the kitchen and bathroom which we also never use. However, it is starting to cost us almost £15 in gas per week to head the FOUR radiators we use and the thermostat was struggling to get above 16 degrees today. I'm starting to wonder if I should be using all the radiators and just have them on low in the areas we don't use. But this will be, what £80 a month? To heat a tiny downstairs flat? It is so annoying... We use a timer so the heating isn't on all day.. just two hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening, except weekends, when JP is up and about through the day. It blows my mind that it can be costing us this much.
Yeah heating is expensive on this side of the atlantic. Blame all the people crammed onto this continent and your island! I pay less, but i have a newer flat, and also I am cold a lot. I hate cold, but I wear a lot of layers and hug a hot water bottle when I can.
Also, do you have gas-heated water? If so, you can save a TON of money by washing your hands with cold water (I swear it's fine...everyone does it in Germany...soap cleans), washing your face with cold water, and only rinsing stuff with cold water (save the warm/hot water for thorough washing).
My windows are double glazed, but it's a very old building, so built before being thought to insulate outside walls. There is a common problem in these kinds of old buildings, where they can tend to get very damp around the outside walls. I heard it is because of double glazing and central heating. Our place isn't too bad, but when we blast the heating, I start to notice it. When Magpie sits on the windowsill, her little paws sometimes get wet!
This is also common in Berlin....to avoid water damage, you have to open your windows for a bit every morning and every night for a few minutes. I warped my floors last year! They went back though when the dampness went away. Berlin is extremely humid, so we always have to do it, even when it's -20 outside (actually, especially when it's -20 outside).
I'm probably going to get unhappy folks about this, but most of my warmest clothing is either wool, fur, or down-filled. Animals were meant to be used!
It's true. If you don't want to contribute to the industry, there are LOADS of vintage coats and accessories that are floating around. I actually think it's more ethical to wear these than to just throw them out or let them rot in an attic. I get evil looks when I wear my fur, but it's all recycled (mostly vintage stuff I fixed up or repurposed somehow).
Yeah heating is expensive on this side of the atlantic. Blame all the people crammed onto this continent and your island! I pay less, but i have a newer flat, and also I am cold a lot. I hate cold, but I wear a lot of layers and hug a hot water bottle when I can.
Also, do you have gas-heated water? If so, you can save a TON of money by washing your hands with cold water (I swear it's fine...everyone does it in Germany...soap cleans), washing your face with cold water, and only rinsing stuff with cold water (save the warm/hot water for thorough washing).
- - - Updated - - -
This is also common in Berlin....to avoid water damage, you have to open your windows for a bit every morning and every night for a few minutes. I warped my floors last year! They went back though when the dampness went away. Berlin is extremely humid, so we always have to do it, even when it's -20 outside (actually, especially when it's -20 outside).
Yes, our water is gas heated. I did suggest to JP a while ago that we start using cold water to wash our hands. In fact, I could go further and use a cream cleanser instead of tap water to remove my make-up and wash my face. We're just a bit worried about how cold the water is from the tap. being in Berlin, you probably know yourself how cold the water pipes get in Winter. I guess we could keep the sink filled so the water is room temperature. A little less hygienic, but maybe we could also get into the habit of using antibacterial hand gel. Great tip. Thanks!
Erm.. I know I SHOULD open the windows. Our bathroom window is almost always on the night lock, and in the livingroom, our window is actually a glass door, into the yard, so it is often open while Magpie plays outside. I don't think the bedroom windows have been opened even once since we moved in. I have blinds and black out curtains with me sleeping during the daytime, and these are basically always closed. When it's cold already, I just can't bring myself to open the windows.. :s
夕方に急なにわか雨は「夕立」と呼ばれるなら、なぜ朝ににわか雨は「朝立ち」と呼ばれないの? ^^If a sudden rain shower in the evening is referred to as an 'evening stand', then why isn't a shower in the morning called 'morning stand'?
Comment