Wonderful points to remember.  We keep our thermostat at 58 because we do not have young children or elderly that must have warmth.  Sweaters and, surprisingly, organic cotton socks are really warm!

For anyone looking for new flooring, please consider Cork.  A wonderful insulator against heat and cold plus wonderful to stand and walk on day in and day out (great for anyone with back problems as my husband can attest).  It had always been my fantasy to have Cork flooring.  Yes, it is still pricier then Pergo or Hardwood so we opted to cover just 1/3 of our home.  We had it installed in the living room, hallway, and main bath.

Probably part of the reason I hope Cork becomes more of a choice is prices will drop then we can put more cork in our home   Seriously, Cork flooring is environmentally friendly and considered a renewable and sustainable natural resource.  The Cork bark used renews itself within nine years.  Installation was as expensive as the Cork so we will order the Cork tiles and install ourselves when we are ready.

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Some ideas from a booklet I'm writing, called "Resourcing 101":

Install weather stripping and use caulking to reduce drafts and energy leakage.  Contact your local utility company for information on programs in your area to help pay for the cost. 

Keep the lint screen and the outside exhaust vent for your clothes dryer clean.

According to the Oregon State University Extension Energy Program, you can save $30 - $80 per year by:

Setting your heater thermostat 68 degrees F, and lowering it to 55 degrees at bedtime or when you leave the house for longer than an hour.  Don't turn the thermostat off.

Insulating your water heater, and setting the temperature at no more than 120 degrees F.

Fix any leaky or dripping faucets, as a drip can cost as much as $5 per month!

Recommended temperatures for a refrigerator is 38 to 42 degrees F, and 5 degrees for the freezer compartment.  Setting the temperature and cleaning the coils underneath or on the back of the unit can save you $8-$10 a month.

Cook with a microwave, pressure cooker or crockpot to save time and energy.

Make a habit of unplugging small appliances when they're not in use: chargers, transformers, microwaves, computers, etc.  As long as they're plugged in, they're using electricity.

Use thermal drapes if possible.

Insulate behind switchplates; check under sinks for holes around the plumbing that might be letting in cold air, and insulate.

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And, a personal experience.  Last year, we put thick plastic sheets up in the windows.  I'm sure they helped - but not much.  This year, I've bought a dozen "survival blankets" from an Army/Navy surplus store, and will be putting them up in the windows sandwiched between plain sheets and the curtains.  We also made sure that there was insulation around the door leading into the garage.

For free firewood, check or post on Craigslist or Freecycle.  Last year, I found a furniture company that was giving away pallets and odds and ends of lumber.  Some of it wasn't useable because the wood had been treated with chemicals - but much of it was untreated. 

Blessings!

Cynthia H

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If you rent and are looking for a new place, avoid any apartment or house that has baseboard heaters!!  They're very inefficient, and are usually placed under windows - which allows a lot of the heat to go up and out of those same windows.  In older baseboard heaters, it can also be difficult to control the temperature settings.

Baseboard heaters are usually found in older, non-remodeled places (old insulation, single pane windows, etc.) so the rent may be lower.  But you'll end up spending far more than your savings in rent on your utilities!!

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