Keeping Warm and Eco-Friendly This Winter

It may be easy to keep warm if you just throw the thermostat to 75, light up the fireplace, and sip hot cocoa, but is it the best way to go? Probably not, if you would like to keep your winter carbon footprint from spiraling out of control! So, how are you supposed to keep warm without wrecking your electric bill and burning a tree or two?

Careful with your windows. Windows in the winter can be tricky, depending on the weather outside and your situation inside. Be sure your windows are properly insulated to help keep the cold out. If your windows, well, suck, and your stuck with single pane, try putting up heavier curtains to help stop the cold from getting to you.

On sunny days, if you have windows that get direct sunlight, it might work for you to allow the sun in. This works for us. Even though our thermostat is set to 65, sometimes our living room, with the blinds open on the sliding glass door to the deck, is closer to 70.

Portable heat. Sounds backwards, but sometimes portable heating can help keep your home warm and your electric bills down. Make sure to use an energy efficient portable heater. This idea probably won't work if you have a large home or are trying to heat more than one room at a time, but it's another tip that is working for us. We spend most of our time in the living room, so we have a heater that keeps the living room warm and, since the heat tends to slowly fill the rest of our relatively small condo, it also helps keep our central heating from turning on all the time. In fact, since setting it up, the central heating only turns on at night, when we aren't running the heater.

Keep active. No explanation needed.

Dress in layers. If going outside, a few light, comfortable layers can be better than one, bulky layer because layering traps air, which works as an insulator. The first layer should be light and absorbent, the middle is your insulator, and the top is your weather protector.

If you're staying inside, go crazy with your layers and wear whatever keeps you warm! Remember to keep your feet warm, as well. Socks, slippers, more socks, whatever works. Natural fibers are best for warmth, and they breath. Skip regular silk and try tussah silk. Tussah silk worms are wild, and the silk is gathered after the moth emerges, so it is cruelty free. Other good options include wool (make sure it's also cruelty free), and organic cotton.

Cook. I'm not saying to go and cook just to keep warm, but if you were already planning to cook, take advantage of the warmth! When you're done cooking and have turned the oven off, leave the door open a bit to let the rest of the heat do some more warming.

Eat or drink something warm. Another obvious tip!

Skip the electric blankets. Electric blankets put out EMFs, or electromagnetic fields. While there is controversy over the danger of EMFs, they may be connected to diseases such as cancer. EMFs are better known for coming from places such as cell phones, computers, and power lines. On another safety related issue, electric blankets are responsible for thousands of fires each year.

Bundle up with regular blankets - try wool (I repeat, cruelty free) or down.

Cuddle up. If all else fails, or even if it doesn't, cuddle up with a loved one or a pet. What better way to stay warm?