Make It Do, Make It Over, Make It Last! Heating Season coming...

While we are getting our heads around the larger international issues, the political scene and THE ECONOMY, Stupid!, many of us are also thinking of simple ways to economize and prepare for what will probably be a

difficult heating season---

especially  for those of us in the north. Mine is a big drafty old house, think "It's a Wonderful Life"--well not quite that big, but of that era.

Insulate: 

A friend told me tonight of the strategy of sticking bubble wrap on windows as insulation.

You use the large bubble type, cut to size and stick up. No need for tape, and if there are guests coming you can pull it off the windows easily. I think that is a great idea and plan to use it.

Also I plan to caulk all my windows to cut drafts. Another simple idea is to remove switch and outlet plates, lay in a small piece of foam insulation and screw the plates back on--blocks the cold air from the leaking into the house. Of course changing all light bulbs for long lasting florescent is a big money saver over time.

http://www.CurrentEnergy.com

is a new company that is devoted to solutions for home and business to save electricity. I learned about them from the Sundance Channel's Big Idea program.

I'm very interested in a product called

radiant barrier aluminum sheathing.

It looks like long rolls of aluminum foil--but thicker and insulated.

Here's how it works:

It reflects 97% of heat back out of the attic and so reduces heat in the house, but does it do the converse and reflect heat back into the house and reduce need for heating in house in winter?

More Info here:. Stay tuned, I 'll ask once I get my email up again.

Another thing I do routinely as a matter of course is use rags for cleaning instead of paper towels. They are a bit more work--because then you have to wash them, but I probably only use one roll of paper towels a month, maybe a month and a half. If I need to drain something sauted--like bacon--"I know, it is not good for me", but once in a while--I use newspaper.

Remember news print runs through a very hot press--remember Hot Off the Presses! and is sterilized. So if you don't mind a little bit of ink...really the ink does not get on your food.>

Negotiate:

And don't forget you can negotiate in stores on prices--especially slightly damaged or dirtied goods.

Today, I managed to negotiate a full replacement rebate on my cracked windshield. I remembered a post card I had gotten warning of a potential problem--sent 3 years ago! I kept saying I got this post card--even tho I had thrown it away.

Then when the repair manager looked it up, said was only between so and so dates and I was out of the date window. Kept asking, couldn't anything be done--bit of a hardship, just suddenly appeared in the windshield, nothing hit it--all true. Finally the nice fellow, said he figured out how to include my repair in the program. So in this case it really paid to keep asking and gently negotiating--to the tune of saving about $400.

And do that very simple thing Turn Off the Lights when you leave the room.

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Here is a good source for instructions on how to install radiant barrier foil www.AtticFoil.com

It is a great do-it-yourself project.