5 Ways to Stay Warm Sustainably

As stated by WITF News, home energy use makes up 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., with 50% of energy use in the home coming from A/C and heating systems. So, what can we do to stay warm while lowering our carbon footprint?

1. Insulate

The first tip we have is to insulate your home in order to prevent heat from escaping. Fill gaps between windows and doors using towels or weatherstripping strips from the store, make sure to layer insulation in the attic, and consider installing storm windows. Installing storm windows its actually shown to lower your electricity bill by up to $350.

2. Invest in solar panels

Obviously, one of the clearest (and unfortunately one of the priciest) solutions is to replace your energy source with something more eco-friendly like solar panels. There are rebate programs you can look into if you’re interested in pursuing solar panels but don’t have the funds to invest in them right now. Use this DSIR database to look up rebate programs available to your zip code and learn more about potential options open to you!

3. Stock up on sweaters

Gathering up throw blankets and sweaters is a simple but easy way to stay warm without using too much heat. My favourite sweaters and sweatshirts were found at thrift stores and vintage shops, and throw blankets aren’t hard to come by either! One tip I also loved was investing in hot water bottles - another cool DIY tip is to make a sac out of old t-shirts and fill it with corn kernels or buckwheat. Heating this in the microwave has the same effect as a good old fashioned hot water bottle.

4. Set up radiator reflectors

If you have a radiator, consider installing a reflector! They reflect 95% of the heat given off of the radiator. All you need to do is attach foil to the space behind the radiator, and you’ll get to enjoy a much warmer space! You can have a similar effect on your water heater by wrapping fibreglass around it, and even by attaching aluminium sheets to your attic’s rafters.

5. Recycle heat

I’ve been seeing this tip a lot, and just realised I do this everyday, or at least anytime I use the oven. After turning the oven off, I leave the door open to let the leftover heat fill the room. I might even eat my dinner in front of it. This might sound a bit extra, but as someone living in an apartment with abominable heating, I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. Either way, it’s an eco-friendly way to not waste heat, and can be used anytime you’re using an appliance that emits heat, even from the stovetop or shower.

Lastly, make sure to check out two of our articles covering sustainable energy use in our homes: Refillism Feature: WITF News Climate Series Part One, "Start at Home" and Refillism Feature: WITF News Climate Series Part Six, "Upgrade Your Home." It’s such an expansive topic, as well as an interesting and niche one to enter when considering your household’s carbon footprint, energy bill, and general comfort. We hope this helps on your sustainability journey, and make sure to share your own tips in the comments below!

To give credit where credit is due, this blog was especially inspired by the following articles:  10 Sustainable Ways to Stay Warm and Comfy this Fall, Eco-Friendly Tips to Stay Warm and Save Money, How to stay warm indoors in winter, and 8 Little Known DIY Tips on How to Better Insulate Your Home.

References:

What can I do about climate change? Part 1: Start at Home. WITF News. https://www.instagram.com/p/CvzGr2DPQSo/

H, Leach. Refillism Feature: WITF News Climate Series Part One, "Start at Home". Refillism. https://refillism.com/blogs/blog/refillism-feature-witf-news-climate-solutions-series-part-one?_pos=2&_sid=d9db50c00&_ss=r

 8 Little Known DIY Tips on How to Better Insulate Your Home. Assured Comfort. https://www.assuredcomfort.com/blog/2019/november/8-little-known-diy-tips-on-how-to-better-insulat/?se_custom_field_10=-2118847052

What can I do about climate change? Part 6: Upgrade Your Home. WITF News. https://www.instagram.com/p/CxNOcWxtLIh/

H, Leach. Refillism Feature: WITF News Climate Series Part Six, "Upgrade Your Home." https://refillism.com/blogs/blog/refillism-feature-witf-news-climate-series-part-6-upgrade-your-home?_pos=8&_sid=6ac31b304&_ss=r

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. North Carolina State University. https://www.dsireusa.org/ 

S, Lozanova. A Guide to Government Incentives for Solar Panels. Greenlancer. https://www.greenlancer.com/post/solar-panel-incentives

 S. Brady. 10 Sustainable Ways to Stay Warm and Comfy this Fall. Cariloha https://news.cariloha.com/10-eco-friendly-ways-to-stay-warm-in-the-fall-and-winter/

L, Cole. How to Cut Carbon Out of Your Heating. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201116-climate-change-how-to-cut-the-carbon-emissions-from-heating

 5 DIY Ways to Insulate Your Home on the Cheap. Provider Power. https://providerpower.com/power-to-help/5-diy-ways-insulate-home-cheap-2/

 How to stay warm indoors in winter. David Suzuki Foundation. https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/how-to-stay-warm-indoors-in-winter/

S, Davies. Eco-Friendly Tips to Stay Warm and Save Money. A Considered Life. https://www.aconsideredlife.co.uk/2022/10/sustainable-tips-for-staying-warm-.html