BOOMER JOURNEYS

Falling temperatures and a failing economy mean Americans are looking for ways to cut energy costs.  Reducing home heating bills does not mean suffering through the cold or sacrificing safety for savings.  Simple measures can keep you warm, safe and save you money this winter.
Before you lower that thermostat, make sure you are spending most of your energy dollars keeping the heat inside and the cold outside.  Do a draft survey from attic to cellar.
Check all openings into the house including doors and windows, which should shut tightly with no drafts around the frame.  Lock windows to keep them tightly sealed. 
Don’t forget more uncommon sources of heat loss such as bathroom and kitchen vent fans and dryer vents.  They should allow air out but protect from drafts coming in. 
Check with your power company for guidelines on stopping heat loss.  Find information and tips at the government’s http://www.energystar.gov website.  These resources can tell you where to check for air flow and how to stop it properly.  They also offer many ideas for limiting the amount of energy needed to keep your family safe and warm all winter long.
Consider closing vents and doors to rooms you do not use.  Put your heat where your family really lives.  Use programmable thermostats to lower temperatures while you are gone and raise them before you get home.  Use it to lower temperatures at night while you sleep but raise them before you get up.
Remember a cooler home may be better for your health.  Sleeping in a cool but not cold bedroom is considered healthiest. 
Heat is drying so keep your body hydrated.  Dried skin and nasal passages can make you more susceptible to germs and viruses.  Dry skin will also make you feel much cooler.
Follow a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise.  A healthy body functions and feels better in all weather.
Don’t forget your animal family members.  They will need extra food and water to stay warm and comfortable during cold weather. 
Dress appropriately.  Use clothing that traps your body warmth but pulls perspiration away from your skin.  Since the floor is the coldest part of the room, wear shocks and shoes or slippers to keep warm.
In “The Night Before Christmas”, the mother and father go to bed in kerchief and cap.  Covering your head helps limit your body’s heat loss. 
Use ceiling fans to pull warm air down from the ceiling.  Make sure your furniture, drapes and rugs do not block heating vents.  Open drapes during the day to let sunlight warm the house then close at night to prevent heat from escaping.
Use only approved alternative heating methods.  Make sure all equipment is in proper working order and that you follow directions for safe use.  Chimneys and flues should be checked and cleaned each season to locate any damage or blockage that could create a fire hazard. 
Space heaters should have tip-over switches that turn the heater off if it gets knocked over.  All heating devices should be the recommended safe distance from people, pets, furniture, curtains and all objects. 
Do not use any of these devices if you have not read, understood and followed the directions.  This includes having appropriately placed and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. 
Each year hundreds of people are injured, killed or left homeless by preventable house fires.  Hundreds more are injured or killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly used or defective equipment. 
While turning down the heat can save energy costs, it may not be safe for all members of your family.  Watch for accidental hypothermia. 
Family members who are very old or young, in poor health or with some health conditions and taking some medications may have more difficulty maintaining proper internal body temperature.  Even with plenty of warm clothing, they can fall victim to hypothermia.
If someone is showing signs of hypothermia, wrap them in blankets and dial 9-1-1.  Do not rub the skin for warmth as this may cause damage.
Good sense and a little energy smarts this winter can keep you warm and cozy at home without breaking your energy budget.