Simple Strategies for Winter

Bbbrrr. It's official. Winter has arrived.


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This week the temperature dropped from 9°C to -17°C (48°F to 1°F) and along with the cold weather, came rain and then a foot (30 cm) of snow - but the snow came in about 48 hours, causing roads and sidewalks to become treacherously icy. Along with the cold and snow, comes increased furnace use inside the home.

Since we're all about doing things simply (and doing things that everyday people can do), here are a couple of things you can do in this winter that also respects the environment:

1) Use organic deicer on your sidewalks and driveways. (Don't cringe - it's easier than it sounds!) Green Nature suggests reading the labels on the containers before you buy - look for the ingredients calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). Along with the environmentally friendly tag, also comes a higher price tag. While I'm the meanest, greenest bargain shopper out there, I think this type of deicer is a wise choice. We use deicer every week on our sidewalks, and really, a little goes a long ways.

2) Homes with drafty windows waste a ridiculous amount of energy and it's also like burning money. A few years ago we started putting 'shrink wrap' on the windows. You can buy it at pretty much any store - WalMart, Home Depot, Rona, etc. Like a lot of others, we were very skeptical about how well it actually works to help conserve heat (and money). We were amazed. The DIY Network gives simple instructions here.

3) In cold winter climates, a programmable thermostat in your home is a necessity. We set ours 1° lower than normal. In the morning about half our before we wake up it kicks in and then lowers when we're out of the house. Since we get home around the same time every day, it kicks in again about half our before we arrive. At 10 pm (bedtime) it cools down for the night (didn't your mother ever tell you to put another blanket on the bed? Or snuggle!) If you have this type of thermostat in your home and you haven't programmed it yet, you should. Right now. Go! :)

We're always looking for new tips and tricks on remaining dedicated to the environment (and our wallets!) in the winter - if you have something to share, please let it in the comments.