The winter season is an especially hard time to think of protecting the environment, but there are still ways you can help. Conserving heat and electricity helps to lower the demand and ensure there is heat in extremely cold times. Donating unused food and old clothes to shelters helps to recycle clothes and feed hungry people without creating waste.
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Check the exterior doors to see if they close tightly. If they don’t, make a repair to make sure that they do. A drafty door can let out heat and let in cold air. Install a draft guard to keep out the cold. |
Check the foundation for termite damage, crack, air leak, etc. Things like that can waste energy by allowing heat to escape. |
Check the insulation in your home and add more according to guidelines. Talk with your local hardware store worker. Take all necessary precautions when installing it. Have a professional install wall insulation. |
Clean up the fireplace and chimney - Not only does this save electricity, heat, and stop drafts, twice a year cleaning significantly reduces the fire danger from the chimney to you home. And keeps it free flowing to prevent carbon monoxide build up in your home. |
DO NOT USE THE STOVE AS A SOURCE OF HEAT |
DO NOT USE BURNING CANDLES |
Have the furnace inspected - Clean or change filters and have regular maintenance performed. |
Have the water heater’s tank and pressure value inspected |
If you cannot avoid using space heaters, use EXTREME caution with them. |
Insulate water pipes in unheated areas |
Keep an extra blanket on your bed so you don’t have to turn the heat up at night. |
Keep all the windows closed - Make sure to close the storm windows. Cover them with film or other anti-draft object to keep in the heat. Do not use objects that can fall off. |
Keep the doors closed and install draft guards. |
Leave holiday decorations off until the nighttime. |
Limiting use of hot shower water. |
Not using the car as much, or plan several errands for one trip. |
Pack a winter survival kit. |
Repair air leaks around windows. |
Replace worn out weather stripping. This will also stop drafts and keep in heat. |
Replace an old thermostat with a setback thermostat. This allows you to program your heater to come on when you need it and shut off when you don’t. This not only saves electricity, it saves money. |
Turning off all unused electronics. |
Turn the ceiling fan to have the blades go counter-clockwise to draw heat from the ceiling. |
Turn the thermostat down by one or two degrees. |
Turn off all unused lights. |
Using cold water more to wash clothes. |
Wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher if you use hotwater. |
Wear long sleeved, long legged, dark colored clothing. |
Wrap your hot water heater in an approved insulation blanket. There are specific blankets made for the heater with places to cut out for the flames and valves. Ask your hardware store worker which one is approved for your heater. |
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Be sure to cover your head with a hat, hands with gloves, and your neck with a scarf. |
Clean your gutters of blocked leaves before it gets too cold and put the leaves in a collection pile or compost heap. |
Do not drink alcohol - It will give you a false sense of warmth and will make you more groggy, potentially causing you to fall asleep. |
Donate a new toy to the Toys for Tots charity drive. |
Drink hot liquids like hot chocolate and soup but use reusable mugs and bowls. |
Donate all your old, unused winter clothing and blankets to local shelters instead of clothing bins. |
Donate all unused food from holiday and winter parties to local shelters. |
DO NOT SIT IN A RUNNING CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED! |
Turn off outdoor holiday lights during the day when it's sunny. |
Wear long sleeved, long legged, dark colored clothing. |
Wear layers, but avoid the down filled coats. |
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Cold weather, winds, and snow can easily leave a person disoriented. Please be careful and take shelter immediately. |
Even in the winter, you need to be cautious with fire dangers. |
Keep a working cellphone with you. Donate your old ones to battered women's shelters, which will reprogram to dial only 911 and give them to women in need. |
Obey all avalanche warnings. |
Watch out as sudden snowstorms and even blizzards can arrive with little warning. |
Wintertime leaves animals very hungry. Lock up all food and secure all trash. |
