We live in a very shady place - at least in the summer. Also, we are on a very strict budget. I’m thinking an efficient woodstove might be the most affordable way to help keep our home warm this winter. But, even that is probably out of our affordable range. Anyone have any more ideas? I’m affraid to get our house any tighter without also getting some kind of ventilation system. One expense leads to another. Maybe just lots of sweaters and blankets?

You’ll never go wrong with the right insulation. Let a construction firm help you out. This is not as costly as it seems. Just let the company know how much you’re willing to shell out. Don’t let your family freeze.

Inspect your home for leaks that will let in cold air. Particularly feel for cold air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets, and seal off leaks or cracks. Kulatunga says windows are the least insulated parts of a home, and sealing off gaps with caulk or weather stripping or applying plastic to the windows can stop cold air from flowing in.

I had the same problem so I ordered some Vinyl Backed Insulation from http://www.mbmi.biz they can help you solve your problem.

Although this might be a bit out of your budget if your thinking of the long term why not consider something like an air source heat pump, not only will this keep you home warm and at a consistent temperature it will also massively decrease you heating bills as well as being good for the environment.

An air source heat pump is fairly efficient down to around 30 degrees, but much below that and even the best of them end up relying on electric resistance backup, which is incredibly inefficient, and expensive.A Geothermal (ground source) heat pump is going to prove to be the most efficient electric heating or cooling mechanism in our climate.  That being said.. stop air infiltration, and remember that most heat loss is through your attic.  If you have a conventional, ventilated attic, check to make sure that the ceiling is well insulated, and their aren’t any voids. make sure air has no route between your living space and the unconditioned attic.  No matter what source of heat that you use, proper insulation and air sealing make the biggest difference in your bills.

Kris Forward

With new techonology and innovation you can actually find air source heat pumps work effectivley at temperatures considerebly lower that that. They are widely adopted in both france and switzerland who see very cold winter months. These new innovations make this a viable options for the UK, and i had no issues over this winter which was the coldest one recorded in many years.

I would like a link to that manufacturer, for more information, as this sounds good. I have a 16 SEER dual stage trane, and it is completely ineffective below 20 degrees.

have a look into the new mitsubishi ecodan air source heat pump.

There was an article in my local paper about a family using a corn-fed heater. Their review was favorable: the corn, bought from Southern States, was very economical and the heat was regulated by an auto feed system.

I agree with the other guys that sealing gaps where the cold draft tends to come in is the first, and cheapest, option for you. Using weatherstrip sealing tapes and caulking materials to cover said leaks is one good way to prevent the cold coming in.

Wanted to inform you that in the UK the Government are bringing in new incentives to help with the installation of renewable energy resources. This may mean that your financial difficulties are no longer a problem. You can look into the Feed-In tariffs which are the first of a few incentives which will mean installing a product such as an air source heat pump, will become a much more appealing option.

Other than this a quick fix option which is suitable for every home is to fully insulate the attic and the walls. Windows are said to be where lots of heat is lost however I have found that original doors can lose a lot of heat due to gaps forming and cracks down the side. Possibly have a look at replacing the doors first as a slightly cheaper alternative.

When you improve your home with
alternative energy heating you will
benefit in 3 important ways:

1. Save thousands of dollars in heating
and energy costs for years to come.

2. Improve the value of your home.

3. Get peace of mind from more
predictable fuel and energy costs.

Electricity is the most expensive, the others are dependent on local conditions and expected payoff time.

If you can swing the investment cost the least expensive are the various thermal pumps. They can be set up to draw energy from the ground surface, from a bore hole, from a nearby body of water, or even from the surrounding air. The current generations provide about 3-4 dollars of heat for every dollar of electricity they consume. Best system performance is if they can be coupled to a water carried floor heat system.

Investment costs are considerable, so you might not want to do it unless you’re well rooted in the area.

If you have your own woods, or can get firewood on the cheap through some other means, then a furnace and a large accumulator can provide cheap and comfortable heating too.

Don’t forget to start with good insulation!

Interesting discussions, although in my area this does not become a big problem, because my area is tropics. But I’ll save this topic as a reference if there are friends who ask about this .

The best thing to do on a budget would be to properly insulate your home. By buying some insulation for your loft or having properly fitted windows and doors can save loads on heating bills. Although many opt for replacment windows, it can be more benficial to replace doors first as these would lose the most amount of heat.

This may be a much more viable option however does not have the same long term effects of installing a good heating system.