Eco-Friendly Heating Tips for Winter

By Peter Aronson

The world news about climate change can be overwhelmingly negative at times. But it’s important to keep in mind that if every person focuses on reducing their carbon footprint, collectively we can have a big impact.

“Every one of us can help limit global warming and take care of our planet,” the UN’s ActNow website states. “By making choices that have less harmful effects on the environment, we can be part of the solution and influence change.”

So let’s talk about how we can reduce our collective carbon pollution by using less energy for heat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 14 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from homes and businesses, including heating. Additionally, 25 percent of carbon emissions come from use of electric power and roughly 25 to 40 percent of U.S. homes use electric heat.

With that said, it’s clear if we reduce winter heating use, we will collectively reduce our carbon footprints in a meaningful way. Here are some suggestions:

• The obvious one. Lower the thermostat. The National Park Service suggests lowering it 3 degrees Fahrenheit in winter (and raising it 3 degrees in summer).
• We all have ugly sweaters in our drawers–this is a great winter to start wearing them…indoors! Using programmable thermostats can help with keeping the thermostat lower.
• Use less hot water by taking shorter showers, installing a low-flow shower head, and washing clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot. 
• Weatherproof your windows; install double-pane windows.
• Install insulation.
• Consider solar or other sources of renewable energy. 
• Use a more energy-efficient heating/cooling system.
• To learn about all the options that might be available and beneficial to you, schedule a home energy audit. To learn more about audits, click here. Depending on where you live, to schedule an assessment, you may need to Google: schedule home energy assessment [input town, city or state where you live]

More resources:
The National Park Service has an excellent article about reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home. 

The UN’s ActNow program stands for the principle that everyone can make a difference, that everyone, particularly citizens in advanced countries, must adjust their way of life to reduce their carbon footprint. This is essential as we strive to cut emissions by half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. UN’s ActNow & UN’s facts & figures  

It’s important to keep in mind that every bit of energy conservation helps. Let’s make a habit of it.

Peter Aronson, a volunteer writer at the New York League of Conservation Voters since September 2022, is a former journalist and retired attorney. He is the author of Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene, a novel for middle-grade readers about kids fighting global warming. Kirkus Reviews, in a starred review, wrote: “A scathing work and an essential blueprint for youth battling climate change.” To read more about Peter, visit his website www.peteraronsonbooks.com or to purchase his book, click here.