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In summer, the blankets remain in the entrance way to the bedroom and the air conditioning cools the rest of the house. Next year, if it's a hot one, I'll add blankets to the kitchen entrance way as well.
Source: Necessity, and talking with husband and a friend; sort of a brainstorm session.
By Nekocat from Oregon
By
02/22/2011
Sounds like you live in the place we spent our Oregon Coast honeymoon in November 1959. Anyway saw the same thing as a decorating hint a few years ago that suggested using the quilted/embroidered bedspreads you can buy for next to nothing at places like Marshall's, in doorways and windows. It even suggested hanging them on walls as decor, too. That is if you have a country themed home. If not find some quilted/reversible spreads in the colors that match your decor. You can often find great ones at thrift stores. How do you hang them for ease of opening? The clear shower curtains (and I have seen some really heavy ones) sound like a great idea, too. A lot of us live or have lived like that. It just makes us really "experienced" in the realities of life, and personally I think the better and more appreciative, for it. Have fun, it's what we make of it.
By
02/22/2011
We live in the desert and in the summer the temps reach over 110 daily. We've got central A/C throughout, and two large units that sit outside, one is for the upstairs, the other for the downstairs cooling and each with it's own thermostat inside on the wall up and downstairs. We found that a purchase of buying the 1/2" styrofoam (it comes in large sheets) which you can cut to any size-
then put into the windows "fitted" sure has cut our electric bill down approx 30% which is a serious savings.
These sheets (5X8) of styrofoam are incredible insulation for heat or cold. They're 1/2 inch thick,
and sold at Home Depot.
This idea came from looking at those simple thin
styrofoam cups that offices serve coffee in. They
can hold a cup of boiling hot coffee, and they're only
1/4" thick. So, to place these in windows, or anywhere, keeps the hot or cold out in a real
serious way. They really work!
By
02/22/2011
Nekocat, I'm wishing I could send you some of the sunny weather we're having rght now. However, since I cannot, at least I can tell you that your story sounded so much like the way we lived in North Carolina for a couple of years and sure brought back some sweet and cozy memories.
Do take the advice of Poor But Proud and if you do have Native American blood, it would mean the world to you and your children to go to the council. I'm hoping it's true for you.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Pookarina
By
02/22/2011
Try bubble-wrap!
You can get it in 2', 3' and 4" and even wider versions. If you can't get used stuff from a warehouse, you can buy
it by the foot, quite cheaply. After all, it is disposable packing material. Three layers taped together at the top and bottom, are as good as an insulated door.
You can stick a curtain rod through at the top and toss some sawdust in at the bottom before taping the sides. The sawdust weighs it down so that it is snug at the bottom.
As long as nobody pops the bubbles, it will be good for many years. Works well for walk-in freezers and pantries
too. You don't need a hand free to walk through.
Have FUN!
DearWebby
http://humor.webby.com
By
12/06/2009
Contact your local energy assistance agency. If you have any native american blood in you, there is no waiting for an appt. They will insulate your home, replace windows, and yes, they can get you doors. If you own your home, they can do all or part of that for no cost to you.
You should not live that way and if you can contact them, their is one based in Salem OR, the capital, but have smaller agencies in each county seat, then please do.
If you have friends who are handy and you can spare a few dollars, you can also get used doors for next to nothing. Bless you for your ingenuity, but please do something or at least try to make it better. Your health is important too.
Sandi/Poor But Proud
By
12/03/2009
We are so sensitive to cold here that a shower curtain alone won't work, but it does help to put one between or behind the blankets as it is tighter "fabric" than the blankets. I don't like that it makes the place seem even smaller than it already is, but it costs too much to let the furnace and ac have full range.
By
12/02/2009
We sort of do the same thing here. Except we use clear shower curtains on spring tension rods and on larger doorways we use spring tension shower curtain rods ( they twist to tighten to fit well). Clear shower curtains work for us
1st so we don't run into each other and we can keep an eye on the kids in another room and
2nd to still allow light :)
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