UPDATE
6-11-08
I discovered a super easy way to stay warmer in bed using a $1.00 item
which you can buy at Harbor Freight on sale. Or you can pay a bit more
and find it at most sporting goods stores AND it's even used in wrapping
packages. What is it?
Aluminized mylar. It's the shiny plastic film which you see on windows,
on the 'emergency sleeping blanket' , package wrap for Christmas, etc.
It's used many places and it's just a clear plastic which looks silver
due to a thin film of aluminum which has been sprayed or deposited on
the plastic.
Why it works and works well. Plastic is an excellant insulator. It will keep heat in if you cover yourself with it. Besides this fact the
reflective film of aluminum reflects heat from your body back to you.
It feels like plastic film, and when you look through it you'll see it
might be bluish or grey color. This is the aluminum interfering with
light through what is normally clear mylar.
How to use it.
Put it between the sheet and the blanket(s). This will put it close
to your body but not directly on your body. If you are sweating or
otherwise releasing a lot of moisture you might find a problem with
regards to the plastic not breathing. But I don't think you will. Not
in my experience has this been a problem.
Buy several.
This product often comes folded into a 6x6" square. If you find it on
a roll , as in wrapping, rejoice. Use it for the bed AND in Summer use
it on the window , inside, directly on the surface.
It will reflect sunlight back out before it can come through the window
pane to be absorebed in the air and heating the room.
Leave no space between it and the pane or you'll defeat the purpose.
Well that's it. My $0.02 or 2cents.
-- And not the End.. see below..
As I searched online for
reflective mylar film I realized there's so many more uses so here's
an edit:
They make ballons from it. The mylar and aluminum helps keep the gas in.
IF you buy the bubble pack with reflective film you might gain even more.
Watch for it in big rolls you buy 1 foot at a time - Home Depot
See it on eBay 4' x 25' is $20. A fair deal considering it has to be shipped
to you. The fact that it's rolled is a bonus. Look for it locally unless
you're going to buy a lot to offset shipping. Although it's weight is very
low so you must avoid paying a lot for shipping For example the piece
4' x 25' will weigh less than 1 lb probably.
Computer parts bags. Using a heat sealer put your easily damaged by static electicity
parts in bags made of it.
Reflect more light to plants with it.
It's not so perfect for a mirror. But you will see movement and shapes easily.
And so on
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I found a nice link with more helpful savings and frugal living advice.
Don't forget to add your own at the end of the page here. But if you've read
all of these posts then feel free to go here and pick up more tips.
Frugal Living Links
Hi, I posted in Finance because I saw a frugal living link and figured maybe Finance was the best general category.
I wanted to start a thread that would talk about saving energy
and saving money. We all know that we're skinflints. (someone look up
the etymology of that word).
With some discussion we can increase our understanding of what can save
money and make us more comfortable.
I got my degree in electronics in 1974 just about the time the energy shortage
was in swing the first time. One of my ideas at that time was to put alternators
on each wheel of a car so that when the brakes were applied the electricity generated
would charge the battery. They do that now. It took 30 years.
But whether it was my idea or the collective consciousness it happened.
And it can happen here.
There are simple rules.
Post your ideas for saving or creating energy that improves the comfort of your
health, wealth, or happiness.
Post links to sites that we can collect and put them in a list for people to download
as a bookmark or web page. I'll be glad to help collect links and create a page on my
web site where we can post the page.
Invite people to FW site. It's not beneath you to make up some business cards with
your name and a few select sites that you can hand out when you're in line at the bank
or elsewhere that you might strike up a conversation. Include the FW web site on the
card with other links that are of money saving interests.
We're all Americans. And we do it better. Let's prove it.
Here's my first link. I promise to add more.
It's pretty basic. It's the link to the Energy Star
web site where you can get ideas for saving energy and even get loans
and other methods to help you to save money.
http://www.energystar.gov/
Linked Linked
And here's an idea for saving energy that I use regularly.
I put some thermometers outside the windows where I can see them daily. Some thermometers have long wires on them so you can run them outside and put the unit inside. When I can see the outside temperature then if it's warmer outside than inside and I want to warm up the house I can turn on my whole house fan and bring in warmer air than the inside air.
This usually happens about September here. When sometimes at nights it's been cold but the next day is warm. If the house has not been opened up and I don't turn on the heat the house can become colder from the night before than it is outside.
Usually unless it's about 8° difference I don't turn on the whole house fan. But if it's 8° I turn on the fan and get 'free heat'.
Once the house has warmed up a bit then I turn off the fan to save energy.
Soon I Hope to make what's called a differential controller that will sense the difference in heat and turn on the whole house fan automagically when I ask for heat (or cool). <- this happens at night in the summmer when the house has become warm but it's become cool at night.
Let's hear your ideas.
UPDATE : Please add your requests for products or services to this list. IF you're wanting to solve a problem we can help you. If you don't have your PM (private message) turned on . Turn it on so you can be contacted directly if the matter is personal
