Thermostat wars

[YankeeMom]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05326/610551.stm

Thermostat wars: As natural gas prices rise, homeowners see how low they can go
Tuesday, November 22, 2005

By Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Within every thermostat, there are fine lines separating comfortable from tolerable from downright unpleasant.

But in the face of sky-high natural gas prices, some homeowners are pushing the boundaries of "How low can you go?"

How about 58 degrees?

"When you move around, it's not so bad," said Ray Berquist of Oklahoma, Westmoreland County, who keeps his house at a brisk 58 degrees during the day in an effort to control energy costs.

When he and his wife get home from work, "we bundle up," said his wife, Linda Toy. "Maybe we turn it up to 62 on a really cold day."

The couple also bought a space heater and installed extra insulation.

"It used to be your heating bill was just a nuisance," said Dan Donovan, spokesman for Dominion Peoples. "This year, it's an expense you have to plan for."

The federal government is forecasting that heating bills for natural gas users will rise 48 percent over last year. In October, prices rose 14 percent -- the biggest monthly increase in four years.

The first place that many homeowners look for salvation is the thermostat. And for each degree the heat is lowered, homeowners can save as much as 3 percent on heating bills.

That said, the sub-60 scene isn't for everyone. For infants, the elderly and the infirm, the Allegheny County Health Department recommends keeping the thermostat at 70 or above, to ward off the risk of hypothermia.

Those with pets also should think twice about a temperature plunge: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends a range of 65 to 72, depending on the type of animal.

Even for those winter warriors willing to do battle with the elements, Mr. Donovan doesn't recommend dropping the thermostat below 57, for the sake of health, houseplants and furnace capabilities.

For many people, the thermostat stays at a comfortable 68 or 70, despite the extra cost. But after receiving their first high heating bill, some must make the choice between being cold and being broke, dialing for dollars by turning down the thermostat.

Christy David, of Dormont, pays her heating bills through Dominion's budget plan, which adjusts payments to keep them level throughout the year. When her budget amount was adjusted this fall from $170 to $386, she thought it was a misprint.

When she found out the amount was correct, she dropped the temperature to 68 degrees when she's home, 65 when she isn't.

That means dressing her 6-year-old and 9-year-old in sweat pants -- not nightgowns and T-shirts -- for bed. And she's already hearing complaints. "Just last night my son said 'Mommy, can you turn the heat up?'" she said. "But he can't get a job at the age of 6."

For those without children in the house, there is still tension around the thermostat.

Rick Guriel, of Pleasant Hills, keeps his house between 60 and 62 degrees -- when he controls the thermostat. "My wife puts it up, I put it down," he said.

Dale Hayden, of Franklin Park, swears that even when his house is at 60, he is sometimes too warm. Given his druthers, he said, he would turn the thermostat "as low as I can get," but his wife has forbidden anything below 60.

Mr. Hayden's attitude is typical of other thermostat cellar dwellers: even when he is cold, he doesn't turn up the heat. He copes with the chill either by exercising or putting on more clothes.

"I'll dress up rather than turn the heat up," he said.

Lowering the temperature certainly has its downside in cold fingers and whining teenagers. But there are some who can see virtue through their chattering teeth and shivering toes: energy conservation.

"None of us would have talked about this five years ago," said Jim Atkinson, a Cleveland resident in town for a business meeting. "Maybe at the end of the day it's a good thing."

[MOMMYDEAREST]

I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO NOT TURN MY HEAT ON...BUT LAST WEEK IT GOT 20 DEGREES AT NIGHT & I BROKE DOWN & TURNED IT ON. WE BOUGHT 2 ELECTRIC HEATERS & THEY WORK GREAT. BUT I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE THERMOSTAT AS LOW AS I CAN...I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT!!!!

[ironmaiden]

My neice who last year kept the heat at 55 degrees is now planning to set it at 50 this winter. They have an electric blanket, down vest in the house and just tons of clothes on all the time.
This is in New England. The poor husband's brother is from Mexico and froze while visiting them for two weeks.

[homesteadmamma]

We live in the frozen north. I keep mine at 64 during the day, 58 at night. We dress warmer and sleep a whole lot better at night when it's cooler.

One thing we do though. When we have company over, we turn our heat to 68, making it comfortable for our company.

[graci42]

My dear MIL called last night. She wants to borrow our kerosene heater-- She filled her oil tank when she moved in last month. Her daughter and Grandchildren + great grand child moved in 2 weeks ago and the kids have played with the thermostat so much that she is now out of oil! 250 gal in 2 weeks. OMG

'round here that's a hang'n offence!

I like your idea CJ. I've got an appointment Friday with potential portrait client and I'll kick the furnace up 1/2 hr before they get here.

bye,
Graci

[SHOPGIRL]

Hey, "How low can you go!" that was the title of one of my threads. Well, I can totally relate. In the past, I would keep my heat at 70 when I was home, then I would turn it down to 68 at night. During the day when I remembered, I'd turn the heat down to 65.

Now, I've gone even lower. I turn the heat down to 60 during the day while I'm at work. I've turned it into the 50s, but I'll probably keep it at 55-58 when I'm gone. Then, I turn it up to 68 when I get home, then back down to 65, then at night when I'm sleeping, it goes down to 62.

I've also purchased 3 vornado space heaters and they really help when I get too cold. Other than that, I dress warm at home, and of course use a lot of blankets.

[YankeeMom]

Shannon, I totally thought of you when I read that

My sisters were shocked when I told them how low I kept my house. My mom's house is soooo warm (the wood stove is always going full blast, the use their furnace VERY rarely) and I was kind of "whining" playfully about how hot it was & mentioned that I was used to much colder temps in my house. Both sisters were like when I told them it was 59* during the day. Then I said, but I turn it up to 62* during the night.
Both of them confessed, they keep their thermostats set to at least 70* night and day, whether they are home or not. That made me

[SHOPGIRL]

Well, I can relate, my family came to visit over the holiday weekend and they were cold. I have a frugal mom, but she was just too cold. So, even at 68 was cold for them. I did have the heat up when they were here, plus the space heater going. I was so hot! I use to like it really hot, but now I've adjusted to cooler temps and it is just fine.