Mother Nature has finally remembered that it is getting late in the year. It’s showing outside, as the leaves are changing to that magnificent reddish-brown shade they take before falling to the ground. That also means that it’s starting to get chilly outside, an issue with plenty of its own trappings.
The natural instincts for most students as Autumn progresses and Winter starts to rear its frosty head are to turn up the heat and grab some warm new gear. Still, with many students interested in saving money (and hopefully conserving energy while they are at it), these old habits may need to hibernate this year.
Kansas winters can get absurdly cold, it is true. Unfortunately, keeping the central heat blasting at all times gets rather costly, especially in the older homes that many students live in around campus. I once lived in a decades-old house which, during the winter, was unbearably drafty. This was largely due to the state of disrepair my apathetic landlord had allowed it to fall into. Heating bills could be horrendous as my roommates and I struggled to keep the place comfortable in the mid-November through mid-February period. Still, as tempting as it was to crank up the heat and let our wallets take the hit, we found ways to fight off the cold inside.
For my part, I had a hardwood floor in my bedroom, and putting my bare feet on that every morning after getting out of bed was difficult enough, until I found a large rug my parents had stopped using in their house after redoing their floors. It took up a goodly amount of the open space, gave me something a little less jarring to stand on, and definitely seemed to add a little more insulation to the room.
If you’ve got some extra blankets lying around, or know a place where you can get a couple on the cheap, try hanging them up by particularly thin walls, or windows that nobody actually cares to look out of. We’ve all got one or two windows in the house that don’t provide a pleasant view, or let in enough natural light, especially during the winter, to be all that practical, so don’t be afraid to cover them up. Think of it like you’re putting up unusually thick curtains.
If you’re not up to something so DIY, keep in mind that weatherized windows (storm windows, new weather stripping, etc.) can be helpful in retaining heat, and consider asking your landlord/lady about installing them. It might also be helpful to recommend they look at programs like Efficiency Kansas, which can help homeowners make their properties more energy efficient over the long term.
Another thing to consider is simply how you dress. Don’t be afraid to keep your house just warm enough that you can be comfortable keeping a sweater or coat on inside. Similarly, you can always have an extra blanket on hand when you’re sitting on the couch (that is, if you’ve got any left over after the windows are taken care of). And when you start worrying about winter clothing, it isn’t, as hard as some of your favorite stores will insist to you, that big a deal that you wear the same sweaters, hats, and other warm items that you’ve had for the last few years. As long as something still works, running out to buy new gloves just costs you more money, and encourages overproduction.
If you do feel like trying a new look, keep your attention focused on second-hand stores where you can potentially swap out clothing (as opposed to throwing things out to make room in your closet), or find a shelter looking for donations.
In summation, don’t just look to stay warm this winter. There are easy ways to save money and stay green.
- Ben
