Water Heater Blankets
A water heater blanket is made of insulation contained within plastic so that it can be attached to the water heater. Blankets are rated based upon their 'R' value, just like other insulation.
The blankets require scissors or a box-cutter and some tape (often included) to install
Some tanks recommend that you don't use a blanket, if you still have the manual or contact the company. If the tank is in a VERY warm area of the house, such as near a furnace, then there is probably no need for one. However, if it's in a cold room, just put your hand on the outside of the heater. If it's warm, a blanket will save you some money.
How to Insulate Your Windows with Bubble Wrap
You need: spray bottle, x-acto knife and bubble wrap. Mist the water onto the window sill. Push the bubble side of the wrap against the sill. The water will hold the bubble wrap to the window all winter without tape or glue. Use the x-acto knife to cut away any excess. The bubble wrap will not stain your windows.
A single pane window has an R value of less than one. (.8) By placing bubble wrap in the window, its R value will be around two. Keep it Solar has a detailed article on how much money bubble wrap will save you.
From Keep it Solar:
For a 7000 deg-day climate (northern US), and single glazed windows, the bubble wrap increases the R value from about R1 to about R2. This cuts the heat loss from the window in half.
Heat losses with and without bubble wrap for 1 sq-ft of window are:
**Heat loss w/o wrap = (7000 deg-day)(1 ft^2) (24 hr/day) / (1 ft^2-F/BTU) = 168K BTU per season
**Heat loss with wrap = (7000 deg-day)(1 ft^2) (24 hr/day) / (2 ft^2-F/BTU) = 88K BTU per season
You can buy your own bubble wrap. It's inexpensive, but you'll save money if you salvage it. Furniture stores will have extra bubble wrap. Any large department stores will probably have it too. Call around. Bubble wrap insulation can last up to seven years.
Weather-strip doors and window casings
Black foam strip is the type we use. We hang heavy insulated curtains over the picture windows to save on AC in the summer. It will save you money in the winter too. They aren't going to win us any style awards, but they look acceptable and they were pretty cheap at Sears.
Other ideas for reducing heating bills
**Set your overhead fan blades to the other direction (if you can) to push that heated air that you've already paid for back down into the room.
**We use space heaters and heating fans (use caution with young children, and don't leave them unattended even if you don't have kids) if you are all in the same room and you can close off that room.
**After you bake or roast something and you've turned the oven off, leave the door cracked open (unless you have young children). Why waste the heat? Let it warm up the room. Cooking up a big pot of soup warms up both you - when you eat it, and the kitchen - when you cook it.
**Go outside; play with the kids or exercise. When you come back in, it'll seem warm in comparison. Or go to bed early to snuggle with your loved one.
**Don't be afraid to post a sign above the thermostat that states "We have rent to pay and food to buy-sweaters are in the hall closet, thank you."
**Limit the time of hot showers and be frank with older children about the cost of hot water. With younger children, there is always the option of bathing them together, especially if they are the same gender, VERY young, or if you don't mind unexpected questions about bodily differences between boys and girls.
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