This is an open letter to the lady on public radio news keeping her three bedroom home at 60 degrees due to lack of money for heat.
I also have a three bedroom home and my home has central heat. I have blocked the vents in every “dry” room — heat goes only to rooms that require heat to prevent plumbing from freezing. A small living/rec/TV room area can be partitioned off with cardboard or blankets to restrict warm air only to that living/rec/TV area to comfort.
My comfort zone is 75 degrees, as the result of an accident, so my home heating bill also ran over $600/month. By “downsizing” my active living space, and heating only that space, I have reduced my average heat bill in the coldest months to $150. And my walls are not insulated. Therefore, I know this method will work for the lady they interviewed on public radio, as well as other low-income Alaskans losing heating assistance. It sure beats being wrapped up in blankets!
I do not expect to know anyone’s unique situation, wherein they feel the need to heat rooms that are usually unoccupied (except for sleeping). However, neither can the State of Alaska be expected to pay the cost cited as necessary to heat all rooms in a three bedroom home to comfort.
I encourage people to apply this solution to their living space. The new rule for low-income folk in Alaska is to adapt in order to stay warm. There are other ways to control high heating costs, but this is the simplest and cheapest, requiring only cardboard and duct tape.
My suggestion is not intended to disparage the interviewee or any low-income people. Instead, I offer it to help those folks denied heating assistance to turn a problem into a solution. Small space equals less money spent on heat.
Good luck out there this winter.
Garri Constantine,
Juneau
