Saving energy in cold weather? 15 tips on how to do it

It can get very cold these months, with temperatures in the low range, sometimes below zero. Meanwhile, energy has gotten more expensive.

How can we stay warm at home in this cold and still save money and energy? This gallery brings together the 15 best tips.

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In view of the energy crisis and high energy prices, many people are desperate to save energy in their households.

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As the German Minister of Economics and Climate Protection said in October, "we are in a serious energy crisis, [which] is threatening to develop into an economic and, as a result, a social crisis." Many families could get into trouble because of high energy bills.

One way to save on energy is to reduce the temperature of your home by a few degrees. It takes getting used to the new temperature level, but with a thick sweater or a blanket, you can manage.

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What else can you do to save on energy in these low temperatures? The following 15 tips will help.

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A classic in winter. Filled with hot water, the bottle or bag creates a wonderfully pleasant warmth. Its fluffy cover increases the effect and protects us against burns. Putting the hot water bottle in bed or snuggling up in blankets on the sofa increases the effect. This is how we get through the winter.

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A second classic among the heat makers in winter is freshly brewed tea. Ingredients such as ginger stimulate circulation and warm you from the inside. In a thermos, the tea keeps its temperature for a long time.

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Cuddling not only releases happiness hormones, but the body heat generated together also warms you up and lets you forget the cold temperatures.

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Sharing a home in expensive times is like carpooling to save on gas. If you and your friends work from home, suggest that you work at the same place together and rotate between the houses.

When it's cold outside, windows should stay closed. Permanently tilted windows only cool the room down unnecessarily. However, to ensure that fresh air can still get into the rooms and the moisture can escape, you should air the rooms for a maximum of five minutes in the morning and evening.

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It's also good to know that when the outside temperature is below zero, the air exchange goes faster, so you don't have to do it for more than a few minutes.

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The tea light heater is very easy to build yourself. Simply place three tea lights on a fireproof surface and place stones of about the same size with a height of a few centimeters around the tea lights. Now put a clay pot upside down over the tea lights and place it on the stones.

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Thanks to the stones, the rim of the clay pot does not shut off the base entirely, which means that the candles receive oxygen and can continue to burn. The clay pot is heated by the flame of the candles and gives off the heat evenly to the room. In any case, be very careful, as always, with fire inside the home.

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If your feet are cold, your whole body usually feels colder. A warm footbath helps in this case. The ideal water temperature would be 36 to 38°C (96.8 - 100.4ºF). After taking your footbath, pack your feet in thick wool socks and say goodbye to the cold.

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An addition of essential oils to your footbath, such as mint or lemon, will brighten the mood, while lavender relaxes. Milk and honey can be added to provide additional relief for troubled feet.

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Exercising stimulates blood circulation, which makes us warm. The muscles built up through regular exercise, as well as the more active metabolism, mean that we are less likely to get cold, as the constant energy consumption of the muscle cells generates heat even when we are at rest.

Sit-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups can be performed even in the smallest of spaces and without expensive equipment.

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A heat-reflecting film can be placed behind radiators located on external walls. As a result, the heat generated by the radiators is not emitted to the outside via the wall but radiated into the room via the foil. This trick has been proven to save heating costs.

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It may sound paradoxical, but a cold shower helps against getting cold. That's because the cold water constricts the vessels, which stimulates blood circulation. Then, after the shower, we get warmer. Aside from this immediate effect, cold showers also strengthen the immune system.

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Important: When taking a cold shower, it is best to start with your legs in order to slowly get your body used to the cold shower. That way you'll prevent circulatory problems. Deep inhalation and exhalation during the cold shower relaxes us and lets us feel the cold less intensely.

Those who prefer warm water can take this classic tip to heart: a warm bath. A lot of energy is required to heat the water, and therefore we need to stay for at least 15 to 20 minutes in the approximately 36 to 38°C (96.8 - 100.4ºF) water. Then, we wrap ourselves in thick clothing under a cozy blanket so the heat lasts for a long time. An additional tip: Bathing together saves energy and is more fun.

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This tip doesn't cost much or take much effort. Imagining a hot stove or a roaring log fire helps beat the cold. It's a technique used by die-hard ice bathers to help them endure the cold.

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Curry, chili, ginger - some ingredients really heat us up from the inside. Processed in soups or stews, they are particularly suitable for the cold winter months. This way, we can efficiently utilize the energy we burnt during cooking.

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Did you know that a large part of our body heat is released through the head? To keep us nice and warm, we should wear a beanie or a hat indoors. Thanks to the rise of the knitted hat as a fashion accessory, we can be trendy while warm.

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Defrosting frozen food in the refrigerator saves energy and prevents additional cold inside. The cold from the frozen food is kept away from your home's air and at the same time, the refrigerator has to use less energy to cool it.

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