An article released today summarizes extreme weather that hit the Midwest this week, nicknamed “The Witch of November.” Cozy Products reminds people to plan ahead for heating-related energy costs as the cold season begins.
The Midwest has been feeling the icy touch of the so-called “Witch of November” storm since Wednesday, including floods around the Great Lakes, tornadoes in Iowa, and blizzards in Minneapolis (businessinsider.com). Cozy Products, low-watt heating experts, comments on the story and explains why this storm is the first sign of the season's rapidly approaching winter energy cost hikes.
According to Business Insider, so far the storm has produced extremely high winds throughout the Midwest, with eastern parts experiencing rain and snow. Meteorologists have named this storm “The Witch of November” or the “November Witch” and it’s affecting areas all across the northern parts of the United States.
Cozy Products notes that although it is still the autumn season, dreadful winter weather seems to have arrived early. November’s plummeting temperatures should not be the only concern as energy bills start to climb as winter quickly approaches.
John Pless, a spokesman from the Electric Power Board, remarks, “The No. 1 factor that influences a homeowner’s bill is the weather... when it’s really cold… it’s just going to take more energy to maintain the comfort that you’re used to,”(Nooga). The colder the temperature is outside, the more a heating system must work in order to reach a desired temperature.
Although thermostat temperatures may remain unchanged, the drop in climate outside still affects the amount of energy a household uses. The colder it becomes, a greater amount of energy is necessary for a heater to meet the home’s chosen warmth. However, there are measures that can be taken to fight the growing cost.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, money can be saved by resetting a thermostat when you are away from home or asleep in bed. “By turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill—a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is 8 hours long.” The lower the interior temperature is, the slower the loss of heat will be—ultimately saving more energy.
To supplement a lower thermostat, the use of low-watt, energy-efficient personal heaters to warm small areas are intelligent solutions (Cozy Heating Cost Calculator). Adding energy-efficient heating products saves many users hundreds of dollars over the course of just one winter season compared to standard space heaters. By keeping heat concentrated and focused only on the user instead of blowing the heat around the room where it can quickly dissipate, users are kept warmer and more comfortable for far less money in utility bills.
There are a number of ways to save energy during the freezing holiday season. By taking the advice of the U.S. Department of Energy and lowering the thermostat during certain times of the day and night, people become one step closer in controlling the growing costs of their expensive energy bills. The ‘November Witch’ can be taken as 2015’s first real sign of the harsh winter weather to come.
Cozy Products is a Chicago-based company that offers safe, economical, green, and effective personal heaters that utilize low wattage to conserve energy. When compared to standard space heaters, Cozy Products only require as much energy as a standard light bulb. Cozy Products works to provide gentle warmth where it is needed—to keep your entire body comfortable and cozy.