Stay Warm, Save $

We PCVs tend to spend a lot of energy and money during the winter. Here is a list of environmentally friendly pieces of advice from our PCV friends:

I had worn the toes and heels out of my knee socks last year so I sewed them up and filled them with rice--we put them as draft snakes on our windowsills and the bottoms of doors. They really make a difference!

--Emma aka M(r)s. Jackson (I am for reeeeal!)

Tips for staying warm:
1. Keep your fridge plugged in, it puts out hot air (not very
enviromentally friendly).*
2. Put a towel accross the bottom of your door.
3. Put plastic on the windows.
4. Better yet put curtains on your windows or a blanket.**
5. Get an animal and cuddle with it, humans work too but cost more.
6. Take off your cotton clothes and put on wool, silk or polyester.
7. Excersie
8. Eat food, preferably hot, but cold will work too.

--Eli Waite

*Angry edit by Alexis C.: UNPLUG YOUR FRIDGE.
**Like Jesse’s article in the last Azlander suggested, you might want to keep the curtains drawn and let the natural heat of the sunlight into the room instead.

And a hot water bottle or Nalgene thrown in bed an hour or two before you climb in is nice.

--Amy Todd

For those who don't compost--My host mom helps homeless dogs all year. She has a small bucket in the fridge and puts food waste in it, such as pieces of old bread, old soup, vegetable pieces, stale baked goods, milk and mixes in a little fat or oil. When she sees a stray dog outside that she knows, she puts a little bit outside the house and they always eat it.*

--Linda Gies

* Alexis C.: Works for other animals too. I feed the local cows.

Regarding home insulation: I've seen a few AZ6 volunteers with plastic over the windows and caulk in the cracks, which helps a lot...One thing that might help keep heat within a room would be to keep stones or bricks on or around a gas pech that will heat up and can retain the heat over a long period of time. The stone would then slowly radiate throughout the night. Peches that send their heat to the air is often quickly lost from a drafty room.

--Todd France

Unplug your fridge! If you have a room with no gas petch, then the room is probably cold enough to house your food. My fridge has been unplugged since December 1st and my food, including cheese and milk, does not spoil quickly. If you aren’t convinced, then ask Laura Durden. Her fridge is unplugged too and we all know she isn’t crazy, right Laura