Is your heat on yet?

[SpareChange]

Didn't use my AC all summer...we'll see about the heat. Haven't used it yet, but tonight will be a good test. Ft Worth is getting down to the low 20's. I live in a first floor apt.

[mrsggrowsveg]

We turned ours on last weekend.  It has been in the single digits here. 

[Villanelle]

IN China most apartments have heating systems that are linked to the centralized municipal system, and in Beijing heat typically doesn't officially come on until November 15.  IN places further north, like where my inlaws live, it comes on on October 15.  We may actually get heat early this year -- pipes were being tested this week, which meant we had no hot water for 4 days straight... -- as the whole city is preparing to shut down for the APEC meetings. 

So we don't even have the OPTION of turning our heat on.  Haven't needed it so far.  We don't usually need to turn it on much unless it gets down to -10 C or so, as we have lots of south facing windows that basically act like a magnifying glass.  Sometimes we have to open the windows in the winter because it gets too hot.

that sounds horrible! I'd feel like I was living in a dictatorship inside my own house. Are all apartments like this? Do you pay a flat fee then?

Many military housing options are set up like his as well.  I know my friends at a particular base in Japan were very pleased that they reached Nov. 10, because that was the day the heat was turned on.  A/C is handled similarly. 

There is a set date, or it can be triggered earlier if temps are below (or for A/C, above) a certain temp for 3 days in a row.  At least in the winter one can use a space heated if necessary.  In summer, there isn't really a comparable option, and it can be brutal to have it be 90* and super humid, with no A/C in a 10th floor apartment. 

[SpareChange]

Didn't use my AC all summer...we'll see about the heat. Haven't used it yet, but tonight will be a good test. Ft Worth is getting down to the low 20's. I live in a first floor apt.

Not bad. Nothing some hot coffee couldn't handle!

[TGod]

We're on Vancouver Island, and other than the cold snap (-4 last night) it's been mild but wet (which feels colder), so we've had the woodstove burning since it was installed mid-October, but not the furnace. I successfully won a war with our energy provider for estimated big bills last year, so our goal this year is to not turn the furnace on at all this winter.  With the woodstove going the temp in the house ranges from 17 to 21 C, depending on how cold it is outside.

[Jon_Snow]

Not yet, muahahaha!

[EDSMedS]

I live on the third floor.  I have had to have the windows open while the temp is 40 outside thanks to my INCREDIBLY NOT badass apartment complex-mates cranking up their heat!

I have purchased beautiful icebreaker and smartwool shirts ($60-100 on sales) over the past 6 years that no longer cost MORE money (especially b/c I can wear them for ~6 weeks straight before they smell).

I accept your challenge and dec 1st (?) I drink to your bones.

[BlueHouse]

I may break down this weekend.  I've been okay so far.  We had freezing weather last night, but my house is well insulated.  But my indoor plants don't seem able to take the cold weather.  I don't think it's been under 60 in the house.  Is this normal?

[Hotstreak]

It's been below freezing a few nights here, but I'm still in it.  Daytime solar heat & an extra blanket on the bed has done it so far.  Slippers are still in the closet, so it hasn't gotten THAT cold yet.

[1967mama]

Its actually awesome watching all of you tough this out!

Go team!

[Rural]

I may break down this weekend.  I've been okay so far.  We had freezing weather last night, but my house is well insulated.  But my indoor plants don't seem able to take the cold weather.  I don't think it's been under 60 in the house.  Is this normal?

If the plants are right by a window, it's likely colder there. You might get a better payoff for them and for you by checking for /sealing drafts and installing the shrink-wrap clear plastic if they're single pane windows. It reall is pretty much invisible once you shrink it with a hair dryer, and you can find it at hardware or discount stores.

[Villanelle]

For your plants, you can put a blanket over them at night, perhaps with something warm (like a hot water bottle) if necessary, to create a little heat tent for them. 

-----
Still going, but feet are cold right now, perhaps because I have wet hair and it is cooling me off.  Lows for the next week are in the mid 30s, with highs in the mid 40s, but it is rainy, which makes it feel colder and which prevents what little sunlight we have during our short days from doing much heating.  I'm pretty sure I'll make it through this week though, unless the weather forecast chances significantly.

[BlueHouse]

I'm out. Remind me why we were trying this again?  I did relish my newfound badassity, but c'mon!  Last night was downright painful!  Turned heat on this morning.

[Maya]

I would have liked to participate, but DH keeps upping the heat. While on mat leave and home with the baby,move taken to bundling ourselves up and keeping the temperature at 17-18C, it's about 0 C outside. When DS and DH come home I bump the heat up to 19 so he complains less, but tell him to out a sweater one. As our house is small anyways, the extra bodies bring the heat up a bit anyways, so the furnace runs less then anyways.

[neophyte]

Out as of 11/15. Overnight lows have been in the mid 30s here.

[EDSMedS]

It is a particularly wet day, in the mid-upper 30s.  Only one window cracked open today...

It may be a challenge to warm the bones after DW walks home, but it is nothing that a few dozen air squats and afternoon tea cannot manage.

[KS]

No heat?  I hear the Bay area is cool in the summer as well.  Does this mean you use no heat or ac at all?     

I'm not the person you asked this of, but as a fellow bay area dweller: for the hardy souls, it is possible to go without either here, depending on specifically where in the area you live of course. (lots of different climates around the region) We have a wall unit A/C that I think we have turned on maybe once or twice in the nearly 10 years we've been in our apartment. We have also gone a whole winter without turning on the heat before, although the bedroom side of our apartment is on the end of the building and has no insulation so I usually cave before my husband does, and might turn on the (baseboard) heater for an hour or so in the morning to help encourage me out of bed, usually when our room is in the 50s. We have an electric blanket too, which helps with not needing to heat the whole room most days. So far this year, no need for any heat though. We actually even still have our window open since we don't like when it gets stuffy... got kinda chilly last night though, may be time to close it soon!

[bacchi]

Out. There were protests (partner and cat) so the heat now turns on when we wake up.

[EDSMedS]

I'm not the person you asked this of, but as a fellow bay area dweller: for the hardy souls, it is possible to go without either here, depending on specifically where in the area you live of course. (lots of different climates around the region) We have a wall unit A/C that I think we have turned on maybe once or twice in the nearly 10 years we've been in our apartment. We have also gone a whole winter without turning on the heat before, although the bedroom side of our apartment is on the end of the building and has no insulation so I usually cave before my husband does, and might turn on the (baseboard) heater for an hour or so in the morning to help encourage me out of bed, usually when our room is in the 50s. We have an electric blanket too, which helps with not needing to heat the whole room most days. So far this year, no need for any heat though. We actually even still have our window open since we don't like when it gets stuffy... got kinda chilly last night though, may be time to close it soon!

[arebelspy]

I'm out. The wife turned the heat on this afternoon after she got home.  I forgot to tell her about this. Good luck to those remaining.

[Villanelle]

I'm beginning to feel like the lone holdout here (or is that the winner?). Coastal SoCal and suppose to be around 45 - 50 tonight but will be warmer in my house so still won't need the heat. Although I am wearing (for the very first time since last early spring!!) long pants and a fleece hoodie and socks. Sad to see the shorts and tank top and flip flops put away...for now.

ETA: I haven't turned on the heat here in at least 8 months - since maybe mid march - since the temps stay around 65 (at night) - 75 (daytime) most of the year. Winter months get a bit colder at night but not like most other places.

I'm hanging in there, and I don't have coastal SoCal weather!   Our lows this week are 34-36, and highs 42-45.  It's rainy, which makes it feel so much colder, and which blocks even more of our already very limited sunshine during our short days. 

Currently on the sofa with 2 lap blankets and a hot water bottle, and I'm about to make a hot cup of tea.  I'm going to be writing for the next couple hours, so the warm computer will sit in my lap, too.   I've got on thick fleece jammies.

[Ftao93]

we waited, but once the polar vortex hit and it was -14, we had the heat cranked.  And it was still cold...

Our landlord lives in the bottom unit.  We all agree that we'd like the house to be a ton better insulated and will work together on it.

[TeresaB]

We're still in here in Chicago! We have large south-facing windows, which helps.

[EDSMedS]

We're still in here in Chicago! We have large south-facing windows, which helps.

We're staying strong in D.C.! 3rd floor, concrete building, big south facing windows. Cheers to tea, merino wool, and cuddling!

[boognish]

This is my first winter living without complainypants roommates, I'm not touching the furnace all winter.

I live in Southern California and we don't have a real winter, so not that impressive, but it's one less thing to pay.

[nereo]

November 19th and I'm out... interior temperature fell to 15ºC/59F last night and we said "enough, time to turn on the heat".  Interior temp is back to 18ºC/64ºF and just in time - forecast is for 10ºF tomorrow night.

[1967mama]

D.C. and Chicago are still in it??!! I'm super impressed! Florida and SoCal, not so much...hahah!

[SpareChange]

Still ok in Fort Worth.

[FoundPeace]

Are you counting the date when you have to start paying for heat? If so, I'm in. I am getting free housing and utilities until January, so that may be considered cheating.

[EDSMedS]

Savings are a result, not a goal. Addressing something as fundamental as personal comfort through methods that are uncommon, difficult, or intense is Mustachian.

It seems that not many Americans understand the joy of badassity: 1) knowing and pressing your limits; 2) not blindly accepting normalized solutions.  I enjoy backpacking, so I know what it feels like to be negotiating my spirit while wet and cold and hungry; I know the relief and warmth of skin to skin contact, dry socks, and warm drinks. There are other cultural mechanisms in place to allow this sacred discomfort - exercise, meditation, retreat - but it makes no sense to drive 1.5mi to the parking garage, walk to the gym, run 3mi on the treadmill, walk to the parking garage, and drive 1.5mi home. Chilling at home is a great way to stay aware of fleeting moments of deep comfort. Air squats and a 25lb dumbbell in the mid-morning sun help. It helps too to understand the sublimity of submersing in a mountain water rock pool at 6am and 45 degrees and reemerging as an exhilerated steaming animal. I will not ask my In-laws to understand, so it is likely some use of heat may occur in late Dec when they visit. I could never explain to them that contentment is far more powerful than cold: I am cold now but in my home, surrounded by food, love, and blankets; I have been cold, wet, lost, in the dark, and fretting; my soul is comfortable though my skin is chilled.

Even with one person working from home, our electricity bill hovers between $6-$8/mo for 580sqft. 

[nereo]

Even with one person working from home, our electricity bill hovers between $6-$8/mo for 580sqft.

(!)  That's incredible!  I've never had my electricty bill go under $30/month, even in late spring - do you have an electric water heater and washing machine?

[solon]

This is my first winter living without complainypants roommates, I'm not touching the furnace all winter.

I live in Southern California and we don't have a real winter, so not that impressive, but it's one less thing to pay.

That's awesome! Keep up the good work.

[Villanelle]

I am not sure what our electric bill is, since the system here is to pay an estimated amount and then reconcile after 12 months.  We pay ~$90USD per month, and at the end of the last year, we got several hundred back. (Frankly, I didn't pay much attention.) But electricity is crazy expensive here, and in fact went up ~50% shortly after we arrived.  And I don't work, so I'm home a lot.

Our heat is heating oil, but everything else in the house is electric (stove, washer dryer, etc.). 

Today our high was 41*F.  And more rain, though it was more of a periodic drizzle than the real rain we've been having.  I'm still going fine, but DH is ready to cave.  I think that sitting in an overheated office, something over which he has no control, all day prevents him from acclimating very well. 

[Jon_Snow]

Now that temps are now in their normal range (comfortably above 0) the possibility of turning on our heat is much reduced. We will be at our place on the south tip of the Baja in a few days, and the question will be "Is you A/C on yet?". We are as hesitant to do that as we are to turn heat on in Vancouver.

We are just "suck it up!" type people I think.

[SpareChange]

Elect averages $13-15, but I don't have a washer/drier or water heater. 493sqft.

[Daisy]

I'm still in!

I'm kind of cheating because I live in South Florida. It got so cold last week though, I couldn't even open up my windows! But no heat yet.

I also haven't turned on the AC in quite a while. That should count for something...

[Jon_Snow]

Uh, Daisy... you don't get to play this game. ;)

[deborah]

Yesterday it was 39C here (102.2F) and I decided to put the air conditioner on. Unfortunately it was still on heat rather than cool. So, I'm afraid I put the heater on yesterday. But it did an excellent job of heating the house!

[Daisy]

Uh, Daisy... you don't get to play this game. ;)

Seriously? This may be the only frugal challenge I can win on this forum. There are some seriously frugal people here, and it's tough to compete.

And then I found a challenge I can rise to and possibly win...and you rain on my parade.

Did you read my previous post where I called us South Floridians winter weather weenies? We've got some thin blood around here...

Really the challenge will start to get more serious for me come January time. It's too early for us just yet.

Bonus is I have really low electricity bills in general, no need for gas to heat the house, etc. So my high COL area otherwise gets balanced by this. That, and we don't have to buy coats. We can probably get by with one sweater as the amount of times we have to use them gets spaced out throughout the winter so no one remembers what you wore on the last cold day. ;-)

[Villanelle]

I'm in Germany and I'm still in.

It hasn't snowed here yet, and highs are still in the 40s (usually mid or upper) so I'm doing okay.  Husband isn't always thrilled, but has been willing to play along so far.  Dec 1 has been our goal. 

[EDSMedS]

DC enjoyed a warm snap but projects the first snow accumulation today.  Our apartment has been hanging out in the low 60s for weeks, no conditioning of air has occurred besides air squats, cooking/baking, and hot showers.

Still in, and we're going backpacking over the holiday so we'll come home wet, hungry, and chilled to find the low 60s and copious blankets comforting.

Find comfort in the struggle!

[EDSMedS]

2 Dec.  Who remains comfortable sans electric induced heat? (this guy and DW) ;)

[SpareChange]

2 Dec.  Who remains comfortable sans electric induced heat? (this guy and DW) ;)

So far so good. The last week has been pretty decent weather here, though.

[Villanelle]

I made it to Dec. 1.  Not bad for Germany!

Got home from a weekend trip and we could literally see our breath in the house. It had to be in the low 40s.  It was 35 outside and did not feel noticeably warmer inside.  Unfortunately, we arrived home after the time that our heating system shuts down for the night, so we could do nothing but throw an extra blanket on the bed and cuddle. 

(Lest anyone lecture on frozen pipes, our radiators are set to "snowflake" instead of "off" and the landlord swears that is sufficient, even with the heating system turning off at night.  And if it isn't sufficient, it becomes his problem.  We did ask.)

Our highs are in the mid-30s now with lows in the low 30s.  I pleased that we made it to December and hope that this will allow me to not have to fill my heating oil tanks until we move out (roughly July or August). 

[Cookie78]

-20 to -30 C all last week. I lost this game long ago. :(

Grumble, grumble. Need to move south.

[TeresaB]

I'm out, but not by choice. My condo building apparently has a rule that you have to turn the heat on. I am not happy at all. Our apartment is too hot for me now. I want to be able to wear a sweater darn it!

[KS]

2 Dec.  Who remains comfortable sans electric induced heat? (this guy and DW) ;)

Still going here too, although it's not as much an accomplishment here as it is for those of you in Polar Vortex land! Northern California is FINALLY getting some decent rain, but if anything that actually keeps the temps from going as low as they do when it's clear out. We did have a minor setback in our cold acclimation though; after we visited 80+ degree Los Angeles over Thanksgiving we came home and thought our apartment felt really cold. But a thermometer check told us it was 68! (before our trip we usually didn't notice the cold too much until it got into the very low 60s.)

[Daisy]

Well this usually stoic SoCalian folded last night. Wasn't my fault though as I had someone visiting and they were uncomfortable with it being cold so I blame them for FORCING me to turn on the heat. Really...it's all their fault...really...it wasn't me.... :-)!

I really hate to rub it in, but - WINNING!

[highcountry]

I'm out. (SF Bay area)

Discovered a plumbing leak yesterday, so I baked and dehumidified all night.  House preservation trumps internet competition.  The water is drying up nicely, and other then the stuff I demolished to expose it, there appears to be little damage.

[4alpacas]

I'm out. (SF Bay area)

Discovered a plumbing leak yesterday, so I baked and dehumidified all night.  House preservation trumps internet competition.  The water is drying up nicely, and other then the stuff I demolished to expose it, there appears to be little damage.

I'm sorry to hear about the leak.

BUT I'm still in!  It was also really warm today, so I didn't even wear a long sleeve shirt inside.