What is a better way to save money on heating?

Now that fall's in full force, my apartment is feeling the weather change. My apartment isn't well insulated from the cold, so I don't like using the electrical heating. My place's temperature is about 68 degrees during the day and about 53 degrees during the night, and I usually use my fireplace to warm up the apartment for about an hour or so two or three times a day, but I was wondering if that's costing more money than turning up the heat on the thermostat? I'm trying to save money, so which would be a better option?|||Using the fire place like you are during the day is good.


Turning the thermostat down low when it is real cold would save and be safer.|||Depends how much are you using on firewood and what is the power rating of the heater? should have a number followed by a "W" and how much the power company charges you|||first wear long pants and long sleeves next keep your blinds and curtains open during the day and closed at night when you go outside try and do all your errands in one trip thsi includes if you have to take out the trash go to the store at the same time etc|||not switching it on and wear lots of clothes|||Choosing between an open fireplace and electric resistance heaters to efficiently heat a drafty apartment is a bad set of choices. Thats like saying "I have to travel from NY to China, should i ride my donkey or my unicycle?"





Here are a few things that may help you make the best of it:





First, call your county weatherization organization. If you are income eligible they may be able to come over and improve the insulation and air sealing for you in the apartment at no cost to you. And your landlord will get some free needed energy improvements to his property. If you arnt income eligible then just talk to your landlord about having plastic put on the windows and any obvious drafty points foamed and caulked.





Second, the lesser of your two evils is heating with the electric heater. A ceramic heater or infrared heater would be a tiny bit better than baseboard electric heat, but that is splitting hairs. Whatever you do, don't use the electric heat and fireplace both at the same time or your electric heat will just get sucked up the chimney flue. Your electric heat is expensive and precious so plug the fireplace flue with a chimney balloon so it isnt drafty anymore. Don't rely on the damper to do the job, because it wont do it. If it is a gas log fireplace then talk to the landlord about making it into a direct vent gas fireplace. Direct vent fireplaces are the only way to go for safely creating heat with a gas fireplace. Some shiesters may try to sell a vent free gas log for cheap, but dont drink the Kool-aid, those are dangerous.





Third, do all the behavioral changes like letting direct sun in, closing blinds at night, keep the thermostat down, wear sweaters, cuddle, etc... those are the little things that add up.