I love that my local area provides four different seasons.
- There is something to enjoy at each time of year.
I get excited when the robins show up and the daffodils and tulips sprout in the spring. I look forward to the sunshine and warmth of summer. The changing of the leaves in the fall is absolutely beautiful. While our winters are long, snowy and cold, there are so many fun activities. I live in an area where I can waterski and snow ski. Because we experience temperatures that range from the nineties to the negative digits, heating and cooling is important. There is seldom an opportunity to go without either the furnace or air conditioner and open the windows. I’ve figured out that temperature control adds to about fifty percent of our household energy consumption. I’ve made an effort to tighten up the thermal envelope to prevent energy waste. I don’t want our heated and cooled air leaking out through cracks under the doors or around the windows. I’ve carefully caulked and weatherstripped. I’ve insulated the walls, ceilings, attic and around electrical outlets and plumbing pipes. In the winter, when the sun is shining, I open up the blinds and curtains to warm up the house. In the summer, I keep them closed to prevent the sun from heating up the house. I’ve invested in ceiling fans for most rooms in the house. The ceiling fans are set to spin counterclockwise in the summer to help create a downdraft and a cooling breeze. Reversing the fans to turn clockwise in the winter creates an updraft and circulates warm air around the room.