general How do you prefer to keep warm in winter?

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,671]

Winter will be arriving and with that, so too will the time come to turn up the heat to prevent freezing to death.

There are different ways to stay warm for the season. There are electric heaters and heat pumps that use electricity to do the warming, there's natural gas, propane and butane (often classified as Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids or Liquefied Petroleum Gas), heating oil and solid fuels like wood and charcoal. It'd also be interesting to know why one might make their choice such as purchase and installation price, lifetime cost, cleanliness and reliability.

Do take note that I'm asking for your preferred primary mode of heating. I did hear about households that use solar collectors to supplement their heating but that's just it: it's a supplement. I've also heard of geothermal heat pumps. Those still need electricity to run.

Since I live in a tropical climate, I can't answer this poll myself. As for why I brought this up, energy is a topic I'm interested in and my curiosity is getting the better of me.

Ultimately, I thought it best to lump in biofuels as they too can be solid, liquid or gaseous. Refined biogas (biomethane), for example, is indistinguishable from natural gas. In some places around the world, refined biogas simply gets mixed in with natural gas.

EDIT: Fixed the poll. Sort of. It'll do. I just hope it works.

Edited October 27, 2018 by Querch

[cuteycindyhoney 13,283]

We use natural gas, supplied via pipeline. The system does require electricity to function. It's a forced air central heat system relying on a powerful electric driven fan.

 

[Phosphor 11,522]

My primary means of heat is my central air conditioner unit. I think it has a heat pump because I haven't seen any heater coils on the inside unit. I don't need much heat since I'm hot natured. I typically keep the thermostat at 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, which results in a much lower electricity bill. 

I think central air/heat is pretty reliable. Mine is 12 years old and still going strong.

[Dreambiscuit 8,024]

I like basic electric heat. Natural gas, unless it comes from a pipeline with a steady supply, seems antiquated and tiresome to keep filled up. Electric is clean, efficient and convenient. I don't need a truck to come to my home and fill up a big intrusive tank at their convenience.  

[Crimson storm 1,826]

 Sweatshirts sweatpants and a blanket 

[Midnight Solace 5,129]

I like to stay in bed. With Twilight. 

[Discordian 6,013]

I generally prefer the cold so I don't do much more than close the window and maybe put some pajama pants on. I don't even use a heating system except for extreme cases, which amounts to maybe a few days out of the year. Even then I can only stand it being on for a couple hours max then it's back to open window.

[Starlighty 790]

Usually I turn my heaters on and sit very close to them with a blanket wrapped around me... or I just get into bed and get into my sleeping bag.  I am  prepared for winter though do to my sister keeping the AC and all the fans on at all times

[IronM17 5,145]

I turn my heater on and wear occasionally a thick cozy blanket. But usually, my heater is enough. 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,291]

I think we have a gas furnace in the house and it happens to be installed right across form my room, so my room tends to stay warm throughout the year. Not so great in the summer but is super cozy in the winter. :3 If I still feel cold, then I blanket it up. That works for me.

[碇 シンジン 27,427]

i use 2 blankets in summer i only use 1 of them the heaters in my house are pretty much non functional but i guess there is at least some heat helps though when the room is airtight

[Melanie Mousse 2,198]

I use the heater in the A/C that’s in my home, which is sufficient enough for me. I also use two layers of blankets when I’m sleeping/napping. Not enough? I wear leggings that are thick enough to keep me warm around the house as well (if necessary,though).

[Lord Midnight Madness 1,542]

We got a electric furnace and some electric heaters to heat the upstairs. It's a pretty big house so it takes a lot to heat it.

[Khoufu 43]

In a century-old house with little insulation, the most efficient way to keep ourselves warm is with an electric blanket since it's just the two of us.

[CypherHoof 26,479]

41 minutes ago, Khoufu said:

In a century-old house with little insulation, the most efficient way to keep ourselves warm is with an electric blanket since it's just the two of us.

Might be worth cheating a little - if you get cheap polystyrene ceiling tiles, paste them to the walls, then paper over, you add a significant amount of insulation without a massively visible change to the room (and without having to modify the walls themselves). Did that in a cottage I lived in for a while, where the walls were basically plasterboard with a thin layer of foamed concrete, and it worked well - only did the bedroom though, and pretty much abandoned the rest of the house to the cold for the winter.

Edited November 13, 2018 by CypherHoof

[EpicEnergy 22,082]

I just use my A/C unit, it heats up the place really well. I also wear warm clothing if it's very cold, like socks and a sweater.

[Lucky Bolt 34,914]

Wear warm clothing and drink hot coffee. 

[Pastel Heart 6,463]

I love wearing cute sweaters!

[applesjck 5,601]

Bundled up in a bunch of blankets of course!

[Kadae 655]

Snuggling under a blanket with a hot cup of tea is my preferred method, sometimes with soup too!

[Cash In 21,516]

Putting the heater on will usually do the trick for me, but wearing a coat definitely helps. Depending on how cold it is, a beanie or scarf comes in handy too. Winter is never really much of a problem for me.

[Venomous 18,813]

I actually enjoy the temperatures brought in by winter in the Midwest where I live so I’m usually in a T-shirt at home. Hell, I sometimes wear shorts. On the rare instances that I genuinely feel cold, I’ll put on a sweatshirt with sweatpants and lie on the couch or my bed with blankets on.