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Even more efficient, but not portable, are electric heat mats. I've had one under my desk this winter and between that and a couple of jumpers, I've not felt t

by danw1979 5y ago

Even more efficient, but not portable, are electric heat mats. I've had one under my desk this winter and between that and a couple of jumpers, I've not felt the need to have the heating on in my northern UK based home office.

zemvpferreira 5y ago
An electric blanket in every bed has been my only winter must-have since I turned 30. I never turn on heat and I walk around in shirt sleeves all winter, but getting into a cold bed is torture (especially since I sleep naked with only one blanket). It's the most comfortable thing I've ever experienced and I've converted 10s of people to my religion. Electric blankets in every bed!
- dsr_ 5y ago
  Your profile says that you live in Lisbon. Lisbon's average January low: 47F = 8.3C Boston's average January low: 23F = -5C
  - soperj 5y ago
    Edmonton average January low: -15C And there are people that go around in shorts in the winter there too. What's the point of this?
    - zemvpferreira 5y ago
      I'm not sure either. To clarify I was merely trying to illustrate that I am not a cold person and I still love love love my electric bed warmers. There's something magical about going from a cold room into a really warm bed and I'll never sleep another winter without one if I can help it.
    - dsr_ 5y ago
      The point is that in Lisbon, perhaps it's reasonable to shut off your heating and use hot water bottles. That's a route to suicide in Boston or Edmonton.
      - soperj 5y ago
        If you didn't freeze to death, your pipes would definitely freeze without any heat whatsoever.
  - mcguire 5y ago
    From the article: "Because I don’t have the time nor the budget to send hot water bottles to everyone, I have written this article. It’s largely based on my personal experience – I have been using hot water bottles for many years and they are the only heat source in my apartment." But then, "Low-tech Magazine is written by Kris De Decker (Barcelona, Spain)." Barcelona's average low in February is 47F, too. It's currently 32F (0C) here in lovely northern Alabama.
- DenisM 5y ago
  Are you not worried about electric shock? Blankets get worn out over time, and then there is possible liquid damage… I’d love me a <36v blanket but 110v or even 220v gives me the willies.
  - zemvpferreira 5y ago
    I've stuck my fingers in enough outlets not to worry too much :) and I turn off the blanket before getting in the bed.
GordonS 5y ago
My home office here in NE Scotland is a converted garage, which despite being converted "properly" and having a radiator, is always cold (as low as 14C). The heat mat sounds interesting, but I when I googled only underfloor heating stuff came up - any chance you could point me towards a link please?
- ianmcgowan 5y ago
  At least in the US, a google/amazon search for electric+foot+warmer comes up with some good options. My feet are in one right now! https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+foot+warmer https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+foot+warmer
- danw1979 5y ago
  of course - mine is a Dreamland Intelliheat Heat Pad, about £35. I wear a pair of those thin disposable hotel slippers (did I mention I’m northern) to help diffuse the heat a bit, because on the highest setting it’s just a bit too warm with just socks on, but it probably wouldn’t cut through regular slippers. It’s also great to stick at the foot of the bed an hour before you turn in - much prefer just my feet being warm rather than the whole bed as you’d find with a full electric blanket. Highly recommended.
- post_break 5y ago
  Maybe he's talking about an electric blanket. Or you can use an electric heat pad for sore muscles. Just turn it on and put your feet on it.
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago
  Perhaps something like this under your feet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Electric-Temperature-Adjustable-Resistant/dp/B08F384TJ8?th=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Electric-Temperature-Adj...
germinalphrase 5y ago
An electric mattress pad is a definite modern luxury up here in Minnesota. Snap it on an hour or two before bed. Toasty warm sheets and blankets.
skyfaller 5y ago
Low-tech Mag wrote a little about heated clothes: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-not-your-house.html https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-... That article is a little silly because it's talking about heated clothes only making sense indoors (from an energy saving perspective), since it can allow you to use less energy heating your home. If you are sitting around in your house, electric heating pads or blankets probably make more sense than plugging your clothing into the wall, especially since plug-in clothes don't really exist, but heating pads / blankets do.

zemvpferreira 5y ago

An electric blanket in every bed has been my only winter must-have since I turned 30. I never turn on heat and I walk around in shirt sleeves all winter, but getting into a cold bed is torture (especially since I sleep naked with only one blanket). It's the most comfortable thing I've ever experienced and I've converted 10s of people to my religion. Electric blankets in every bed!

dsr_ 5y ago
Your profile says that you live in Lisbon. Lisbon's average January low: 47F = 8.3C Boston's average January low: 23F = -5C
- soperj 5y ago
  Edmonton average January low: -15C And there are people that go around in shorts in the winter there too. What's the point of this?
  - zemvpferreira 5y ago
    I'm not sure either. To clarify I was merely trying to illustrate that I am not a cold person and I still love love love my electric bed warmers. There's something magical about going from a cold room into a really warm bed and I'll never sleep another winter without one if I can help it.
  - dsr_ 5y ago
    The point is that in Lisbon, perhaps it's reasonable to shut off your heating and use hot water bottles. That's a route to suicide in Boston or Edmonton.
    - soperj 5y ago
      If you didn't freeze to death, your pipes would definitely freeze without any heat whatsoever.
- mcguire 5y ago
  From the article: "Because I don’t have the time nor the budget to send hot water bottles to everyone, I have written this article. It’s largely based on my personal experience – I have been using hot water bottles for many years and they are the only heat source in my apartment." But then, "Low-tech Magazine is written by Kris De Decker (Barcelona, Spain)." Barcelona's average low in February is 47F, too. It's currently 32F (0C) here in lovely northern Alabama.
DenisM 5y ago
Are you not worried about electric shock? Blankets get worn out over time, and then there is possible liquid damage… I’d love me a <36v blanket but 110v or even 220v gives me the willies.
- zemvpferreira 5y ago
  I've stuck my fingers in enough outlets not to worry too much :) and I turn off the blanket before getting in the bed.

GordonS 5y ago

My home office here in NE Scotland is a converted garage, which despite being converted "properly" and having a radiator, is always cold (as low as 14C). The heat mat sounds interesting, but I when I googled only underfloor heating stuff came up - any chance you could point me towards a link please?

ianmcgowan 5y ago
At least in the US, a google/amazon search for electric+foot+warmer comes up with some good options. My feet are in one right now! https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+foot+warmer https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+foot+warmer
danw1979 5y ago
of course - mine is a Dreamland Intelliheat Heat Pad, about £35. I wear a pair of those thin disposable hotel slippers (did I mention I’m northern) to help diffuse the heat a bit, because on the highest setting it’s just a bit too warm with just socks on, but it probably wouldn’t cut through regular slippers. It’s also great to stick at the foot of the bed an hour before you turn in - much prefer just my feet being warm rather than the whole bed as you’d find with a full electric blanket. Highly recommended.
post_break 5y ago
Maybe he's talking about an electric blanket. Or you can use an electric heat pad for sore muscles. Just turn it on and put your feet on it.
tonyedgecombe 5y ago
Perhaps something like this under your feet: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Electric-Temperature-Adjustable-Resistant/dp/B08F384TJ8?th=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Electric-Temperature-Adj...

germinalphrase 5y ago

An electric mattress pad is a definite modern luxury up here in Minnesota. Snap it on an hour or two before bed. Toasty warm sheets and blankets.

skyfaller 5y ago

Low-tech Mag wrote a little about heated clothes: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-not-your-house.html https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-... That article is a little silly because it's talking about heated clothes only making sense indoors (from an energy saving perspective), since it can allow you to use less energy heating your home. If you are sitting around in your house, electric heating pads or blankets probably make more sense than plugging your clothing into the wall, especially since plug-in clothes don't really exist, but heating pads / blankets do.