Have you noticed it’s been a little chilly recently? Here in Cambridge, the famous Charles River has frozen solid. At Warm Home Cool Planet headquarters, we seem to have spent the last two months with either an ice chipper or a snow shovel in our hands. Of course, there is also the monthly ‘surprise’ of our heating bill.

It’s big.

Anyone who hasn’t pulled in a Wall Street bonus this month might be tempted to try some ‘alternative’ heating methods in their home–leaving the oven door open or small space heater with the door closed–to save a few bucks. This clip from a TV station in Wisconsin (we hear it’s cold there too) reminds us why that could end up costing you so much more.

We also recommend this article from the Department of Energy on guidelines for safe use of portable space heaters.