Get Ready For Winter Grasshopper: Fuel Oil; Natural Gas; Food; And Electricity Prices Set To Increase
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.23.08
When it comes to seasonal preparation, cheap energy has allowed many citizens of developed nations to abandon the lessons of the Tale of the Ant and the Grasshopper. Addicted to a constant flow of cheap heating fuel, electricity, and even food from overseas, a cold hungry awakening awaits those mindlessly living the Grasshopper Lifestyle ( see earlier post on price impact of electricity deregulation for example of what is coming). To paraphrase the Tale:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.Via::Ned Martin's Amused; The Original Story of the Ant and the Grasshopper
How can you live a more ant-like lifestyle?
I you own your own home, get an energy audit done now.
Hint:-paying for more insulation now might make paying the Christmas bills more doable later.
For wood burners:
If you have an open fireplace, get a wood stove insert ordered before they're out of stock. Caveat: check local air quality regulations to ensure you meet emission limits and for use restrictions.
Get the chimney inspected and cleaned as soon as possible; and certainly before installing a wood burning appliance.
If you burn logs or pellets, place a bulk order now. By the middle of September, prices will start to go up drastically.
Make plans for off-ground, sheltered storage of any wood-based fuel. Watch for end of year sales on party tents if you lack a wood shed - be sure to stake legs down.
Image credit::Steiner Books, excerpt from illustration of Tale of the Ant and Grasshopper
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Hohoho! I remember this tale about ant and grasshoper. And the picture in this post is drawn nicely. :)
I plan to use as little energy as possible, a thicker blanket on the bed for example. Also I think cooking a big meal one day and eating it over two days (store it tubberware) may help reduce gas stove consumption.
It's worth noting that insulation is a project you can do over time. It doesn't have to be done all at once. If the sticker-shock of a few hundred dollars is worrying you, remember that you can buy a couple rolls of $20-$25 R-30 insulation for an easier-to-swallow $40-$50 with each paycheck (or every other paycheck) and put up a couple rolls as the finances permit. Before too long you'll have the attic insulated nicely :) Remember to cinch them snugly together so as not to leave gaps. A 3' or 4' wooden rod helps to reach areas that are a tight squeeze and only costs a few dollars (or use a yardstick if you have one).
It seems way easier (and way more fun!) to play grasshopper all summer long, and when winter sets in, go whine to the government that the ant should be forced to share some of his savings with you...after all, he is quite wealthy! After all, it is the American way!
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Ha!
It might be closer to the mark to add an in between step of donating lots of money to Think Tanks that will preach the virtues of the free market; and then whine to the government for some savings.
Way to go, chad. Such insightful input on the topic.
Well, I'm 18 so I don't pay the bills, but I did convince my parents (and did all the work BTW) to replace our 50+ year old oil boiler and ~15 year old direct hot water heater with a brand spanking new tripple-pass boiler with an indirect hot water tank (the guy who installed it called it the "cadillac of boilers). Over last winter, I also weatherized my house and insulated the hot water pipes in my basement. I'm hoping this year to get the insulation in my attic checked out as well.