go-go-gadget-humidify

One of my favorite things my Dad would talk about when I was a kid was negative ions (nobody wonders why i'm nerdy now). When you get that great feeling near a fountain (which is usually where he mentioned it) or down wind from a sprinkler, it's because of the additional moisture in the air. Negative ions are also the reason that the Ionic Breeze is the most successful Sharper Image product of all time.

So here's a tip on both reducing your electricity bill AND saving you money on cold and flu remedies: buy a humidifier for heating individual rooms and keep the central heat at 66-68 degrees. The humidifier releases warm air, which makes you feel warmer than in dry heat, and it also preserves your skin, your plants, and keeps your clothes from getting all zappy with static electricity (positive ions!).

This is the one I have from CVS - it's about $40 (if you have a CVS card, wait until you get some ExtraBucks to get a few bucks off). Make sure to clean it according to the directions because the chemical residue from tap water builds up quickly on the heating element.

Notice on the CVS website that they advertise the point on heating: "Saves you money on your heating bills, since proper humidity lets you feel more comfortable at lower temperatures." AND they also back me up on the preventative effect: "The warm mist humidifier helps combat this excessive dryness, providing these benefits: Keeps your respiratory system moist, allowing it to fight off bacteria, viruses and pollutants."

So keep it chugging while you're present in the house and throughout the night. Saves you $$ on 2 fronts - smaller bills and less Kleenex and Nyquil!