Is This Polar Vortex Round 2 Or Just a Long Winter? Tips to Keep Cozy and Safe As This Cold Spell Progresses
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 21, 2014 -- While the first Polar Vortex struck the continent with a bang, what the media is calling “Polar Vortex 2.0” may be mostly hype. In reality, as Cozy Products reported back in September, this winter is predicted to be atypically cold, bitter, and drawn out.
In more detail, the 220-year-old publication The Farmers’ Almanac, whose predictions prove consistently true year after year, tells us that while January’s harsh start is over, the rest of this month will be bitterly cold.
February will greet us with a series of heavy storms throughout the first part of the month, possibly affecting the Super Bowl on February 2. “Most of the rest of February will be characterized by punishing weather, including a powerful storm system toward the middle of the month.” March is expected to be cloudy with windy conditions early on, snow in many places, and winter conditions are expected to last into Spring (which officially begins Thursday, March 20).
In the wake of Polar Vortex 1.0, Cozy Products (based in Chicago) is currently experiencing temperatures about 20°F lower than the average. Great citywide efforts went into bringing the homeless population as well as people otherwise at risk of exposure (people without heat, for example) into safe, heated locations. Keeping warm is not just about comfort at these temperatures, it’s about safety!
Unfortunately, space heaters also pose a safety risk, as heater-related fires across the continent have spiked. According to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters account for approximately one third of all home heating fires, half of which take place during December, January, and February – and March may also be high this year.
Rising energy bills are also causing worry and stress, and the additional greenhouse gasses from increased energy production are harming the planet.
Choosing lower-watt space heaters will keep you safer, will lower your energy bills, and will keep you warm and protected from the cold. If you choose a space heater which is intelligently designed, it can prove just as effective as a model that costs more to do the same job. The fewer watts the heater requires, the lower the chance of overloading electrical circuits which can lead to fire – and the lower your energy bills will be.
Additional tips for keeping warm this winter: make sure to keep all heating devices (chimneys, space heaters, central heaters) clean of debris, dust, pet hair, or other build-up. All electrical heating devices should be plugged into the wall directly, as many extension cords are not built to handle the wattage most space heaters require.
Make sure your space heater features safety tip-over shut-off protection, as they can be easily tipped over by children, pets, wind, or other factors. Place your space heaters approximately 3 feet from anything flammable, including furniture, curtains, bedding, etc. When you leave the room or go to bed, turn off the space heater as a precaution.
The Cozy Products Eco-Save Heater uses just 750 watts (most space heaters on the market use around 1,500 watts), carries the ETL Listed Mark for safety, features safety tip-over shut-off protection, and has a sleek, compact egg-shaped design that’s easy to clean and maintain. It’s very popular for office spaces due to its lower fire hazard and money-saving qualities, as well as for home use.
About:
Cozy Products offers energy-efficient, low-wattage personal heaters that conserve energy, prevent circuit overloads and reduce fire risk. Focused on effective, common-sense solutions for home and office, Cozy Products are rigorously tested by private and government sources to ensure all products meet the highest standards available.
Kelly Nelson, Cozy Products, http://www.cozyproducts.com/, +1 312.226.8454, [email protected]
Share this article