Take a Hottie to Bed; Stay Warm, Save Energy

Taking a hottie to bed this winter may be one of the most energy-efficient ways to stay warm. A hottie uses less energy than an electric blanket or a space heater, and a hottie can help you keep your body hot and your thermostat down, night after night, all winter long. A hottie, by the way, is New Zealand-style slang for a hot water bottle. The other kind of hottie may also be a great way to warm a bed, but that's a different post for someone more mature.

How to Use A Hot Water Bottle

Simply fill a hot water bottle with boiling water and bring it into the bed with you. Some hot water bottles are microwave safe and can be reheated over and over again. Put the hottie under the covers to create your own blanket-bound thermal envelope and sleep the night away with the knowledge that you've saved some electricity.

When the night is over and the water in your hottie has grown tepid, use that water to feed a houseplant. Another energy-saving idea from Treehugger is to put your hot shower or bath water into your hottie. Soapy water will probably damage house plants. Use pre-soapy water if possible. Or you can use that soapy water in a gray water system.

Hot Water Bottles and Health

Hot water bottles can be reused to treat minor medical conditions, like earache and muscle ache. They can also be used to give enemas. Let's see your space heater do that.