Winter often comes early here in Northeast PA.  Not sure if Wayne or Pike county is colder – but the wind blowing across Lake Wallenpaupack or Westcolang Lake or Lake Henry can freeze ya to the bone.  I know a lot of folks are looking for ways to cut heating costs this winter.  I was tipped off to this idea by one of my friends on the Northeast PA City-Data board.  I did not bookmark the actual

Bubble Wrap Can Keep Pocono Winter Drafts At Bay

link that Mathjac posted before our ever-zealous moderator moved the thread to some other spot – but I found this article that explains it nicely.

Basically, you ask someone from appliance or furniture store to give you the bubble wrap they would normally discard.  Then cut it to fit the inside of your window.  Using a spray bottle, spritz some water on the glass and simply place the bubble wrap on the glass.  It should come off easily in the spring.

Personally, I prefer to actually be able to SEE outside my windows – but I can see where this would be helpful for homeowners:

• Use this method to insulate leaky basement or attic windows – still get lots of light; eliminate the draft.
• If you choose not to winterize and leave the heat on in your vacation home , this will help save energy while you’re away; when you come up to go skiing or ice fishing, the wrap comes off in seconds…and simply replace before heading back home.
• Use it for rooms / windows you rarely use.
• Use it on that drafty sliding glass door that stays shut all winter…
• Couple with heavy lined drapes for extra effect.

I like the idea because it’s easy and it’s cheap; my hubby  and I spent a small fortune one year on that 3m shrink wrap (it worked though) – even if you can’t get any free, you can get this stuff fairly inexpensively.  I don’t know if it works – most of my windows now are new and not drafty; my one window that is a candidate is the bay window overlooking my back yard from the sink…I don’t think I’d relish the “insect’s compound eye effect” while doing my dishes…but hey – I could always skip doing the dishes.