I have been thinking ahead about staying warm next winter using the least amount of watts possible. I might be able to get away with powering that off my solar system, if i can find the right combination of watts.

Caveat: I do have a very small studio - 150 sq feet, and it's well insulated. I made it through last winter with just a space heater. I also have mild winters that only hover around freezing or sometimes dip to the 20s.

I recently read a thread on Permies.com about creating a heat bubble around the places you use in your home, instead of heating the entire house.

In my case, I would want a heat bubble around the computer, one on the bed, and maybe one to sit and watch TV (which I don't do often, really).

For the computer area, I could easily wear socks, a sweatshirt and a hat to start with. Then I could either get a heated keyboard/mouse set or just use some USB fingerless gloves. I found a $5 set of USB heated gloves on Amazon recently and did order those.

With heating the hands, I'd also want to sit on a heating pad (again, a USB one would be great), and have some kind of heating pad for my feet. There is also the option of USB heated slippers, but i think I'd be happier with socks and a heating pad. It will eventually come down to the watt combination, I am sure. Whatever ends up being the lowest combination that still keeps me warm.

I am also looking into 'personal heaters', which are like tiny space heaters that heat a body part. I found a cute USB one that I could either use for feet or hands/face, that uses only 200 watts. While that uses more than a set of heated fingerless USB gloves, it's a WHOLE lot less than the typical 1500 watt space heater.

I'll be reading about these little heaters and keeping an eye on the reviews. I don't like being cold at all, so I think I will be a good test subject. And i do have plenty of time to work on this - summer isn't even here yet.

Since i plan to be camping in flagstaff, AZ, this summer (7,000 feet elevation), I will surely be experimenting with a heat bubble at night in my camper.

I do have my DC heating blanket, and my USB heating gloves are on their way from amazon.

I found a USB powered sort of heated 'pocket' for the hand that you slip over while using your mouse. If I pick that up i will review it. I do plan to review everything I am using so people can decide what will work for them. I still have my eye on the personal heater...I will add things as needed and see what works.

Good idea, Jilly. It sure would save money not having to heat up your entire living space.

Thank you, Debbie. It's really fun to mess with this.

I wish I could make a cooling bubble too. I guess that is what fans and wet cloths are for!

My USB heating gloves arrived! YAY. I instantly tested them (at night, when it was cooler, of course, and with the fan blowing on me).

Here is my full review: USB fuzzy, cozy hand warming gloves

I think this is a great start to my bubble. I also have a DC flannel warming blanket to add to it - DC units draw very little watts. It's really for my car, but i do also have a DC power unit in here that will be easy to charge up with my single solar panel, once I get that hooked up.

Yay, yay, yay.