Living for a few weeks in Canada during their cold winter season taught me a lot of lessons about how to keep warm.
I bought long underwear that is almost like a thin pair of pajamas that go under your first layer of regular clothing.
These were an invaluable asset to own while living in uncompromisingly cold environments like northern Canada. I also learned about the best winter coats that you could buy that were still affordable, and what sorts of materials they use inside to keep them so effectively insulated from the cold air. When I first arrived, I had a jacket and a pile of sweaters to keep me warm for the cold season. After I got the right kind of heavily insulated winter coat, I was much more comfortable when I was outside of the house. Another thing I learned about in Canada in regards to staying warm each winter is this new process of fully insulating attics. For houses that have either their ductwork, air handler, or both inside of their attic, a lot of energy lost occurs in this space if it is not guarded from the elements. The space up there can be freezing cold while the air running through the ventilation system is warm. Not only will the air in the ductwork lose heat, but condensation will form on the other side of the ductwork as the cold humid air hits the warm metal. A company has developed these huge 8 inch thick insulated foam blocks that come as large chunks that can be cut down to size. Lining the walls, floor, and ceiling of your attic with this material will turn it into a conditioned space, and will greatly reduce your energy expenses while running a central furnace.