Do you use your heat in the winter? (Houston: houses, live in)

[Pink Jazz]

I am amazed how many people don't use their heat in the Phoenix area; I cannot go without heat in winter. I would like to see if that same mentality exists in a city with a comparable winter climate, Houston.

[chris_ut]

I would be fine but my wife gets cold so I run it for her.

[Ghost Town]

I just came back home after work and it's 63F downstairs and 61F upstairs.
Of course I turned on the heat immediately. I love to have at least 72F inside. I guess my house is insulated not very efficiently, but I can't imagine having 70+F inside even super insulated house without a heat running when it is 30-40F outside.
This season (Oct-Dec 2018) my car's windshield froze at least 4 times already, that means it was below 32F at night all those times.

[Dopo]

When people get used to 90-100F half of the year,
50F feels very cold

[elnina]

Of course, depends on temperatures outside.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Dopo

When people get used to 90-100F half of the year,
50F feels very cold

The reason why I created this thread is because a lot of people in the Phoenix area claim the don't use their heat in the winter. Based on what I am seeing here that mentality doesn't exist in Houston despite comparable average winter temperatures.

[Ghost Town]

At least next 10 days it is supposed to be warmer in Phoenix, based on weather.com data: low 70s during the day and upper 40s - low 50s at night.
Technically those daily temps plus a lot of sun are enough to keep house warm without turning the heat on or using heat at minimum.
Houston has less sun, more wind and lower temps in general. Higher usage of heating is expected in Houston.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

At least next 10 days it is supposed to be warmer in Phoenix, based on weather.com data: low 70s during the day and upper 40s - low 50s at night.
Technically those daily temps plus a lot of sun are enough to keep house warm without turning the heat on or using heat at minimum.
Houston has less sun, more wind and lower temps in general. Higher usage of heating is expected in Houston.

Those are above average temperatures, which many seem to incorrectly assume are the average temperatures. Average high for this time of year in Phoenix is in the mid-60s. This morning it was actually in the upper 30s at least where I live in Queen Creek.

While average highs and lows are comparable, Houston has a lower mean minimum temperature (the average coldest temperature recorded in the winter), while the mean maximum temperatures are about the same (with Houston's being higher in December and Phoenix being higher in February). Perhaps these cold spells demand greater heating use.

[lhafer]

I usually turn the heat on if it’s 55 and under outside. My house regulates its temperature very well, and almost always stayswithin the 68-75 range no matter what the temperature is outside.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Those are above average temperatures, which many seem to incorrectly assume are the average temperatures. Average high for this time of year in Phoenix is in the mid-60s. This morning it was actually in the upper 30s at least where I live in Queen Creek.

While average highs and lows are comparable, Houston has a lower mean minimum temperature (the average coldest temperature recorded in the winter), while the mean maximum temperatures are about the same (with Houston's being higher in December and Phoenix being higher in February). Perhaps these cold spells demand greater heating use.

Of course I didn't track all the weather in Phoenix.
If people don't use heat when it's in 30s outside, there could be different explanations: 1) their houses are super insulated and don't cool down at night; 2) they are so tired of heat most of the year and prefer to enjoy cold even inside; 3) they are focused more on saving $$$ compared to Houston residents; 4) all combined.