Not sure if your comment was a general statement or aimed at the author of the article (Paul), but for the record Montana has "real" winters. I lived a much similar life in rural Utah for many years, doing many of the same lifestyle optimizations that Paul is engaged in.
I don't know what Paul's house is built of, but mine was solid brick, which probably matched the structure and function of the dense brick/cob building of Europe. The thermal mass was a blessing, as my only form of central heating was wood/coal-burning cylinder stone in the center of the home. In the dead of winter (lows often in the -5 to -15F range at night), a short, intense burn first thing in the morning would charge the house, with minimal burning during daylight hours to maintain a comfortable temp around the core living areas (55-to-65F). Just before bed, load and tweak the stove for a long slow burn. By morning, even on the coldest of nights, the temp never dropped below 45F.
As for his heat-the-person-not-the-room method, that's an obvious, old technique which I applaud Paul for using. For me, a thick down comforter on the bed pre-charged with heat via old-fashioned hot water bottle an hour before (they have nice, newfangled silicone models these days) was all it took. The water was, of course, heated on the wood stove.
During the day, wise clothing (layers, wool, hats) and space heating made the place livable. As did the occasional bout of labor to build up head (an old saying is that chopping wood heats you twice). Yes, there is also some acclimation that takes place. Several years after abandoning the lifestyle, I still cannot tolerate indoor temps much warmer than 70.
Frankly, given that Paul has a rocket mass heater (much, much more efficient than my stove ever was), I am surprised he needs much in the way of spot-heating. Unless his home is of stick/frame construction.
I don't know what Paul's house is built of, but mine was solid brick, which probably matched the structure and function of the dense brick/cob building of Europe. The thermal mass was a blessing, as my only form of central heating was wood/coal-burning cylinder stone in the center of the home. In the dead of winter (lows often in the -5 to -15F range at night), a short, intense burn first thing in the morning would charge the house, with minimal burning during daylight hours to maintain a comfortable temp around the core living areas (55-to-65F). Just before bed, load and tweak the stove for a long slow burn. By morning, even on the coldest of nights, the temp never dropped below 45F.
As for his heat-the-person-not-the-room method, that's an obvious, old technique which I applaud Paul for using. For me, a thick down comforter on the bed pre-charged with heat via old-fashioned hot water bottle an hour before (they have nice, newfangled silicone models these days) was all it took. The water was, of course, heated on the wood stove.
During the day, wise clothing (layers, wool, hats) and space heating made the place livable. As did the occasional bout of labor to build up head (an old saying is that chopping wood heats you twice). Yes, there is also some acclimation that takes place. Several years after abandoning the lifestyle, I still cannot tolerate indoor temps much warmer than 70.
Frankly, given that Paul has a rocket mass heater (much, much more efficient than my stove ever was), I am surprised he needs much in the way of spot-heating. Unless his home is of stick/frame construction.