I've been in lurk mode for a while, but have been silently cheering you on. I'm from the Finger Lakes area of NY. What brings me out of the woodwork is the mention of house prep for the winter (good idea) and space heaters (yikes!). Reducing energy use is my field and my passion.
Unless you have insanely low electric rates (Watertown doesn't, as far as my googling can tell), then electric space heaters cost more to run than your furnace or boiler. Yes, even the Pelonis type. Think of them as an expensive bandaid.
"Ventless" gas heaters are only safe if your house is really drafty and you're not smart enough to seal up the air leaks.
As others suggested, windows are often leaky, so sealing them is a good first step. The fireplace chimney is probably pulling a lot of air out, too.
The easiest, cheapest way to save on heating and cooling is to stop the air leaks. However, you need to be careful to make sure there is still enough fresh air so that furnace fumes don't backdraft and mold doesn't grow in the bathroom. Many utilities offer substantial rebates on a comprehensive energy audit. They find out where the air leaks are in the building and they test to make sure there is no backdrafting risk. It's a great idea if available.
As you are looking for places to live, be sure to account for the cost of commuting. Places that are further out may have lower rents, but add in a reasonable estimate of the mileage costs (if not time) in order to make a reasonable comparison.
You are doing a great job of launching your latest adventure. Feel free to pick my brain about reducing the utility bills. It's my favorite topic. You can also find me on FB.
