posted 34 minutes ago
As a retired designer of passive solar and highly energy efficient homes, remodelings, and additions, I have to commend the posts so far. This is a smart group ;O). What i can add is maybe a bit of prioritization. We don't know what climate you are in......only that it gets cold. In the long run, insulation on the outside of the block, and in the attic, would be ideal, but interior insulation would be good as well, since thermal mass in that location doesn't really do much that is effective, and might even extend summer overheating, from west wall sun exposure, which might be mitigated with plantings/shading or even sun reflective paint.. For now, you need to make the walls not fell so cold. So, as was already recommended, do what they used to do in stone castles, and hang cloth or blankets over the walls, to present a warmer surface and reduce radiant heat losses from the people and objects in the room. Raising the average temperatures of the exposed surfaces, is roughly 40% more effective than raising the temperature of the room air. Of course, seal any noticeable air leaks, too. Then leave the door open and use a box/floor fan to draw cold air out of the room, so that warm air will flow in through the top of the doorway. Having the fan blow out of the room (besides not creating a cooling breeze in the room) will work with the natural air flow instead of again it. Of course, warmer bedding is always a good thing. Get the kids involved in figuring out and solving their own problem, too.