Tips to Save Energy and Keep Cool During this Heat Wave
Thursday, July 21, 2011
By Chip Keeling
As customers across the state are keeping cool indoors and combating this sweltering heat wave from the Midwest to the east coast, I’d like to share some insights to help customers become more energy efficient in their homes. Often, when temperatures rise, so can energy usage.
The extreme temperatures this summer can be a challenge for electric customers who want to cut costs without sacrificing comfort in their homes. I hope the following tips provide useful recommendations to make it a little easier to reduce energy at home and save money.
• Set air conditioners to the highest comfortable setting during the day: 78-80 degrees is a comfortable setting for most people. Raising your air conditioner setting by one degree can save anywhere from 4-7% on the cooling portion of your energy bill.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate the cool air. Fans can help you feel more comfortable at higher temperatures. Window fans, ceiling fans or whole-house fans use much less power and are an alternative to air conditioners. Turn the fan off when you leave the room since the fan does its job by cooling you — not the room.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights. Use fluorescent lighting, which is cooler. ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light, or CFL, bulbs and fixtures last up to 10 times longer and use about 75% less energy and produce 75% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs.
• Close curtains, drapes and blinds to keep the sun's radiant heat from entering your home through your windows. Many times, you can reduce solar heat gain in hot summer months by shading your windows from the inside. Awnings and trees can also help produce shade from the outside of your home.
• Check your air filters monthly — even on extended filters. Change when necessary according to the filter manufacturer’s recommendations. Dirty air filters make your air conditioner work harder. Clean the filter in window units as well. It is behind the front panel.
• Clear plants, dirt or grass clippings from outdoor air-conditioning units. This debris interferes with air circulation. Wash the coil periodically with a garden hose.
• Turn off all unnecessary appliances. Run your dishwashers, dryers and washing machines during the evening hours (after 7 p.m.) when energy consumption is lower.
• Don't close air registers and do not close off rooms completely because it can increase system pressure and damage the compressor. Furniture or drapes should not block air registers.
• Cook outdoors on your grill; use a microwave oven or crockpot or prepare cold meals to avoid heating up the kitchen and adding moisture to the air. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
For additional tips and programs we offer to help customers save energy and money,
visit lge-ku.com/ee. Stay safe and cool this summer!
As customers across the state are keeping cool indoors and combating this sweltering heat wave from the Midwest to the east coast, I’d like to share some insights to help customers become more energy efficient in their homes. Often, when temperatures rise, so can energy usage.
The extreme temperatures this summer can be a challenge for electric customers who want to cut costs without sacrificing comfort in their homes. I hope the following tips provide useful recommendations to make it a little easier to reduce energy at home and save money.
• Set air conditioners to the highest comfortable setting during the day: 78-80 degrees is a comfortable setting for most people. Raising your air conditioner setting by one degree can save anywhere from 4-7% on the cooling portion of your energy bill.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate the cool air. Fans can help you feel more comfortable at higher temperatures. Window fans, ceiling fans or whole-house fans use much less power and are an alternative to air conditioners. Turn the fan off when you leave the room since the fan does its job by cooling you — not the room.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights. Use fluorescent lighting, which is cooler. ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light, or CFL, bulbs and fixtures last up to 10 times longer and use about 75% less energy and produce 75% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs.
• Close curtains, drapes and blinds to keep the sun's radiant heat from entering your home through your windows. Many times, you can reduce solar heat gain in hot summer months by shading your windows from the inside. Awnings and trees can also help produce shade from the outside of your home.
• Check your air filters monthly — even on extended filters. Change when necessary according to the filter manufacturer’s recommendations. Dirty air filters make your air conditioner work harder. Clean the filter in window units as well. It is behind the front panel.
• Clear plants, dirt or grass clippings from outdoor air-conditioning units. This debris interferes with air circulation. Wash the coil periodically with a garden hose.
• Turn off all unnecessary appliances. Run your dishwashers, dryers and washing machines during the evening hours (after 7 p.m.) when energy consumption is lower.
• Don't close air registers and do not close off rooms completely because it can increase system pressure and damage the compressor. Furniture or drapes should not block air registers.
• Cook outdoors on your grill; use a microwave oven or crockpot or prepare cold meals to avoid heating up the kitchen and adding moisture to the air. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
For additional tips and programs we offer to help customers save energy and money,
visit lge-ku.com/ee. Stay safe and cool this summer!
