After a mild July and most of August, the hot weather associated with this time of year will finally make an appearance this week. In fact, we could hit an all-time peak load record today, and demand at least a couple of days this week. And although we don’t expect any problems meeting this demand, we’ve taken steps to continue to provide service without significant interruption – we have extra crews on stand-by should we experience any issues.
With that being said, here are a few tips to help stay cool, conserve energy and beat the heat during this week’s warm weather event.
Tips Energy/Cost Savings
- Raise the thermostat on central air conditioning from 72 degrees to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to save about $25 per month. Clean the air filters and coils to further improve efficiency for more savings;
- A programmable thermostat saves as much as 12 percent on your energy bill if it’s set to match your daily routine, such as setting it at 85 degrees when you’re out of the house for the day;
- Supplement air-conditioning with ceiling and floor fans, which create a wind-chill effect; it increases air-conditioning cooling efficiency and costs only about 30 cents per month to run;
- Use appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers after 10:30 p.m. Run full loads to decrease the amount of time appliances are in use;
- Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric oven or natural gas stove;
- Keep your shades pulled, and doors and windows closed during the day and plant shade trees near your home and air conditioning unit. You could save up to 8 percent on your cooling bill.
For more tips on how to save energy while staying cool on hot and humid days, visit xcelenergy.com.
Article appearing courtesy Xcel Energy Blog.
