With heat advisories underway through the weekend, you’ve surely noticed — it’s HOT out there. And the bad news is it’s going to stay that way for a while longer. The good news is that there are some things you can do right now to make your home more comfortable AND keep your electricity bill from rising like the warm air.
We talk often about things you can do in advance to be prepared for hot weather. But planting a shade tree won’t help you today. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for immediate relief. First, keep as much heat out of your home as possible. First thing in the morning, close windows and blinds to block the sun as it rises. Heavier drapes with heat-blocking fabric will help guard against the warm rays.
Next, try to avoid creating any extra heat inside your home. Light bulbs, especially incandescent or halogen bulbs, can create significant heat, so keep them off during the day. Also, take a trip through your home and unplug any unused electronics. Entertainment and computer equipment can create heat — and waste energy — when left on. If possible, avoid using hot water for extended periods, running the dishwasher or doing laundry during the day. These appliances can also create heat and humidity inside the home and make it harder to keep cool.
Plan not to cook. If you do need to heat meals, use the microwave or grill outdoors. Avoid the oven or stovetop, which can quickly warm up a home in this weather.
Make plan to keep cool
Once you’ve taken all the steps you can to block heat from getting in, work on a plan to keep cool. Fans don’t actually cool the air inside your home, but moving air across the skin can help your body feel cooler. Many fans are also very economical to use, especially ones made to Energy Star efficiency standards — just remember that whatever types of fans you use, turn them off when you’re not in the room.
Air conditioners are a different story. While you’ll want to turn the thermostat up to 85 degrees when you leave your home to help keep costs down, don’t turn the AC all the way off. Running it at a higher temperature when you’re gone and then turning it down to around 78 degrees when you’re home will keep it much cooler inside than outside, while helping to avoid spikes in your energy bill.
Before cranking it up, check your AC filter, and also make sure any plants and bushes around the outdoor unit are trimmed back. Also take a look at your vents indoors and clear away any obstructions that could be blocking the flow of cool air into your home. If you have a basement that stays cool, close those vents to push more conditioned air upstairs. These steps will help the system to operate as efficiently as possible.
If you’re shopping for an air conditioner now, consider the amount of energy used, as well as the purchase price. More efficient models will cost much less to run and could save you money over time. Look for the Energy Star label as you compare options.
When the sun goes down in the evenings, open the windows and let the cool air blow through your home. But stay focused on safety! Window screens are not strong enough to protect against falls and it’s important to make sure there are no small children near open windows.
If your home is just too hot, there are local places to cool down. Community centers, public libraries, restaurants and theaters are all good options to escape the heat.
Most of all, stay hydrated and please check on elderly or at -risk friends and neighbors to make sure they’re keeping cool and safe.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
