It’s currently the middle of July and this next week is expected to be a scorcher across the entire country. Highs near 100° will reach as far north as Canada. It’s been a very hot season so far for most of the country and many energy companies are doing their best to keep up with demand. In fact, one energy company, Consumers Energy, says that were using our air-conditioning 40% more this month compared to other Julys in the past.
That’s why a lot of energy companies are sending out emails and text to their customers. They want to warn everybody about the warmer weather and what they can do to help protect their bill. The goal is for every individual consumer to use less energy. When it gets superhot like this, we want to crank up the AC, but everyone else is their AC on as well. This can lead to a lot of complications with the power grid.
When it gets hot, it also impacts the air quality. With the soaring temperatures, a lot of the country falls under air-quality alerts as ozone levels continue to rise. This type of pollution can make the situation dire when combined with extremely high temperatures. Most people are advised to stay inside, stay hydrated, and stay cool if possible.
Saving Money this Summer
If you really want to save money this summer, don’t crank your AC that often. The air conditioner, while a modern marvel, is one of the largest budget killers in your home. You’ll notice a tremendous difference in your bill from the cooler spring months when you didn’t run the AC, to months like July when it’s most likely on more often.
Many energy companies, including Consumers Energy, recommends that you turn your thermostat up when the days get superhot. The recommended temperature setting is 78° for these warm days. It’s estimated that every degree that you turn up your thermostat, you’ll save anywhere between 1% and 3% on your bill. Not to mention, you’ll be helping out the environment by using less energy.
The lower your thermostat on these extremely hot days, the more times it will kick on throughout the day. It’s not uncommon for big cities to have brownouts or even blackouts during the hot summer months when everyone’s trying to crank their AC.
Energy Saving Tips
If 78° is a little warm for you, there are a few things you can do to still save energy. It’s a good idea to keep your shades and blinds closed during the day to keep the heat of the sun out of your house. You could also use fans. A fan in front of the AC might help push cooler air throughout your home. If possible, consider ordering out on the hottest of days you have to use your oven or dishwasher. And when night comes, open the windows and let in the cool night air.
