With highs expected over 90 degrees and feels-like temperatures reaching 100 degrees beginning next week, City Water, Light and Power is sharing some tips on how to stay cool and comfortable while saving energy and not over-working your air conditioning (A/C) system
STAY COOL TIPS
· Turn your thermostat up and use fans only in occupied rooms to increase air flow and the cooling effect it creates. A fan will use much less energy than the air conditioner.
· Turn off unnecessary lights and other appliances, which create heat gain to a property.
· Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing. When outdoors, keep hydrated and stay cool in the pool or outdoors with sprinklers.
• Avoid unnecessary trips in and out of the house to keep heat and humidity out.
· Make sure all windows are tightly shut and locked to limit air escape.
· Keep windows shaded – particularly those facing west – especially in the afternoon, to limit solar heat gain. East-facing windows can be shaded to block morning sunlight.
· Save clothes washing and drying, dishwashing, cooking, vacuuming and other heat- and humidity-producing activities for the late evening hours when outdoor temperatures are cooler.
· Move cooking with heat outdoors. When cooking indoors, use the right size pan for the stove burner. This will help ensure most of the heat from the burner will go to heat your food, not the air in your house.
· If you don’t have adequate air conditioning, go to one of the Springfield area Cooling Center locations for the hottest parts of the day, https://www.springfield.il.us/Departments/CommunityRelations/Documents/COOLINGCENTERS2022.pdf
SAVE ENERGY TIPS & TUNE UPS
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy saving lights. LED lights use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs while lasting up to 25 times longer. LED bulbs produce less heat.
• Add or repair weather stripping or caulk around windows and doors to reduce and prevent leaks.
• Run kitchen and bathroom fans and other exhaust fans only as necessary to clear excess humidity. This is especially important when your air conditioner or furnace is running as these fans will pull conditioned air from the building and make your A/C work harder.
• Clean area around A/C unit from leaves or debris to allow for airflow and shade area, if possible. Shut off power to the unit before cleaning it. On the inside, wash or vacuum cleanable filters, and replace disposable ones. Hose off any accumulated dirt. Use a professional for help and schedule annual inspections.
• Clean or replace indoors A/C filters to maximize efficiency. Homes with pets or in dusty areas could benefit from monthly replacement. Typical replacement schedule is twice a year.
• Update your insulation. This will keep cool air in your home and hot air out. You can add more insulation on top of existing insulation in your attic. For more information on the type of insulation you should use, visit EnergySavers.gov.
• Check your attic for proper insulation to keep hot air out. Use a whole house fan to
drive hot air out.
• Consider planting fast-growing trees and shrubs near your home, but away from power lines, to provide shade.
• Set computers and monitors to go to “sleep” after 10 or 15 minutes of inactivity.
• Upgrade to EnergyStar, high efficiency appliances.
• Do full loads of laundry on cold setting and avoid use of washer and dryer on the hottest part of the day.
You can call CWLP Energy Services at 217-789-2070 or visit their website at the Save Energy-Save Water tab at www.cwlp.com for more tips and information on staying cool and reducing energy usage.