Ah, the dog days of summer are here. Typically in Texas, that means warm days and absolutely scorching afternoons. It can also mean high electric bills. It is important though, especially during this part of the year, to stay cool. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to remain comfortable during the hottest part of the year. And with a little effort, you can still keep that bill affordable.
The best way to beat the heat is to stay indoors in the air conditioning and use a fan to circulate air. Fans help you stay cooler and let you keep your A/C thermostat set a few degrees higher, saving you energy and money. Use caulk and weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep hot air out and cooled air in. Draw the curtains on windows during the hottest part of the day to keep solar heat outside. Keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees or higher. For every degree you can raise the thermostat, studies have found, you will save about 3 percent on your energy bill. Better yet, install a programmable thermostat and use it to turn the thermostat up when you are away from home or in the dead of night, when you’re sleeping and won’t notice.
Keeping that bill down can also be achieved through cooking habits In the evenings, when the temperature has dropped, enjoy a picnic or a cookout in a park or your backyard. Cooking outside has the advantage of keeping oven and stove heat out of the kitchen, where it adds to your air system’s cooling load. If you do cook indoors, use appliances such as microwaves and slow cookers, which use less energy than a stove or oven and don’t add as much residual heat to the air.
Just make sure, indoors or out, wear lightweight clothing and drink plenty of water. If you must work outside, try to do most of your heavy labor in the morning before it heats up. Take frequent rest breaks and stay hydrated. Avoid alcoholic beverages, which can cause dehydration. And know the warning signs that you’ve gotten overheated. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, muscle weakness and nausea. If you begin to experience these symptoms, stop what you are doing and get someplace cool right away. If left untreated, this condition can progress to heatstroke, which can kill.
And, during these next few blazing-hot weeks, watch out for your friends and neighbors, especially the elderly or infirm individuals, who might have trouble coping with the heat.
As for us at Mid-South Synergy, we strive every day, in all kinds of weather, to keep electricity affordable and reliability high so you can keep your cool.