Warm Weather Tips
- Set the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher for the most energy-efficient operation.
- Install shaded window film to block extra sunlight and reduce air conditioning costs.
- Use your microwave or outdoor grill instead of a range or oven to reduce the amount of heat you produce indoors.
- Use fans to move the air inside your home. This gives the sensation that it is five degrees cooler than the actual temperature.
- Shade windows on the sunny side of your home. Keep drapes closed or add room-darkening shades to block out the heat from the sun.
- Keep the outside portion of a central air conditioner clear from dried mud, debris and grass clippings. Check after an intense rain. Mud can splatter onto the unit and block the air after it dries.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but do not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
- On hot summer days, avoid opening doors and windows in your home during the afternoon. This allows cool air to escape and hot air to enter the home. Choose activities that are either indoors or outdoors and restrict activities that require many door openings to the mornings.
- Shift energy-intensive tasks such as laundry and dishwashing to off-peak energy-demand hours to increase electricity reliability during heat waves.
- Save jobs that produce moisture - such as mopping, laundry and dishwashing - for early morning or nighttime hours. The humidity from these activities can make homes uncomfortable.
- Make sure the attic is properly ventilated to relieve excess summer heat.
- Install a radiant barrier on the underside of your roof to reflect heat. A radiant barrier is simply a sheet of aluminum foil with a paper backing