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EnerStar Power reminds
members that demand for
electricity could reach
record levels, particularly
in the mid-afternoon, during
this period of extremely hot
conditions the Midwest is
currently experiencing.
While EnerStar expects to
have enough electricity to
meet the heavy demand for
power, the company is asking
members to use energy wisely
to help prevent possible
power supply problems.
EnerStar offers the
following conservation tips
for members. In addition to
helping your electric
cooperative through this
period of peak energy use,
conserving electricity will
also help you save money on
your electric bill. Here are
some simple steps you can
take to help make a
difference.
-
Set your thermostat at
the highest comfortable
temperature - 76 degrees
or higher -and keep it
there. Each degree a
thermostat is raised can
save up to four percent
of the cost of operating
an air conditioner and
help the power companies
keep the electricity
flowing. If you have
window air conditioning
units, keep them on the
highest temperature
setting.
-
Postpone the use of
major appliances, such
as clothes dryers and
dishwashers, until late
in the evening or early
in the morning.
-
Turn off all unnecessary
lights. Also check for
any computers,
television sets, stereo
equipment and other
appliances that may be
on but aren't in use.
Not only do they use
extra electricity, they
add heat to the house,
forcing your air
conditioner to work
harder.
-
Close drapes and blinds
on the sunny side of the
house. The sun streaming
in through a window can
add considerable heat to
a room and make it
harder to cool.
-
Reduce the amount of
space that must be
cooled in your home by
closing off rooms that
aren't being used. If
you have a den, a
utility room or bedrooms
that aren’t being used,
close the air
conditioning vents in
those rooms and shut the
door. With window units,
simply shut the doors to
unused rooms or shut off
any window air
conditioners that are
located in these rooms.
-
Keep the doors to your
refrigerator and freezer
closed as much as
possible. A refrigerator
with the door standing
open uses a lot more
energy than one with the
door closed.
-
Make sure the filter on
your air conditioner is
clean. Good airflow is a
key to keeping cool, so
make sure your system
isn't working harder
than necessary. In
addition, make sure
vents are clear of
furniture or other
objects that might block
air flow.
-
Use your microwave
instead of a
conventional oven. A
microwave uses up to 70
percent less energy and
also releases far less
heat into the kitchen.
-
If your water heater
runs on electricity,
limit your use of hot
water so the unit
doesn't run as often.
-
Use fans to keep air
moving. Ceiling fans use
about as much energy as
a light bulb, which is
far less than an air
conditioner. With a fan,
you can set the
thermostat on your air
conditioner to an even
higher temperature and
still stay comfortable.
EnerStar will continue to
monitor conditions and
request the public's
assistance if further
conservation measures become
necessary. More energy
conservation tips are
available online at
www.energyadvisor.coop.
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