The much-anticipated heat wave is upon us, and Dominion wants to let its customers know that it doesn’t anticipate any problems with providing the electricity that they need.
It’s always a good idea to use energy wisely, however—especially during times of extreme temperatures—to minimize the impact on your usage and electric bill.
Dominion encourages customers to:
- Raise your thermostat a few degrees if possible, (76-78 degrees is the ideal) taking into account your comfort level and any medical conditions that exists for household members. If you are away from home for more than eight hours, raise the thermostat setting and you can save for each degree of setback. You can learn more about your thermostat settings by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy website.
- Keep shades closed when the air conditioner is on. Sunny windows can add heat to your home and can make your air conditioner work two to three times harder.
- Check and clean air filters—it allows the system to run more efficiently. The #1 cause of AC breakdown is dirty air filters.
- Install ceiling fans and make sure they are blowing down (counterclockwise). Moving air over the body provides a cooling effect. Most fans have a switch to change the fan direction. Keep fans off when the room is unoccupied.
- Postpone activities that require hot water and large energy use – such as washing dishes or clothes – to early morning or late evening. This will keep from adding more heat and humidity to the home.
- Use the microwave instead of the oven when possible.
- Use cold water to wash dishes and clothes. This will save on water heating costs and keep temps in your home lower.
- Unplug equipment or appliances when not in use. Electric chargers, televisions and audio/video equipment use electricity and produce heat even when they are not in use. Running an older refrigerator can use up to three times the energy of a modern one.
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