Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, [email protected]
MANASSAS, Va. —Summer arrives on Sunday, June 21, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) believes it will be hotter and more expensive than last summer as consumers use more air conditioning to stay comfortable. Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative offers summer cooling tips to beat the heat.
Hot Summer Forecasts
EIA's June Short-Term
Energy Outlook says, "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) forecasts warmer summer temperatures this year compared with the mild
summer last year. The warmer temperatures are forecast to increase consumption
of electricity to run air conditioners, which, combined with higher electricity
prices, contributes to EIA's forecast of a 4.8 percent increase in the typical
U.S. residential electricity bill this summer."
The
2015 Farmers' Almanac says, "Summer
heat will arrive in full force by July with much of the nation sweltering with
above to much-above normal temperatures." For July, the almanac says most of
the seven national regions will be hot, but for the Southeast, much of July
will be "oppressively hot," and "sultry."
Bob Cornwell, NOVEC energy services representative, says, "There are ways of staying comfortable without incurring extreme utility bills. We want NOVEC customers to know we're here to help."
Before temperatures go any higher –along with air-conditioning bills –NOVEC offers the following summer cooling tips.
NOVEC's Beat-the-Heat Checklist
- Replace
incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) or light-emittingdiode (LED) bulbs. Incandescent bulbs
create 90 percent heat and just 10 percent light.
- Install
and use window treatments that block the sun's heat. White or lightly colored
blinds and shades, and curtains with white liners reflect sunlight better than
darker treatments. Layer lined curtains over blinds or shades for better
blockage. Window awnings work even better by blocking heat before it reaches
windows.
- Apply
sun-control glazing or other reflective films on southern- and western-facing
windows.
- Close a
fireplace flue damper tightly, along with glass doors, to prevent
air-conditioned air from escaping up the chimney.
- Stop air
leaks by: caulking around windows and doors; applying weather-stripping on
exterior doors; and spraying insulation foam in openings and cracks. Learn how
to seal a home properly at www.energystar.gov. Select
"Why Seal and Insulate?"
- Make sure
an attic and crawl space have sufficient insulation. Insulate around an attic
door or lid.
- Cook on an outdoor grill. Cooking indoors with a conventional stove or oven can raise kitchen temperatures as much as 10 degrees. Use a microwave or convection oven instead.
- Move a
spare refrigerator out of the garage to the basement or spare room where the
unit won't have to work as hard to keep food cold.
Air Conditioners and Fans
- Install a
programmable thermostat and set it at 76-78 degrees F. Setting it cooler when arriving home on a hot
day won't cool a home faster, but it will increase cooling expenses
unnecessarily.
- Clean or
change the air-conditioner filter once a month: follow manufacturers'
instructions. Write the installation date on the replacement filter. Dirty
filters reduce airflow and cause air conditioners to work harder and use more
energy.
- Keep tall grass and landscaping at least two feet away from outdoor air-conditioner units.
- Have a
qualified air-conditioner professional inspect the unit annually to make sure
it runs efficiently.
- For a
window air conditioner, seal the opening around the unit tightly. Clean or
replace the filter regularly.
- When using
an air conditioner, close storm windows and lock regular windows to seal in
cool air.
- Adjust
ceiling fans to run counterclockwise. Ceiling and portable fans can make people
feel 3 to 4 degrees cooler, but running them in unoccupied rooms wastes energy
dollars.
- Check and
clean kitchen and bathroom vent fans. Run them just long enough to vent
humidity – not cooled air.
- Make sure
furniture or drapes do not block supply and return air registers. Vacuum dust
from registers.
