There's a brutal heat wave pestering many parts of the South and the Midwest, and in the rest of the country, it's still pretty darn hot. So I thought I would share a few of Georgia Power's tips for staying cool without making your energy bill skyrocket. Got some ideas of your own to share? Tell us in the comments section below.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher and leave it there. For every degree below that setting, you'll use 3 to 5 percent more electricity.
- Set the thermostat even higher when at work or away from home for long periods of time, but no more than five degrees higher.
- Change or clean your air conditioner filter regularly to maximize the unit's cooling potential.
- Adjust your ceiling fan to turn counterclockwise in the summer.
For even more handy pointers, read more
- Check your windows and doors for a tight fit. Apply weather stripping or caulking if needed.
- When cooking, try to use the range instead of the oven. Or better yet, turn on the microwave or use a pressure cooker. Both use less power than a standard electric range.
- Use pots and pans that match the size of the burners on your stove. This allows more heat to the pan and less heat will be lost to surrounding air.
- Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Check it by closing a piece of paper in the door, half in and half out. If you can pull the paper out easily, you may need to make some adjustments or replace the seal.
its very drafty and the windows don't close properly either!
awesome tip s