With temperatures expected to remain near 100 degrees into next week, Omaha Public Power District suggests customers plan now to conserve energy.
The payoff: reduced electricity use and lower electrical bills.
Prolonged heat can stress the district’s electric delivery system so it’s important to reduce demand through conservation, especially between peak usage hours of 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Here’s how you can conserve energy at home — and at work — to help save $$ on your energy bill:
- Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible. A one-degree increase can save 3 percent to 5 percent on energy.
- Keep window shades and blinds closed to block direct sunlight and reduce solar heat gain.
- Clean or change your system’s air filter monthly to save energy and help prevent system failure.
- Use ceiling fans to enable you to raise your thermostat about 4 degrees, with no reduction in comfort.
- Turn off fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
- Delay such task as dishwashing or laundry until after 8 p.m. and restrict the use of heat-producing appliances such as ovens until later in the day.
- Lower lighting levels where possible and turn off lights in unoccupied areas; and
- Unplug appliances that are not in use.
- Shower early in the morning or later in the evening; and
- Turn off and unplug all electrical equipment not in use (computers, coffee makers, printers, chargers, etc.), especially in offices.
OPPD offers these and other energy efficiency tips on its web site: www.oppd.com.