EMEPA Encourages Energy Efficiency During Extreme Heat

A heat advisory continues to be in effect for East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s service area. Extreme heat conditions can be very hazardous, and we encourage all members to take the proper safety precautions.

The sweltering temperatures, along with factors such as your home’s original construction materials, insulation and air leaks, also affect electric bills as air conditioning systems work overtime to fight the hot weather and keep our homes and businesses cool. Personal comfort plays a role too, as does the difference between the thermostat setting inside and temperatures outdoors.

At EMEPA, we stress the importance of energy efficiency, especially during this time of extremely hot temperatures. This is an important time to address areas of your home or business that are not as energy efficient as they could be.

EMEPA suggests the following no or low-cost energy efficiency tips:

• Turn up your cooling system’s thermostat – a 1-degree reduction in cooling set point can increase energy use by 3 to 5%. Don’t pay to keep your furniture cool — raise it even more when no one is home.
• Visit our Energy Savings section to explore the Home Efficiency Analysis Tool and other energy savings calculators and resources.
• Lower your water heater temperature to 120°F and reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers and using cold water for laundry whenever possible.
• Run ceiling paddle fans on medium blowing down. Turn off fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not air.
• Turn off lights, televisions, and other appliances when not in use. Use the “sleep mode” on computers.
• Remove and recycle your second refrigerator.
• Keep curtains closed on the south, east, and west sides of the house during the day to help keep cool.
• Clean refrigerator coils and set the temperature to 36° to 39°F and the freezer to 0° to 5°F.
• Use the microwave; it cooks faster and doesn’t create as much heat as a stove burner.
• Air-dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s heat drying option.
• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors to stop air leaks. Seal any gaps in floors and walls around pipes and electrical wiring.
• Change filters monthly - dirty filters make your air conditioning unit work harder.
• Replace any light bulb, especially ones that burn more than one hour per day, with LED bulbs.
• Tune up your heating and cooling system. Seasonal tune-ups will keep your system running as efficiently as possible. Have your ducts inspected. Repair air leaks and seal and insulate cooling system ductwork.
• Insulate! Add insulation to your attic, crawl space, and any accessible exterior walls. Add pipe insulation to first 5 feet of water pipe coming from your water heater. Install light switch and electrical outlet seals on exterior walls. Wrap your water heater with insulation or install an insulating blanket.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when replacing large or small appliances.
• Use power strips for home electronics, and turn off power strips when equipment is not in use. TVs, game consoles, etc. still use power when the switch is off.
• Replace worn-out seals on your refrigerator and freezer.
• Plant a tree. Shade trees placed on the south or southwest side of your home will keep it cooler. But, be sure not to plant the tree under or near power lines.