Stay Smart On Energy Use As August Heat, Humidity Climb

PEARL RIVER, NY — The weather is so hot and sticky everyone who can is retreating into the air conditioning. But as much as it may feel necessary, utility officials point out that you can be comfortable without spending so much energy on cooling your home or office that you have to wear a sweater inside.

SEE: Heat Advisory Till 8PM; Storms Possible In Hudson Valley

There are easy tips to both stay cool and spend less money by using energy wisely:

• Turning down or turning off air conditioning in your home while you are away or at work helps lower your energy bill.
• Setting your air conditioner to the highest temperature your comfort and health allow. Every degree you lower the thermostat raises your bill by 6 percent.
• Adjusting your air conditioner’s fan to a low setting can make you more comfortable. It’ll take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home, but your unit will bring in steamy air at a slower rate.

It's not a surprise to anyone who goes outside ever that it's been getting warmer. "The annual number of cooling-degree days in the U.S., which adds up the degrees by which a day’s average temperature exceeds 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), has been on a distinct uptrend since the 1970s," wrote Justin Fox in Bloomberg. And using all those air conditioners raises outside temperatures, specially in cities, at night — by 2 full degrees.

Here are more tips:

• Closing all doors and windows in your home while the air conditioning is running can make things cooler at a lower price.
• Cooking, baking or other household activities that produce heat and humidity are best left for the cooler times of the day and night.
• Pulling your curtains and shades closed can help block out the heat.
• Covering liquid items in the refrigerator is best. The humidity they give off forces the refrigerator to use more energy.
• Placing the most used items in one place in the refrigerator helps keep the door open for a shorter period of time.

For more cool tips, please visit O&R’s website at www.oru.com.