TVA suggests tips to reduce power bill
Summer temperatures have arrived in Franklin County and across North Alabama.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is sharing its top tips for painlessly curbing energy use to keep power bills under control.
According to a press release, the TVA has “readied its electric grid for the strain summer temperatures can put on the transmission system. It’s also prepared some tips to help you keep your cool while you save money on your electric bill.”
Summer electricity use is usually highest – and most costly to produce – between 2-8 p.m., during the warmest part of the day and when people arrive home from work. Reducing energy consumption between 2-8 p.m. will help TVA generate electricity at the lowest possible price and pass the savings on to customers through lower fuel costs.
Other tips include:
Keep it clean when the sun goes down. Refrain from running the dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer during the heat of the day. Run dishwasher only when it’s full.
Filter it out. Make sure the air conditioner filter is clean. A dirty filter means the air conditioner won’t get as cool and will use more power than necessary.
Shut those doors. Try to minimize the number of times doors leading outside are opened and closed, to keep the cool air in. The same theory includes the refrigerator door.
Use ceiling and floor fans to keep air moving in your home. They use a lot less power than setting your air conditioner lower.
Unplug to power down. Unplug any unused or unnecessary electronic devices – even when turned off, they still are generating heat if they’re plugged in.
Cut the cord to the old appliances. Got an old fridge out in the garage or down in the basement? Consider letting that sentimental dinosaur go; it’s still inefficient.
Lighten up. Make the switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs. It will save money, and – bonus! – they put off less heat.
A slightly warmer house equals less sizzle on the budget. Setting the thermostat between 75-78 degrees during the day (even higher if no one is home) can make a significant difference in the power bill.
Made in the shade. Create your shade by keeping curtains closed during the day on the south, west and east sides of the house to block out sunlight.
Keep it cooler in the kitchen. Plan menus ahead of time for meals that require less range or oven heat. Consider using the microwave instead. It cooks faster and doesn’t create as much heat as stovetop cooking.
Or, get out of the house. Consider using a gas or charcoal grill outside for cooking rather than kitchen appliances.
Insulate. Insulate your attic and walls and seal cracks to keep air conditioning inside where it belongs. Likewise, caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors.
Check refrigerator/freezer temperatures. Set the refrigerator temperature at 36-39 degrees and freezer at 0-5 degrees.
Create some breathing room. Keep weeds and debris away from the outdoor air conditioning unit.
Look within. Perform a do-it-yourself home energy audit. Online and paper versions are available at www.energyright.com/residential.
