Money- and Energy-Saving Tips<br>For Hot ‘Dog Days of Summer’

Washington, DC, July 2005 – As hot weather blankets much of the country and humidity adds to the discomfort level during the “dog days of summer,” increased demand for such comforts as air conditioning causes electricity bills to soar. The Alliance to Save Energy offers consumers energy-efficiency tips to easily and comfortably reduce home energy bills, pollution, and stress on the power grid:

 

• Tired of forgetting to turn down the AC when no one is home on hot summer days? A programmable thermostat automatically coordinates indoor climates with your daily and weekend patterns, increasing home comfort and reducing energy waste. And you don't have to "remember" to turn the air conditioner off when you won't be home.
• Keep your cool and lower your costs. ENERGY STAR-certified ceiling fans provide additional cooling and better circulation, enabling you to raise the thermostat and cut down on air conditioning costs. Models with energy-efficient lighting are particularly smart buys.
• Cooling puts the greatest stress on your energy bill and the power grid. Clean or replace filters monthly. Maintain your air conditioning equipment with a professional "tune-up" to save you the cost and inconvenience of a breakdown during the hottest days.
• Lighting adds heat — light up your life efficiently. Consider safer, more efficient ENERGY STAR touchiere lamps over popular halogen touchiere lamps which can CAUSE FIRES, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While relatively inexpensive to purchase, they are expensive to operate, and create a lot of unnecessary heat in summer.
• "4 for the Planet." Just replace your four most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save $108 over three years. If all U.S. households did the same, we'd save as much energy as is produced by 30 power plants annually.
• Listen to your mother. ("What do you think, we own the electric company?") Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers.
• To cut your energy bills by 30 percent, look for the Energy Star label, the symbol for energy efficiency, when shopping for room air conditioners, major appliances, lighting, windows, home electronics, and office equipment. Find retailers near you at www.energystar.gov.
• Insulate yourself from heat. Cut your air conditioning load and reduce pollution by installing adequate insulation in your home, especially your attic—which can often reach temperatures of 115 degrees or higher. (See www.simplyinsulate.com for insulation information.) Weather stripping and caulking will also plug leaks.
• No more peeping Toms. Close blinds or shades on the south- and west-facing windows of the house during the day or install shading devices such as trellises or awnings.
• Shift energy-intensive tasks, laundry and dishwashing, to off-peak energy demand hours nights and weekends to reduce the strain on the power grid. Do full loads to reduce electricity waste and costs.
• Sip lemonade and think cool thoughts — like how you’ll be freezing next winter and longing for summer again!