National Grid Offers Energy-Saving Tips for Forecasted Heat Wave in Upstate New York

Customers are reminded that extended heat, humidity can cause heat stress

The late summer heat wave is expected to continue through tomorrow evening across most of upstate New York, and National Grid is offering tips so its customers can keep cool and manage their energy bills.

Tips to Manage Energy Usage

National Grid encourages customers to use these simple summer energy-saving tips to stay cool and beat the heat.

• Draw blinds, shades, drapes – Close window dressings to block the solar gain, especially with older windows, during the hottest part of the day and on south and west-facing windows.
• Shift your chores – Avoid doing the things that raise the temperature in a home during heat of the day, such as cooking, laundry or running a dishwasher.  Shifting those chores to early morning or evening hours will help keep the interior cooler.
• Use programmable thermostats – Use of programmable thermostats optimizes air conditioning systems, helping to boost energy savings.
• Control your home’s temperature remotely – Whether you’re on vacation or on the go, a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat allows you to control your home’s temperature remotely from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. These thermostats allow you to preset temperatures and could help to lower your energy bill by up to $180 a year! National Grid offers a $75 rebate to help make this energy-saving equipment more affordable for you.
• Change air conditioner settings and filter – The lower you set your temperature on your air conditioner, the more costly it is to operate. For example, a 75-degree setting will cost about 18 percent more than a 78 degree setting. Set the thermostat on your air conditioner as high as comfort will permit.  In addition, check your window air conditioner filter and replace or clean it if it is clogged.  If your home has central air conditioning, check the condition of the furnace filter and replace if dirty.
• Home? Ceiling fans on.  Away? Ceilings fans off.  – Unlike an air conditioner, ceiling fans don’t actually cool your home; they only circulate air to make you feel cooler. Therefore, they are most effective when you’re home to enjoy the benefits. Turn them off when you’re not home and save energy in the process.
• Unplug electronics – Even though your electronics, like televisions and computers, are turned off they may still draw electricity. Unplug any unnecessary electronics and chargers until you need them.  In addition, using an advanced power strip on your entertainment system reduces phantom load energy use and can save you up to $60 annually.
• Check refrigerator and freezer temps – The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees. For the freezer the ideal reading is 5 degrees.  It is also important to keep your refrigerator and freezer full so that they do not have to work as hard to stay cold. This can drastically lower the amount of energy that they'd ordinarily need to function properly.

National Grid also offers many programs and incentives to help customers take control of their energy use and save on monthly bills.  These include incentives for energy-efficient equipment purchases and improvements from Wi-Fi enabled thermostat to boilers, furnaces and hot water heaters. Also, property owners or building managers of apartments/condos with five to 50 units may qualify for comprehensive energy efficiency services based on the results of a free energy assessment performed by a qualified energy specialist. For more energy saving tips or to learn more about National Grid’s energy efficiency programs click here.  Customers are encouraged to explore these additional simple summer energy-savings tips to stay cool and beat the heat.