Georgia Power Offers Energy Conservation Tips to Ease Hot Summer Temperatures
04 Agosto 2009 - 7:26PM
PR Newswire (US)
ATLANTA, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- As Georgia moves into the heat of
August, Georgia Power's energy-saving K9 unit is on the job. The
dogs, stars of the utility's latest advertising campaign, offer
customers information on ways to conserve electricity and save
money on energy bills. Here are some of their tips to keep you cool
and comfortable as the temperatures heat up. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO ) Keep your
cool During the summer, your air conditioner is usually the biggest
user of electricity. For many homes, it accounts for more than half
of the summer electric bill. -- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees
or higher and leave it there. For every degree below that setting,
you'll use 3 to 4 percent more electricity. For example, the
savings is about $4 per degree on the typical monthly residential
bill for cooling only. -- Set the thermostat even higher when at
work or away from home for long periods of time, but no more than
five degrees higher. -- Even better, invest in a programmable
thermostat that automatically adjusts your home's temperature to
your schedule, so you're comfortable when at home and save energy
while away. They work best for homeowners who have consistent
schedules. -- Change or clean your air conditioner filter regularly
to maximize the unit's cooling potential. Dirty filters restrict
airflow and reduce efficiency. -- Keep air vents clear of
obstructions to help your heating and cooling system operate more
efficiently. -- Check your windows and doors for a tight fit. Apply
weather stripping or caulking if needed. -- Clear outside units of
plants or brush so they can work more efficiently. ENERGY STAR
Appliances -- Look for the ENERGY STAR brand when purchasing new
appliances. -- Purchase an ENERGY STAR or high-SEER-rated unit when
replacing cooling equipment or a heat pump. The higher the SEER
(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating), the more efficient the unit.
Experts recommend at least a 13 SEER. -- ENERGY STAR-rated
appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers use 10 to 50
percent less energy and/or water when compared to standard
appliances. Proper insulation -- Increasing attic insulation can
reduce heat loss / heat gain by up to 28 percent. -- Insulation is
measured in R-value, which is a measure of resistance to heat flow.
The higher the R-value, the better the insulation value. -- Experts
recommend you use an R-value of R-30 or higher, depending on local
energy codes, in ceiling areas. Cool kitchen tips -- Use pots and
pans that match the size of the burners on your stove. This allows
more heat to reach the pan and less heat will be lost to
surrounding air. -- Try to use the range instead of the oven. Or
better yet, turn on the microwave or use a pressure cooker. Both
use less power than a standard electric range. -- Whenever
possible, cook a lot of meals at the same time. This uses less
energy than cooking each meal separately. -- Avoid opening the oven
door. This lets out 20 percent of the heat. Using the refrigerator
-- Look for the ENERGY STAR label when choosing a new refrigerator.
Refrigerators manufactured prior to 1993 use twice as much energy
as today's models. -- Choose the right size refrigerator for your
needs. Larger models use more energy. Open and close the
refrigerator door quickly. Know what you want before opening the
door. -- Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Check
them by closing a piece of paper in the door, half in and half out.
If you can pull the paper out easily, you may need to make some
adjustments or replace the seal. -- Allow air to circulate around
the condenser coils of your refrigerator or freezer by leaving a
space between the wall or cabinets and the appliance. Be sure to
keep the coils clean. -- Set the refrigerator thermostat to between
35 and 38 degrees, and your freezer at zero degrees. Clothes
washer/Dishwasher -- Turn down your water-heater thermostat. A
setting of 120 degrees is adequate for most homes and will save
money and energy. -- When using the dishwasher, turn off the drying
cycle if you don't need dishes right away. -- Wait until the
dishwasher is full before running it. Partial loads use just as
much water and power as a full load. -- Scrape dishes before
loading them into the dishwasher so you don't have to rinse them.
If they need rinsing, use cold water. -- Wash full loads of
clothes. -- Dry clothes in consecutive loads so the dryer does not
have to reheat every time. Separate loads into heavy and
lightweight items for more even drying, and remove clothes while
they're still slightly damp. Always clean the lint filter after
each load. Lighting You've heard it before, but one of the best
ways to save energy is to turn off lights when you're not using
them. Never leave too many on when you're away from home. -- Change
the most-used lights in your home to ENERGY STAR qualified compact
fluorescent (CFL) bulbs - they use 75 percent less energy than
standard lighting and last up to 10 times longer. Also, ENERGY STAR
qualified CFL bulbs generate 75 percent less heat which means your
air conditioner works less, which lowers your electric bill. And
they can produce four times more light than standard incandescent
lamps, for the same amount of energy. -- Use one large bulb instead
of several small ones in areas where bright light is needed. -- Use
smaller lamps in work areas, like sewing areas and computer desks,
so you don't light the entire room. -- Do some decorating.
Lighter-colored walls, drapes, blinds and upholstery reflect light.
Dark colors absorb heat and require more artificial light. Just for
Comfort -- Use fans whenever possible. Ceiling fans can make the
air in a room feel 6 degrees cooler and allow you to save energy.
Remember, however, to turn them off when you're not in the room. --
Run the dishwasher, dryer and stove in the morning or after the sun
goes down to avoid adding heat to your house during the hottest
part of the day. -- Use a power strip or simply unplug electronics
when they are not in use and save as much as $100 a year. Visit
Georgia Power's Web site at http://www.georgiapower.com/ where the
energy-saving K9 unit will take on you an interactive, on-line
energy conservation tour to see more money-saving ideas. You may
also call Georgia Power for conservation tips at 1-800-524-2421 or
follow http://twitter.com/georgiapower. Georgia Power is the
largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest
generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned,
tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average.
Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of
Georgia's 159 counties.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Georgia Power Co. CONTACT:
Media Relations, Georgia Power, +1-404-506-7676 or +1-800-282-1696,
Web Site: http://www.georgiapower.com/
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