Santee Cooper Offers Energy-Saving Tips and Tricks to Beat the Summer Heat
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Scorching temperatures are forecasted this weekend and into next week, which means customers use more electricity causing their bills to rise. Santee Cooper is sharing energy-saving tips and tricks to keep you cool while helping you manage your energy bill.
“Managing energy use during extreme heat can feel daunting. However, using easy energy-saving tips can help you stay comfortable and keep your power bill comfortable too,” said Vicky Budreau, Chief Customer Officer.
Air conditioners account for a high percentage of summer electric bills, and during extreme heat, it takes more electricity to maintain your normal home and business temperatures than during an average summer day. To help manage energy use, consider increasing the temperature on your thermostat as high as you comfortably can and use fans to circulate air, which can significantly cut down on energy use while maintaining comfort.
In addition to adjusting your air conditioning and using fans, here are easy tips to keep your home cooler and use less energy to keep your bills lower:
- If you have a smart thermostat, set it to automatically adjust settings.
- Use LEDs, turn off unused lights and devices, and unplug chargers, computers and other electronic devices when not in use.
- Seal drafts by installing weatherstripping and outlet gaskets to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. Santee Cooper Marketplace offers residential customers these items at low prices, or you can find them at home improvement or big box stores.
- Close blinds and curtains during the day to block out the sun and naturally keep your home cooler.
- Run dishwashers and clothes dryers during the coolest part of the day. Consider hanging clothes to dry and using the air dry setting on your dishwasher. (Defeat The Peak by using large appliances outside of summer Peak Hours, which are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
- Avoid streaming on game consoles, which can use more energy than your television.
For more tips and information on energy-saving programs, visit santeecooper.com. For ways to save money on your bill by Defeating The Peak, visit defeatthepeaksc.com.
