Stay Cool While Conserving Energy

The heat wave is now in its sixth day. 

NYSEG offers these tips for keeping your living space cool while keeping energy use—and bills—as low as can be.

Cooling Your Living Areas

• Set your air conditioning thermostat at 78° or higher during the cooling season. Each degree above 75° saves you 3% of the energy used to cool your home.
• When using air conditioning, only cool the rooms you need. Close doors to other rooms.
• Turn your air conditioner off when you leave home.
• Help keep your home and yourself cool by using natural ventilation and wearing 
  light clothing.
• Close your draperies and shades on hot, sunny days to reduce solar heat build-up.
• Close windows and doors during the hottest parts of the day.

• Install a timer or clock thermostat on your air conditioner so you can program it to operate and shut-off at a pre-determined time.
• Plan cooking, baking or other household activities that produce heat and humidity for the cooler times of the day and night.
• Use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate the pre-cooled air in your air-conditioned home. A fan uses about 90 percent less energy than an air conditioner.
• In very humid weather, adjust your air conditioner’s fan to a low setting. It’ll take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home, but your unit will bring in steamy air at a slower rate and make you feel more comfortable.