Heat Advisory Tips

During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on the sunny side of your home to prevent the sun from directly heating the inside of your home.

Set your air conditioner's thermostat to as high a temperature as is comfortable. Every degree you can increase the temperature in your home will result in using about 3% less energy during the hottest summer days.

Use fans - moving air cools your skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.

Use a programmable thermostat to keep the temperature in your home warmer during the work day then set it to be cooler by the time you arrive home.

For window air conditioners, only operate the unit while someone is in the room.

Keep your refrigerator and freezer as full as you can. Frozen or cold items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the amount of work your refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower temperature.

Close rooms you don't use regularly during the summer, and close the air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.

Try to avoid using heat-producing appliances in your home during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat you produce in your home, the less work your air conditioner will have to do.

Consider investing in ENERGY STAR® appliances or HVAC systems. Your utility company may offer rebates on these purchases, and tax deductions may apply, as well.

Check your furnace filter and, if necessary, change it. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing your HVAC system to work harder than necessary.