Staying Cool During Ohio Summer Heat
The 4th of July weekend was blisteringly hot across Ohio. We’ve seen heat advisories, outages, and a lot of homes struggling to stay comfy. That’s why it’s important to find ways to stay cool. But how can you keep cool this summer while saving on your Ohio energy bills? Let’s explore 7 chill tips that can keep your home cooler under summer heat domes.
What Causes Summer Heat Domes
Most weather experts agree that climate change is making summers hotter and drier throughout North America. To start, most of the country is in drought conditions. As a result, drier than normal areas tend to stay dry. That often creates conditions that can make heat waves burn hotter and last longer.
Unfortunately, half of Ohio’s homes were built before 1965 (one in four from before 1940). With so many Ohio homes between 51-60 years old, that means many were not built to handle the high heat we’re seeing. As a result they are less energy efficient and may face high bills from their electric suppliers.
Seven Tips To Keep Cool
Nearly one fifth of home energy use going for air conditioning. So, it’s important for consumers to save where they can against rising electric rates. The best way to cut your cooling costs and save energy this summer is with these 7 chill tips.
- Cover Your Windows A lot of heat enters your home through your windows, especially if they aren’t energy efficient. But you can limit that heat gain by keeping your blinds or drapes closed.
- Insulate Your Home Sealing drafts around doors and windows as well as where wires or pipes go through exterior walls can keep out hot, humid air. This help you save up to 10% on your annual energy bills.
- Use LED Lights Traditional bulbs emit heat that can affect home temperatures. So switching to LED lights can save energy and limit that heat gain
- Limit Appliance Use Dishwashers and ovens can produce a lot of heat. Try and use them in the cooler mornings or evenings.
- Plant Trees Trees on the south and west sides of your home can limit how much sunlight hits your home.
- Check Your AC A little bit of maintenance like changing dirty filters can keep your AC unit working at its best.
- Install Ceiling Fans Ceiling fans are a great idea iF you spend most of your time in a few rooms. They can be as much as 44% more efficient then conventional fans. They can also use up a lot less energy than cooling your whole house.
Stay Healthy During Ohio Heat Waves
It’s also important to stay hydrated during summer heat. Heat waves can be a big health risk for the elderly and the very young. That’s because their bodies might not be able to adjust quickly to very hot conditions.
Invest in a sturdy water bottle and drink from it early and often. You can refill in most public fountains, especially in parks or public buildings like museums. If you can, stay in the shade as much as possible, especially on breezier days. Also, finish your outdoor activities during the cooler morning or the evening. Finally, call 2-1-1 to find cooling centers in your area, especially if your air conditioning isn’t working like it should.
Don’t forget that you can shop for cheaper summer electricity rates at https://www.ohenergyratings.com. You can also count on us for news and tips that could affect your bills.