SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – With record temperatures over the past few days, many of us turn up the air conditioning in our homes to stay cool.
But how much is enough?
Georgia Power says you should set your thermostat to 78 degrees (maybe a little high for some of us), but Georgia Power’s John Kraft says that’s their recommendation.
“If you have a manual thermostat, let’s say set it to around 78 (degrees),” he told me. “It’s a good balance between comfort and efficiency. Use fans to make you feel cooler.”
Kraft acknowledges that some people may not want to heed that 78 degree recommendation, but he says get as close as possible.
“And if you have a programmable thermostat, use it,” he added. “Make the most of your programmable thermostat by letting it adjust the temperature for savings, for example while you are at work or on vacation.”
He also advises not to cook on the stove, use the dishwasher, or do laundry during peak hours, which are usually from 4 to 6 p.m. to turn on your fans.
Despite all of these measures, there may be a slightly higher electricity bill in the next month. That’s because the intense heat just keeps your air conditioner running longer.
“Manage that thermostat and keep it in that range, but you’ll still be using more because it’s so much hotter outside,” said Kraft.
He says the intense heat creates the need for more energy across the country, but Georgia Power is taking care of the need.
“We do our power maintenance in the spring and fall so that we have all of our power generating units available for those hot summer days,” said Kraft.
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