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Alabama Power Co. offers tips to save on energy this summer

By Staff Reports

The lazy days of summer are here, and with them come high temperatures.

According to the National Weather Service, an excessive heat watch has been issued for Atmore on Thurs., June 29, from noon until 8 p.m.

The high today is slated for 93 degrees. The high tomorrow is forecasted to be 98 degrees.

Temperatures are slated to be in the mid to upper 90s through the weekend, according to the NWS.

One thing the heat can put a strain on is energy use.

Alabama Power Co. has some tips to help save on your monthly bill.

The tips include:

• Run your dishwasher at night.
  You can save energy this summer by running your dishwasher at night, when it’s cooler out. A good tip? Hit the start button right before bed, and you’ve got clean dishes in the morning.
• Wait until that load of laundry is full.
  Running your washing machine uses a lot of energy. Why not wait till you have a full load?
• Unplug and give your appliances a rest.
  Did you know that your TV, your home office equipment, your kitchen appliances, you name it, are all using power, even when they’re turned off or not being used? This summer, cut down on that wasted energy and try getting in the habit of unplugging between uses.
• Close your curtains and take a cat nap.
  Close your curtains and block out heat-producing rays to keep your house cool. Choose shades, blinds and curtains that are light in color to reflect the heat.
• Plant a tree and save your AC some work.
  A strategically placed plant or tree can do a world of good for your AC unit. If your unit is in the direct sun, it’s having to work a lot harder.
• Weatherproof now and take it easy.
  Weatherproofing your home isn’t just for winter. By sealing up air leaks, you can save your AC a whole lot of extra work.
• Let your smart thermostat do the work.
  Forgot to bump up the temp before you left on vacation? At work and just realized your AC is on full power? Use a smart thermostat, so you can change the temp from anywhere, at any time. That’s summertime freedom.
• Don’t make your chargers work overtime.
  Charging your phone or other devices overnight not only uses far more energy than necessary to get to that 100%, but it can also wear out the battery in your device. Find a couple hours a day to charge, so you can unplug at night.
• Turn a fan on, feel the temp drop, relax.
  Did you know that by using a fan alongside your AC, you can bump the temp up 4 degrees without feeling a difference in comfort? Running a fan also uses far less energy than your air conditioning.
• Turn off unnecessary lights.
  We all know the ripple effect of small habits is undeniable. Practice turning out unnecessary lights to cut down on energy usage and embrace that summertime natural light.
• Skip complicated dinners and fire up the grill.
  Using your oven or stove not only takes a lot of energy, but also raises the temp in your home, making your AC work harder to keep you cool. Instead, get outside and fire up the grill with friends and family. That’s more fun anyway, right?
• Replace your air filter and breathe easy.
  When you replace your air filter or clean it out, you improve your air quality and you take pressure off your AC, saving energy. Talk about a win-win.
• Choose LED: do less, more efficiently.
  You may think there’s nothing new under the sun when it comes to energy- saving tips, but did you know that LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy than your regular ones? That’s one way to brighten up your day.
• Let someone else do the math.
  If an extra fridge or freezer is running up your bill, check out Energy Star’s Flip Your Fridge Calculatorto get a better idea of how much your spare refrigerator or freezer could be adding to your energy costs.
• Do just a littleless and make a difference.
  When it comes to saving energy in the summertime, we’ve got one top tip: don’t underestimate the power of little changes. From turning off unnecessary lights to bumping your thermostat up just a degree or two, it’s the small things that can make a big difference.