What does your daily routine look like? Maybe you wake up and shower at the same time every day … turn on the TV and cook dinner as soon as you get home from work … or start your Saturday by running a load of laundry and the dishwasher as part of the weekend chore list.
When these habits are multiplied over hundreds of thousands of households in Central Florida, they create trends in energy demand that peak during certain hours of the day. This often occurs in the afternoon and evening, when many people are returning home from work and school, turning on the lights, preparing dinner, starting laundry or the dishwasher, all while the AC is still trying to cool down the house on a hot Florida afternoon.
The good news is that knowing what energy peaks are and when they occur can help you make informed decisions about how you use power:
- Shift Your Schedule: Moving energy-intensive tasks, like running the dishwasher or laundry to early morning or later in the evening is a simple change that spreads out energy usage. It can also ease the energy burden of other activities, like cooking or running the AC, that can’t be easily rescheduled.
- Fine-Tune Your Thermostat. Adjusting your thermostat throughout the day to use less AC when it isn’t needed is a great way to save. Consider keeping the house warmer in the morning and afternoon when the house may be empty and switch to a more comfortable temperature in the evening. Tips for keeping your house cooler during mid-day include:
- Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed during the day, especially on windows facing east or west, to block out heat from the sun
- Use ceiling fans strategically by running them only when rooms are occupied and ensuring they rotate counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
- Conserve Where You Can. When it comes to electricity, even small changes add up. Whether turning off the lights or TV when you leave a room, replacing old appliances with more efficient models, or hanging clothes up to dry, these additional steps can help you save on energy throughout the year.