Tips to Stay Safe and Conserve Energy During Cold Temps

When cold temperatures come to Central Florida, OUC offers tips to keep your family safe and help conserve energy.

Before you plug in your space heater, keep these tips in mind.

Check your heater. Before each use, inspect your heater for loose connections, frayed cords or broken plugs – if you find any do NOT use.

Follow the three-foot rule. Keep heaters at least three feet away from bedding, drapery, rugs and anything that can burn.

Place on flat, level surfaces. Never place space heaters on furniture, carpet or rugs. If the unit were to overheat, it could start a fire.

Always unplug. Turn off and unplug space heaters and electric blankets when not in use.

Avoid extension cords and surge protectors. Plug space heaters and electric blankets directly into a wall outlet to prevent overheating and electrical fires.

As temperatures drop, your energy bill can spike. 

Set your thermostat to 68°. If you are away from home, set it to 65°.

Keep the cold air out. Close blinds at night and place towels around windows and door tracks to block cold air from coming inside.

Let the warm air in. During the da,y open blinds to let sunshine warm your home.

For more cold weather energy-saving and safety tips, visit ouc.com/coldweather.

 

Freezing temperatures can damage water pipes and pool pumps.

Insulate exposed pipes. Cover exposed water pipes with towels or blankets.

Turn on faucets. Allow a trickle of water to flow through exposed pipes and faucets that share an exterior wall.

Protect your pool pump. To conserve energy, avoid heating your pool. If you have a variable pump, run it at a lower speed to save energy while still preventing water stagnation.

 

Cold weather can impact the performance of electric vehicle batteries.

Stay under shelter. Parking indoors or in a covered space can help ensure your vehicle can travel to and from your destination.

Cover your outdoor charger. When the forecast calls for extreme cold, you can combat the freezing risk by using a magnetic EV charging inlet connector cover or bag.

Schedule some warm-up time. Many EVs come with “preconditioning” features designed to heat the interior and battery before driving.

Maintain a charge. Always double-check your charge before leaving, even if it’s just a short errand.

Check tire pressure. EVs have instant rotation – or torque – so it’s important to check the tire pressure when temperatures fluctuate.

Use public charging stations. In more extreme temperatures and for longer trips, drivers should take advantage of local charging hubs en route to their destination. Locally, fast charging is available at OUC’s Robinson ReCharge Mobility Hub or its newest location near the Orange County Convention Center.

For information about how to protect your home and lower those heating costs, visit OUC’s Cold Weather Guide.