Our recent hot summers means that demand for
electricity is greater then than at other times of the year. Much
of this demand is driven by the the use of air conditioners.
Ontario's peak demand for electricity occurred during the summer
of 200 6 when it reached 27,005 megawatts (MW). By way of
comparison, the winter record peak reached in December 2004 was
24,979 MW.
Our system has been designed to meet normal
customer demand for electricity. However in the summer there is a
much higher use of electricity and more possibilities of outages.
AIR CONDITIONING
Air conditioning can account for up to 50%
of your summer electricity bill, so try to use it only when
necessary to remain comfortable.
Proper maintenance of your air
conditioner can increase its efficiency by about five percent.
You can clean the outside compressor yourself with a hose,
removing debris that impedes air flow.
Clean or replace your air conditioner
filter regularly.
Turn the air conditioner off when you're
not home and close curtains or blinds to keep rooms cool.
If you have central air, raise the
thermostat setting on your air conditioner. If you raise the
thermostat by 1 degree Celsius, you can lower your electricity
bill by five per cent. We recommend setting your thermostat at 25
degrees Celsius.
Install a programmable thermostat. Set it
to turn off the air conditioning when you are away and turn it on
before you get home. Contrary to popular belief, this method uses
less electricity than having the air conditioning maintain a cool
temperature.
Turn on ceiling fans, rather than air
conditioners, to circulate air.
Open windows at night and use fans to blow
in cool air. During the day, close your windows and draw the
curtains to keep the heat out.
Planting the right vegetation can lower
your energy consumption. A tree or shrub that shades your central
air conditioner can improve its efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
POOLS
Don't heat your pool at night and let hot
daytime temperatures warm it during the day.
Buy a thermal blanket for the pool.
Use manual skimmers rather than pool
vacuums daily. Vacuum once a week.
Sign up for a peaksaver pool pump switch
on the Horizon Utilities website.
INDOORS
Turn off lights, computers, stereos and TVs when you're not using them.
Replace incandescent with fluorescent lights
Shower and run your dishwasher, washer and dryer early in morning or late at night.
Don't use heat-producing small appliances (toasters, hairdryers) at peak times.
Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator and keep other appliances in good working order. Or consider buying new enerGuide appliances.
Keep those fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
OUTDOORS
Cook outdoors and enjoy your meal on the patio or deck .
Create natural cooling with shade trees on the west and south sides of your house.
