ComEd Offers Cool Ways to Combat Heat and Lower Electricity Bills

CHICAGO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- With summer temperatures considerably warmer than a year ago, it's tempting to just crank up the A/C, but now is the right time to change old habits in ways that can reduce your electricity usage and help keep more money in your pocket.

Chicago-area temperatures so far this July have averaged 87 degrees – or 10 degrees higher than the average high for the first 15 days of July 2009 during one of the coolest summers on record. Temperatures last month also were 3 degrees higher on average than the previous June, and ComEd customers used 12 percent more electricity than in June 2009.

ComEd customers' bills are also reflecting a slight increase in residential electricity rates that went into effect June 1.  The increase – an average of approximately 30 cents per day – stems from the increased cost of wholesale power that the Illinois Power Authority procures on behalf of ComEd customers. ComEd passes this cost through to customers without mark-up.

"The heat is on this summer," said Tim Melloch, a ComEd Energy Doctor. "Customers are seeing higher bills as a result of higher electricity usage needed to allow people to cool their homes. However, by changing a few old habits, there are a number of ways for customers to combat the heat and lower their bills."

Everyone enjoys natural lighting, but the more summer sunshine is allowed to enter a home, the more it costs to keep a home cool, Melloch said. Most unwanted heat gains in a home come through the windows, but by closing shades, blinds and curtains during the day, a household can significantly reduce its cooling costs and lessen the need to crank up the air conditioner, he said.

"Many of us are also conditioned to think our home is only comfortable if we set the thermostat at 72 degrees," Melloch said. "But many people feel equally comfortable if they set their indoor temperature between 75 to 78 degrees and run a fan. It's a simple habit to change, and customers will use a lot less energy and can realize real savings on their next electricity bill."

So when returning home to a warm home, resist the urge to set the thermostat to arctic blast because it's a common misconception that this helps cool the home faster, Melloch added. A better way to cool off quicker is to install window coatings and film that can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct light, or install awnings, which can reduce heat gain by up to 75 percent.

To save money, many families may be cooking and baking at home more often. But a hot stove increases the heat in the home and puts more strain on the air conditioner. Consider using a microwave or barbecuing outside instead, Melloch said.

Melloch also suggests turning off all unnecessary lighting, appliances and electronic devices to lessen heat to the home and save electricity.

"Think about how much warmer a room can get if you have four or five people in it. Similarly the more appliances one has running, the more heat that will create, which requires more energy to cool," he said.

Melloch also advises those in the market for a new air conditioner to look for Energy Star-qualified A/C units, which will be at least 10 percent more efficient than conventional models. It's a buying decision that can translate into savings of $20 to $95 per year and also reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

And to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun, place it on the north or shady side of the house, the Energy Doctor added.

Customers can further reduce their energy consumption year round and lower their bills by applying other energy saving ideas from ComEd's Smart Ideas(SM) for Your Home, a portfolio of easy to apply energy-efficient approaches. Visit www.ComEd.com/SmartIdeas.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd