Freeport Electric Keeps Up with Summer Sizzles

Remember how it seemed that summer would never arrive? Now that July's weather furnace is stoked, the intemperate cold of the early season is just a hazy memory. Freeport Electric has held up well in this recent heat wave. Compared to early July of last year, electric use in the Village increased just over six percent. As a result of the wet winter and spring, the Village benefits from greater availability of NYPA hydroelectric power. In 2002, NYPA was forced to restrict the Village's allocation due to low water conditions. Compared to the same July period last year, the Village imported almost four percent more low cost NYPA hydroelectric power in 2003. In contrast, despite increased demand, Freeport has reduced in-Village generation from approximately three percent of demand to less than two-tenths of one percent. Purchase of electricity from wholesale market sources has increased by approximately 20 percent. The wholesale market currently supplies 36 % of the electricity used this July, with 64% imported from NYPA, compared to 32 % and 65 % respectively in 2002.

Staying Cool Efficiently

As summer heats up, Village residents and businesses can weather the season with these Summer Energy Tips from the Freeport Electric Department for comfort, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

• Consider raising your thermostat setting- a one-degree increase can save three to five percent of the energy used for cooling.
• When first turning on the AC, don't choose a low temperature setting. When AC is running, it's cooling as fast as it can and won't cool off a hot room any faster at a lower setting. The low temperature setting runs the unit longer not faster.
• Make sure you run the AC thermostat set on "AUTO" and never on FAN.
• Keep the fresh air vent on your AC closed. The AC will run much more efficiently keeping recirculated air cool rather than cooling hot air drawn from the outside.
• When it comes to your cooling system, change your filters regularly. Dirty filters can choke your cooling system, causing undue service and maintenance calls. Plus, clogged filters shorten the life of the equipment.
• Use your microwave instead of the range/oven. The microwave doesn't heat the kitchen.
• Be sure that your clothes dryer is vented to the out-of-doors. Otherwise it pours heat and moisture into the house air.
• Check the clothes dryer lint trap and vent for accumulated lint. A lint-free dryer operates more efficiently.
• Run appliances such as the washer, dryer, dishwasher during the cooler early morning or late evening hours. Not only will there be less heat added to your home, this helps to balance the energy demand in the Village to meet essential daytime needs for residential cooling, healthcare needs, and our local business and industry. load is full. The greatest energy is associated with heating water. Full loads optimize the energy used.
• Keep up the habit of turning off lights as you leave a room, especially in summer. Lights add a lot of heat to the room. 99% of a light's energy use is converted to heat, 1% to light. Use only as much light as you need.
• Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
• Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
• Take advantage of natural daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect light and heat.
• Use opaque rollup shades to block strong sunlight from heating rooms not in use.
• Consider planting a shade tree. A tree planted to provide maximum shade on your home can help ease the load on your air conditioner. Several popular shade trees include the maple and oak.
• If someone in your home relies on electric powered medical equipment, or if their medical condition such as severe asthma or other respiratory disease requires them to stay in air conditioning, be sure to notify the Electric Department in writing. Send your name, address and telephone along with a note from your doctor to Freeport Electric, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. The Freeport Electric staff is proud of its rapid response in an electric emergency or outage. It's important for the Department to know where medical needs may require a priority response.
• Get outside! Freeport is the place to enjoy some fabulous waterfront breezes.

Energy Tip

Replace your regular light bulbs with "Energy Star" lights to save 70% on your lighting energy costs.