With humid, 90-degree-plus temperatures expected the next several days, Vectren is reminding customers to consider ways to conserve energy to help manage summer energy bills.
“Indiana’s extreme heat and humidity has historically taken its toll on customers’ air conditioners and cooling fans that have to run more frequently to keep their homes and businesses comfortable,†said Brad Ellsworth, president of Vectren Energy Delivery-South. “As we enter the heart of the cooling season, we are encouraging customers to practice energy efficiency and find simple ways to cut energy costs by reducing their energy usage.â€
Below are some simple tips to help conserve energy and keep your house or business cool during the summer:
- Regularly clean and/or replace your air conditioner filter to help your unit run at full efficiency and supply better air flow.
- Clear leaves and other debris away from your air conditioner’s condensing unit on the outside of your home and hose off any accumulated dirt.
- Dial up the thermostat. For each degree the thermostat is raised for a sustained, 8-hour period, you can save 1 to 3 percent in cooling costs. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a summer thermostat setting of no lower than 78 degrees.
- Reduce energy costs and increase comfort with a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can maximize your energy savings without the hassle of manually adjusting your thermostat. Vectren customers are eligible for a $10 rebate when purchasing a programmable thermostat or rebates up to $75 when purchasing a Wi-Fi enabled or smart thermostat. Visit vectren.com/saveenergy for details.
- Close storm windows and doors to keep hot air out and cool air in.
- Minimize the use of ovens, stoves, washers, dryers and other major appliances that generate heat inside the home when used. When you must use them, choose the late evening.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. By changing the direction to counter-clockwise in the summer, the fan will circulate the cool air. With this cooling effect, you can raise the thermostat three to four degrees and feel just as comfortable.
- Keep in mind that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. If the room is unoccupied, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.
- Close your blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out. The sun’s rays will warm your home and cause additional air conditioning use.
- Sign up for an on-site home energy assessment by visiting vectren.com. By completing a home energy assessment, a trained energy professional will help analyze the efficiency of your home through a 1 to 2-hour walk-through. He/she will look at the age of your appliances, check your insulation levels and any air leakage issues assess your home’s lighting, etc. and then provide a detailed report on how to cut energy costs. While on site, the technician will also install efficient bulbs, low-flow faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads, if desired.
Customers who receive a disconnect notice or find themselves challenged to pay these summer bills should call Vectren at 1-800-227-1376 to see if they qualify for a payment arrangement, through which the total bill amount can be spread into smaller payments over a set period of time.
Vectren offers additional energy efficiency programs for residential and business customers. Learn more about Vectren’s programs at www.vectren.com or call 1-866-240-8476.
About Vectren
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind.
Vectren’s energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than 1 million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and about 20 percent of Ohio, primarily in the west-central area. Vectren’s nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. These include infrastructure services and energy services. To learn more about Vectren, visit www.vectren.com.
