With temperatures soaring, you may be tempted to turn your air conditioning on full blast all weekend.
But dialing down the thermostat could lead to a nasty surprise when your next energy bill arrives.
The best say to keep your cool without going broke: use your AC conservatively, and find other ways to keep the climate comfortable in your home.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power suggests these tips:
- Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage during the hottest hours of the day when air conditioning systems have to work hardest to cool.
- Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day- use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
- Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight.
- Ventilate your home by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
- Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
- Unplug "energy vampires" like cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other appliances that use energy even when turned off or in sleep mode.
More information on energy-saving tips and programs is available at www.MyLADWP.com. Select "How to Save" from the drop-down menu.