Media Contact: Steve Schultz (608) 458-3285
Saving electricity benefits everyone, reduces impact on utility bills
Madison, Wis. – July 19, 2011 – Alliant Energy is reminding customers some simple steps can make staying cool easier and more affordable during this extreme heat.
“With the hotter weather, most people’s top priority is staying cool,” said Jeanine Penticoff, director of Alliant Energy’s energy efficiency department. ”You can be comfortable and also be energy efficient. For example, for every degree your air conditioner is turned up, your energy usage decreases six to eight percent.”
Alliant Energy offers the following actions customers can take to reduce their electricity consumption safely and comfortably.
* Set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher.
* Turn your air conditioner off when no one is home, or utilize a programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature based on your family’s schedule.
* Change out dirty air conditioner filters.
* Use ceiling fans or portable fans – a fan can make you feel 3 to 4 degrees cooler, so you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher and save on cooling costs. Fans do not cool homes, so turn them off when you leave the room.
* Close window blinds, shades and drapes during the day, especially on the south and west sides of your home.
* Use heat-generating appliances like ovens, dishwashers and laundry appliances in the early morning, later evening, or not at all.
* Turn off lights you aren’t using.
* Avoid opening refrigerators and freezers more than is necessary- know what you want before opening the door. Fridges work by moving heat from inside the unit to outside the unit.
* Use cold water for doing laundry and air dry your clothes outside.
* Ensure doors and windows are sealed properly. Any light through the door indicates outside air is coming into the home.
* Keep registers and cold-air returns clear of furniture and drapes.
* Avoid using stoves and ovens. Instead, use a microwave oven or outdoor grill. Using a microwave oven verses a stove can save up to 70% in energy costs.
Manage your costs year round, with no surprises, when you sign up for Budget Billing.
Budget Billing spreads your energy costs across the entire year. You pay one set bill amount every month. As the name of the program suggests, since you know how much you’ll pay, it really helps your monthly budget.
To find out an estimated calculation of how much you might pay per month on a Budget Billing plan or to enroll in this program, please visit alliantenergy.com/youraccount.
More information about saving energy at home is available on Alliant Energy’s Power House website at powerhousetv.com or by calling Alliant Energy’s customer service center at 1-866-ALLIANT.
Alliant Energy places a priority on delivering the energy and exceptional service that its customers count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Alliant Energy reminds customers they can play an active part in controlling energy use.
Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 413,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com.
