BY MIRANDA BOUTELLE
Your electric utility works hard to ensure safe, reliable power is delivered to homes and businesses 24/7. To make sure everyone has the power they need, generation must match consumption and have the capacity to adapt to changing energy demands.
Why peak demand matters
Peak demand is the period during a day, month or year when electricity use is highest. It’s caused by many people using energy-consuming equipment at the same time. It differs based on geography, weather and time of year. For example, demand is typically highest on hot summer afternoons and cold winter mornings. Most utilities also experience daily peaks when people are getting ready in the mornings and returning home in the evenings.
When everyone uses more energy at the same time, it puts more stress on the electric grid and requires more expensive electricity to meet the need. Electricity pricing is based on supply and demand. Electricity prices are higher when demand is higher, which costs the utility more.
Shift your use, reduce the strain
To reduce energy use and strain on the grid during peak times, we can adopt habits in our homes.
Let’s look at two examples.
Joe and John arrive home from work at 5:30 p.m. They both turn on the oven to make dinner.
While John waits for the oven to preheat, he throws in a load of laundry. He finishes dinner, cleans up and starts the dishwasher. Then, he moves the clothes to the dryer.
Joe finishes dinner, loads the dishwasher and sets it to start at 10 p.m. He puts a load of laundry in the washing machine and later that evening switches it over to the dryer.
Although they use the same appliances and amount of energy, John uses it all at once, running multiple appliances during peak hours, creating higher demand and more strain on the electric grid while using more expensive energy.
To lower your demand, spread electricity use throughout the day and avoid peak times whenever possible. This will reduce the utility’s cost of supplying electricity to your home. Another benefit of shifting your use to midday is the integration of renewable energy, such as solar, which produces power when the sun is shining.
Large appliances, including washers, dryers, ovens, water heaters and air conditioners, have the biggest impact. Using them during off-peak hours or one at a time can help.
Let technology do the work
Automate as much as possible. Most electric vehicle chargers can be set to charge during scheduled hours with built-in timers or apps. Most modern dishwashers have delay-start features. If you have a pool, set the pool pump to run in the middle of the day, especially if you live in a region with high solar output.
You can also automate air conditioning. Some utilities offer programs that pre-cool homes during off-peak hours to reduce demand during peak times. Simple, free adjustments, such as closing your curtains on hot afternoons and evenings, can help, too.
Keep in mind that extreme weather, whether freezing temperatures or a heat wave, puts extra stress on the grid. Conserving energy during extreme weather events can help prevent outages.
Spreading out your energy use helps your utility keep costs down and benefits your local energy grid.
Miranda Boutelle writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
7 WAYS IOWANS CAN SAVE ENERGY THIS SUMMER
Summer is in full swing across Iowa, and so is the season of higher energy use. Air conditioners work harder during hot, humid weather, but a few simple steps can help keep your home comfortable while managing energy costs. Try these energy-saving tips for the remainder of the summer season.
- Block the sun’s heat. Keep blinds, shades or curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day, especially on south- and west-facing windows. This can help reduce heat gain and lessen the workload on your air conditioner.
- Adjust your thermostat. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature when you’re home and raise it a few degrees when you’re away. A programmable or smart thermostat can make these adjustments automatically.
- Use ceiling fans wisely. Ceiling fans can help you feel cooler, allowing you to rely less on air conditioning. Use ceiling fans in a counter-clockwise rotation in the summer. Be sure to turn fans off when you leave a room since they cool people, not the room itself.
- Maintain your cooling system. A clean, well-maintained air conditioner operates more efficiently. Check or replace air filters regularly and make sure vents and registers are not blocked by furniture, rugs or curtains.
- Seal leaks and keep cool air inside. Small gaps around windows and doors can allow cooled air to escape and hot air to enter. Adding weatherstripping or caulk can improve comfort and reduce energy waste.
- Limit heat-producing activities. Appliances and lighting generate heat that can make your air conditioner work harder. Use LED light bulbs and consider grilling outdoors or using smaller appliances instead of turning on the oven during the hottest parts of the day.
- Save on water-heating costs. Water heating is one of the largest energy expenses in many homes. Setting your water heater to 120 degrees F can reduce energy use while still providing plenty of hot water for most households.
Even small changes can make a difference. By adopting a few energy-saving habits this summer, you can stay comfortable and help keep energy costs under control.
