Summer has officially arrived accompanied by usual hot and humid conditions that typically come with it.
Tate County has been under an excessive heat warning for several days. If you have lived in the southern United States for any length of time, you know the rest of July and August won’t be much better.
Entergy Mississippi recommends several tips to help you stay cool this summer while saving money on your utility bills. The company recommends closing window blinds to keep sunlight out, bumping the temperature up to 75-76 on your thermostat during the day, and regularly changing air filters to limit stress on your air conditioner. Keeping the coils clean and shrubs trimmed back can also improve the performance your outdoor unit.
People should also avoid using a dryer during the day because dryers generate heat. A well-insulated attic will also help a home stay cool. Doors should be kept closed as the opening of a door lets out any cool air.
Entergy Mississippi reports nearly 55 percent of an energy bill is due to cooling costs in the summer. Entergy also offers the following advice:
• Setting the thermostat to 78 degrees or the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree lower than 78 can raise a bill as much as 3%.
• Buy a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can help manage costs, is controllable, and can help monitor usage.
• Use fans to cool off. Ceiling fans, box fans and oscillating fans use very little electricity to circulate the air. Make sure ceiling fans are rotating in the right direction – counter-clockwise during summer – to push cooler air down into the room. Be sure to turn all fans off in unused rooms.
• Seal cracks and holes around doors, windows and ductwork. Weather stripping and caulk will help keep the cold air in and hot air out.
As temperatures continue to rise in the coming weeks, people should also keep an eye on their furry friends. Like humans, animals can overheat and experience heat strokes, but there are steps that pet owners can take to avoid this.
To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) experts:
• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, but it is also illegal in several states!
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
