Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Conserve Energy This Summer

With temperatures climbing and the summer approaching, here are a few simple tips from the Pennsylvania Utility Commission on how to stay cool and conserve energy in your home:

• Only use the air conditioner when you are home. 
• Clean or change your air conditioner filter at least once a month. 
• Set your air conditioner's thermostat to no lower than 78F.  
• Keep drapes closed and shades drawn to shield the suns heat. 
• Use clothes dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late evening, not in the heat of the day. 
• Use a microwave instead of a conventional range or oven. 
• Relax in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight or stay on the lowest floor of your home. 
• Air leaks waste energy. Caulking and weather-stripping will help keep cool air in.

For more information on how to stay safe this summer, visit the Extreme Heat page of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management website, www.phila.gov/ready.