When the temperature is hot, you're also hot. But a dry heat feels completely different than a damp heat. Humidity has a huge impact on our utility bills, because when we feel hotter, we feel more uncomfortable. So what do we do? We turn the thermostat to a colder setting. While rainfall can cool things off, it adds humidity. How long the rain lasts and what time of day it comes will also impact how long your air conditioner runs to meet the thermostat settings.
Temperature: An easy way to describe the impact of temperature is using the number of days over 90°F in the summer or under 40°F in the winter. The more days we experience these extreme temperatures, the more it will cost to run heating or cooling equipment.
Degree-days: A degree-day is the difference between the average daily temperature and 65°F (that nice temperature when no heating or cooling is necessary). The resulting number is called a degree-day. The greater the difference, either above or below 65°F, the greater the heating or cooling requirements and the longer it will take to bring temperatures to our thermostat settings.
Rainfall: In Northeast Florida, we receive about 55 inches of rainfall in an average year. This chart shows how humidity affects our comfort when heat and humidity both rise.
As you can see on the chart above, as humidity goes up, our perception of how hot it is outside goes up. Check it out: On the left, find the 95°F air temperature, as you move right across the chart (indicating a rise in the humidity) the temperature you feel or "apparent temperature" rises. For example, when air temperature is 95°F and relative humidity is 40 percent, the outside temperature feels like it is 101°F. That's hot!
When the heat of summer hits, temperatures are not the only thing that can increase. Your utility bill can too. We've put together a list of simple and highly effective savings tips to help you through the summer. Plus, consider one of the family friendly summer outings below for an educational and environmentally friendly good time!
It's hard to believe the holidays and the winter season are just around the corner. With the busyness of the season, we sometimes forget that these can be the most expensive months for our utility bills. That's why we've put together a list of top tips for conserving energy and water during the holiday season.
It's easy to get smart thermostats confused with programmable thermostats. Learn what a smart thermostat is, if it is right for you and how much it can realistically help you save on your electric bill.