Temperatures are already rising across the United States and all signs point to the summer of 2024 being the hottest on record.
Over Memorial Day weekend, 11 Florida cities broke their own heat records, while high temperatures caused violent storms in Houston and Dallas.
And an extreme heat wave is headed to the United States next month, the National Weather Service warned, and is likely to hit Texas, Florida, Arizona, California and Nevada.
But there are steps you can take to keep your home cool in the summer, according to supplier Octopus Energy.
And for Michael Lee, CEO of the Houston-based supplier, this also means rethinking how we view energy efficiency and use.
There are steps you can take to keep your home cool in the summer, according to supplier Octopus Energy
Michael Lee, CEO of Octopus Energy US, recommends closing blinds and windows to protect sunlight and keep your home cool.
According to Octopus Energy, the first step is to make sure that cold air stays inside the house and warm air stays out.
“If there are drafts in winter, there will definitely be drafts in summer,” Lee told DailyMail.com.
The easiest way to protect your home from the elements is to seal any cracks, gaps or holes in exterior doors and windows.
Also be sure to check doors that lead to non-air conditioned spaces, such as an interior door leading to a garage.
Replace your AC filter once a month and unplug all unused appliances, as they can still absorb energy through the power cord when you are not using them, which will increase your bill.
During summer, the supplier recommends turning the ceiling fan blades counterclockwise.
“Counterclockwise rotating fan blades will push air downward and create a cooling breeze throughout the room while maximizing energy efficiency,” it said.
Cook outdoors if you have a grill to avoid heating up your kitchen, it is recommended, and invest in a cooling mattress topper if you can to keep the temperature down at night.
“Materials known to be moisture-wicking and breathable are cotton, silk, tencel and rayon made from bamboo.”
Sunlight coming through windows can significantly warm a room, Octopus said, so having dark-colored curtains helps block the light.
“Close blinds and windows, especially those facing south and west, because those are where the sunlight comes in during the afternoon,” Lee added.
In addition to these tips, Lee also believes it is crucial for energy customers and suppliers to think about timing and how to optimize their energy use, not just how to reduce it.
“We need to rethink the products that are offered to customers, because I think a lot of energy companies and customers are a little asleep to the change and thinking about the old way of saving money,” he said, “which is to simply reduce your use instead to think intelligently about its use.
Largely to avoid federal regulation, independent-minded Texas, where Octopus Energy is headquartered, is the only U.S. state with its own energy grid.
The rest of the country is covered by two networks: one in the east and one in the west.
The Texas grid is operated by a nonprofit corporation Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which is overseen by the state utility regulator and the Texas legislature.
While supporters of the so-called “energy island” say it’s a draw for business, others argue it puts the state’s 30 million residents at risk of blackouts when the grid becomes overloaded during times of extreme demand.
For Lee, Texas’ unique environment is an opportunity to reconsider the role renewable energy can play while keeping costs down for customers.
An extreme heat wave is headed toward the US next month, the National Weather Service warns
Experts recommend turning your ceiling fan blades counterclockwise and making sure to replace your air conditioner’s filter.
For example, the supplier introduced a ‘Fan Club’ program, which offers customers discount periods during the day in which they can save on their energy unit rate.
A 20 per cent discount applies to any electricity used where wind energy accounts for more than 30 per cent of the grid’s energy supply.
“We have more wind energy than anywhere else in the United States, and we now have more solar energy production than anywhere else on the grid,” he said.
“And it’s not because of government mandates, it’s simply because we have low-cost renewable energy coming from these projects, we can build them very quickly and eliminate bureaucracy.”
Lee hopes the rest of the country can look to Texas as a model for the future, focusing on using renewable energy at optimal times.
“If one of the biggest problems is how to keep bills low, then ultimately the best way to reduce costs for customers is to use energy when renewables are really abundant,” Lee told DailyMail.com.