Chicago City Wire

CHICAGO (June 17, 2024) – With weather forecasts predicting multiple days of temperatures exceeding 90°F this week, ComEd is prepared to deliver safe and reliable electric service to help keep customers cool. The company also offers tips that individuals and families can use to manage energy use this week and throughout the season.

The tips are part of the award-winning ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, one of the largest in the nation, which offers rebates, discounts, and services to help families and businesses manage their energy use and save money on electric bills.

Clear area around cooling vents: Furniture, carpets, and other objects can block vents and prevent air from traveling. This blockage makes your cooling system work harder and prevents rooms from cooling down quickly.

Use your windows to keep out heat: Close window coverings on the sides of your home where sunlight enters the most to prevent heat from getting in through your windows.

Operate your thermostat efficiently: During the cooling season, set your thermostat to as high a temperature as possible while still maintaining personal comfort. If you’re not home for more than eight hours, consider turning up your thermostat by 7° to 10°. Overnight, consider turning up your thermostat by 3° to 4° while sleeping.

Use fans and ventilation to cool your home: If you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan allows you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect. During warmer months, set your fans counter-clockwise to push air towards the floor.