It's what the TV weather industry calls "a scorcher": According to Weather.com, the high on Thursday is supposed to exceed 90 degrees in Douglaston. On Friday, it's expected to be 99 degrees.
Con Edison, which provides power to the bulk of New York City, has some tips on how to keep your home cool in the most energy efficient manner possible.
- Change your air conditioner filters. Keep filters clean for peak efficiency.
- CLOSE THE DOOR: When using your room air-conditioner; close doors to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. If you have central air, block the vents in unused or vacant rooms.
- Don’t let your air conditioning fly out the door. Store owners who leave doors open with the A/C running could be subject to fines from the city.
- Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees. Each degree lower increases cooling costs by 6 percent.
- Turn off lights and other appliances, using a timer to turn them on as necessary.
- Run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s generally cooler. Another alternative: Use a microwave to cook, or a barbecue outside, if possible.
Of course, when an entire city's worth of people decide to blast their A/C on "high" for a prolonged period of time, power outages are inevitable (just ask some of the .)
Thus, Con Edison will have extra crews and support personnel on hand to respond to any service problems that occur during the heat wave. Resident can report power outages or service problems online at www.conEd.com, or call 1-800-75-CONED.
