Irving: Conserving Energy Essential During Extended Winter Weather

Irving TX

16 February, 2021

10:02 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Irving: February 14, 2021 North Texas residents and businesses are encouraged to continue to conserve energy to help maintain service for the most critical human needs customers. Conserve energy Click on the image for a larger version. Photo courtesy National Weather Service-Fort Worth office. Every degree makes a difference. Save energy and money by lowering your thermostat to at least 68 degrees. Lower your water heater's maximum temperature to 120 degrees. Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows. Unplug electronic devices, and turn off lights that are not in use. Reduce shower time, and avoid baths. Refrain from using large appliances - washer, dryer, oven, and dishwasher - for the next few days. When in use, limit opening the oven door to prevent wasted energy. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Avoid using your natural gas fireplace, if possible. If you have a pool, do not use the pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing. Change furnace filters once a month during winter. Dirty air filters can lead to dust, dirt and grime buildup on the heating components, causing the furnace to use more energy and increasing the risk of a malfunction. Businesses are asked to minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible and to consider reducing nonessential production processes. Stay safe Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home. Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weatherproof. However, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away from a meter with a hard object. Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside. If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number at (866) 322-8667. Atmos Energy also encourages customers needing solutions to keep up with their monthly natural gas expenses to contact its customer service team at (888) 286-6700 or visit the company's account center. This press release was produced by the City of Irving. The views expressed here are the author's own.