09/04/2026
Beat the Heat and Save: McLeod Coop Power urges members to reduce energy use to help lower their power bills!
This holiday weekend into the start of next week, much of Minnesota is expected to see daytime temperatures exceeding 85°F along with high humidity, McLeod Coop would like to help our members save on their utility bill by providing a few ideas to help conserve energy.
Cooling a home can account for about half of a summertime electric bill. There are several steps that, when combined, can add up to significant energy savings:
✅ Keep the sun out: Close blinds or shades to keep rooms cool during the day.
✅Adjust your thermostat: Raising your thermostat from 72°F to 78°F (6°F increase), especially when you are not home, could save roughly 6% to 18% of your cooling energy for the day.
✅Open interior doors: Opening interior doors within your home can help circulate cool air throughout the house.
✅Use fans to your advantage: Running ceiling fans counterclockwise in the warmer months will circulate cool air.
✅Switch it out: Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs, which use 75% to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs. They operate much cooler, thus displacing less heat into the home and can last 15x longer. Save energy by turning off all lights and electronics when not in use.
✅Manage Appliances: Run washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashers with full loads after the heat of the day. Waiting to do laundry until the sun goes down will help keep the house cooler and reduce strain on the energy grid.
✅Replace your furnace filter: Replacing a dirty air filter can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%, especially after the extremely hot July and August months we just experienced.
We hope everyone has a safe, cool, and relaxing Labor Day weekend!
