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Dog Days Digest
Although you might disagree, some folks believe that today is the last of the dog days of summer.
Merriam-Webster defines dog days as “the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere.”
Britannica Online Encyclopedia explains that “[t]he name (dog days) originated with the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians; they believed that Sirius, the dog star, …, added its heat to the sun’s and thereby caused the hot weather.”
Wikipedia states, “The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the traditional timing of the dog days (for the northern hemisphere) as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11,… .”
Official time frames aside, we probably have more dog days ahead of us before the summer season ends. And that means that peak demand times – those times from the mid afternoon to early evening when air conditioner usage is greatest – will continue to occur.
Here are some simple ways you can help conserve energy during the dog days of summer:
1. Set your thermostat at 78°, or higher when you’re away for four hours or more.
2. If you’re a NOVEC customer, enroll in its residential load management program if you haven’t done so already. Learn more about load management by reviewing my second blog entry, where you’ll also find a link to the co-op’s brochure. Call (703)392-1503 to participate in NOVEC’s program.
3. Curtail (put off) the use of your oven/stove, dishwasher, and washer/dryer until late evening.
Also consider switching to CFLs and zapping phantom loads. See my earlier blogs on these topics. These actions help to conserve energy not just during peak demand times but year-round.
So if you find yourself feeling lethargic during the dog days of summer… Remember that this season provides us with some great opportunities to manage our electricity usage. And get energized!
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