Goshen - Hot enough for you lately? Hard to believe that just a few short months ago Orange County was buried under three feet of snow! Now, July’s scorching hot weather has Orange County residents and government staff dealing with a variety of very different weather-related issues. For County staff, these have included working with municipalities and non-profits to make cooling stations available, ensuring residents in need have cool, safe places to stay, conserving energy so as not to put unnecessary strain on systems, and communicating heat safety precautions from our Department of Health.
It’s important to remember our sick and elderly neighbors when the temperatures skyrocket. If you, or someone you know, need a cooler place to stay, consider going to the mall, the library, or visiting one of the cooling stations throughout the County. Visit the County website, www.orangecountygov.com, for a current list of available cooling stations.
Conserving energy during extreme heat is critical. Power outages during a heat wave could prove deadly – especially for the sick, elderly, or very young. We can all do our part to conserve energy and simple steps taken by each of us can add up to make a big difference. Some suggestions from our Department of Public Works include:
• Turn off lights and close blinds to save energy and keep rooms cooler.
• Turn off computers, especially the monitor, when not in use.
• Pull the plug on electronic equipment that’s not in use. Keeping that little clock flashing on the DVD player uses energy.
• Set your air conditioner to 78o.
• Use fans instead of AC – they use 80% less energy.
For longer term energy savings, consider changing out standard incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, seal leaks around windows, doors, and ducts, update appliances with EnergySTAR ones, and take advantage of federal tax credits for improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Until next week, stay cool.
