A major heat wave made its way to Wisconsin this week, and it’s expected to stick around until the Fourth of July.
The Milwaukee area reached highs in the upper 80s on Monday, June 29, with a heat index of 100 degrees in the early afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to hit the mid-90s through Thursday, July 2, with heat indices pushing as high as 105 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for southeast Wisconsin through 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. The agency expects to make additional warnings throughout the week.
It’s so far the hottest stretch of the year for southeast Wisconsin, and one that could strain residents’ cooling systems. In response, utility companies and the U.S. Department of Energy issued tips for staying cool while keeping energy costs down.
Here’s what to know:
What temperature should I set my air conditioner to during extreme heat?
The Department of Energy recommends residents keep their homes at the highest temperature that is comfortable to them, typically around 75 to 78 degrees during the day.
When no one is home, the agency said to increase the indoor temperature by about seven degrees to save on energy costs.
Air conditioner filters should also be cleaned or replaced once a month. Properly maintained filters can reduce energy use by up to 15%.
Other energy saving tips
We Energies issued a series of tips June 29 to save on energy costs during extreme heat. They include:
The hottest and coldest days of the year are usually a utility’s peak demand periods. They also tend to drive up energy bills, as many We Energies customers discovered following a stretch of extreme cold in January.
We Energies said June 29 it has “all available power plants ready to meet increased demand, and crews are prepared to respond if severe weather causes outages.”
More cooling tips can be found on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What temperature should I set my AC in a heat wave? What to know
Reporting by Francesca Pica, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Francesca Pica, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
