Heat USA’s Home Cooling Tips for Prime Heat Warning & Advisory Season
It's rather toasty out there. (image: addins.waow.com)
Official forecasters issued heat warnings to 17 states across the country this week, especially throughout the South and Midwest, the Huffington Post reported. Residents in Oklahoma City and Dallas suffered through 10+ consecutive days of 100 degree weather, and Missouri broke its state heat record with 106 degree temperatures, last set at 104 degrees in 1980. Unfortunately, the extreme heat will likely persist through the rest of the month.
“It says a lot when you are dealing with such an expansive area of heat alerts,” said National Weather Service spokesman Chris Vaccaro. “It’s breaking daily records, but when you’re talking about a record string of days – we’re not there yet. We’re in the midst of a heat wave that’s not over yet.”
For most of us, that’s not fantastic news. Heat stroke and exhaustion are serious problems, and many Americans die every year from heat-related complications. So some evening after that blazing sun goes down, take a quick inventory of your home HVAC situation and make sure it’s as energy efficient and summer-ready as it can be.
• Upgrade your insulation. You know the old saying about insulation: get it tight, get it right! Because the same stuff that keeps your home warm during the winter will keep it cool in the sweltering summer months too. The Department of Energy and Climate Change reported the average uninsulated British home wastes $161 every year on utility bills, and the energy loss happens in summer as well as the heating season. In fact, get an entire home energy audit if you haven’t had one in awhile. Trust us, they’re worth it.
• Maintain all home cooling equipment. Whether you’ve got central air conditioning, window units, simple ceiling fans, or a ductless a/c system, keeping everything clean with regular inspections will prevent unnecessary energy waste and keep utility bills from climbing higher than they need to.
• When you feel the temperature in your living space escalate from unpleasant to unbearable, find a cooling center. Don’t wait; dehydration and heat exhaustion can sneak up faster than you’d expect! While you’re out, check to see if federal home cooling assistance is available for residents in your state, as the LIHEAP program allocates money for low-income Americans struggling with hot summer weather.
Reminder: Heat USA Is Here For You All Summer!
Yes, friends, it's true - we're here to help ALL YEAR! (image: erstories.net)
This isn’t heating season, friends. We realize home heating probably isn’t the first thing on your mind. But just because you’ve turned down the thermostat doesn’t mean we’re headed off to the beach.
We’re wishing all Heat USA followers a cool, relaxing summer and reminding you that if you have any questions or concerns, we’re available all year. The online Member Center is running smoothly and we have tons of DIY tips for improving your home’s energy efficiency in any season! To chat with a membership services representative, give us a call at 1-800-660-4328.
Where To Go To Beat the Heat
Whether you have central air or window units, read Heat USA's maintenance guidelines to avoid breakdowns and help your equipment run smoothly all summer. (image: katu.com)
Maybe your air conditioner is on the fritz, you can’t afford to turn it on, you don’t have one, or you’re locked out. We’ve all had those mid-summer freak-outs where we feel so hot and uncomfortable, we want to scream. Well, sizzling summer temperatures aren’t just bothersome, they’re potentially dangerous. From heatstroke to dehydration, they can sneak up on you. We don’t want you hallucinating from heat exhaustion, loyal readers, so here’s the scoop on where you can go to get out of the sun and humidity.
Most major cities have designated cooling centers with the specific purpose of letting people come and chill out for a while. If you live in New York City, this website will help you find the cooling center nearest to you.
The Naperville Sun published some tips this week on where you can go if the heat is making you miserable or sick, including what to wear, what to eat and drink, and what to avoid. They also suggest that if you live in a more rural area, these venues will work in lieu of a cooling center:
• Libraries
• Shopping malls
• Senior centers
• Park facilities
• Public office/municipal buildings
• Movie theaters
“It’s important to remember that during periods of extreme hot weather, our elderly population, those taking medications for chronic illnesses and those with special needs are among the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses,” said Nadja Lalvani, Naperville communications manager. “Be extra vigilant and check on those individuals often. If you usually check on them once a week, make it once or more a day. Let them know about the cooling centers available.”
With Summer Humidity Coming, Prepare to Battle Moldy Air Ducts
Does this even need a caption? You don't want this crud making your HVAC system (and your lungs) less efficient. (image: fayettevillehvac.com)
With climate change causing sea levels to rise, scientists have predicted the increased moisture in the atmosphere will mean harsh summer temperatures and heightened humidity levels this year. If left untreated, moisture from precipitation and humidity can cause structural damage to your home and create the perfect environment for mold to thrive. That’s crummy news for you and your home HVAC system, particularly air ducts and vents, but there’s plenty you can do to prepare!
Proper ventilation is key in preventing toxic molds and keeping fresh air flowing throughout your home. So first, have an inspection company or reputable local HVAC technician analyze your air ducts. They’ll be able to identify mold issues and assess whether you could benefit from a duct blaster test. If you want to break out the big guns, consider investing in a heat recovery ventilator, or HVR. They improve home ventilation by replacing cool stale air with warm fresh air – these are awesome in the winter, but you’ll probably want to stick with dehumidifiers and ceiling fans in the summer.
If you have roommates or family members who suffer from asthma or the like, spring cleaning your air ducts could be especially pertinent – scientists confirmed that this allergy season is the worst ever. Yep, ever.
“Many people don’t realize the effect mold and dirty air ducts can have on their health. It’s not uncommon to come across families with persistent, undiagnosed health problems,” said John Taylor, owner of Mold Aid National Inc, based in Gainesville, VA. “The toxins in black mold can cause respiratory problems, such as sneezing, coughing and stuffy noses, but prolonged exposure can cause lingering headaches, chronic fatigue and memory lapses.”
Taylor’s company recently launched a new website explaining mold remediation plans and an educational video exposing all the places mold likes to hang out:
Virginia, Delaware Invest in Technology to Improve Weatherization Assistance Programs
With new weatherization management technology, energy auditors can make assessments and complete their recommendations in less than half the time it might normally take. (image: homeweatherizing.com)
State officials in Virginia and Delaware recently adopted software technology to help manage their respective Weatherization Assistance Programs aimed at helping low-income residents cut utility bills by reducing home energy consumption. The states selected Hancock Software, a leading provider of weatherization management tools, to assist with home energy audits and analysis, the company announced last week. The software will allow technicians to quickly monitor homes and identify problem areas, then it will assist with retrofitting measures and recommendations.
“We know that Hancock will help us manage our program effectively and transparently as well as assist us in tracking, monitoring and reporting on weatherization program accomplishments statewide,” said Willie Fobbs, Virginia’s Associate Director of Housing. “We can ensure our state is efficient and serves the right clients to reduce energy costs for low-income families.”
According to the Energy Information Administration’s Short Term Energy Outlook from last year, home energy analysis can slash the average energy bill of a low-income household by up to 35%. And whether you qualify for low-income assistance or not, energy audits are worth looking into – just by becoming aware of how much energy you’re consuming and how you’re using it, you’ll be far more likely and more prepared to make those little eco-friendly, money saving changes.
EPA to Regulate Home Insulation Chemicals and Products
The EPA is taking action to regulate home insulation products containing chemicals known to cause asthma. (image: stylehive.com)
At Heat USA, we’re all about insulation, weatherization, and maximum home energy efficiency. There are lots of great products available at the hardware store to help you finish these money and energy saving projects yourself, but it’s extremely important to read labels and ask your local HVAC technician about which products are safest.
The EPA recently revealed its action plan for dealing with health risks associated with chemical compounds often found in home energy efficiency project supplies, Chemical & Engineering News reported last week. The agency is upping regulation measures for uncured diisocyanates, a component in spray foam insulation and concrete sealers. Diisocyanates are the leading cause of work-related asthma, and prolonged exposure causes skin and breathing problems.
“There has been an increase in recent years in promoting the use of foams and sealants by do-it-yourself energy-conscious homeowners,” commented Steven Owens, EPA assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. “Many people may now be unknowingly exposed to risks from these chemicals.”
To combat the problem, the EPA plans to work with industry leaders to possibly phase out the chemicals entirely. Until then, the agency is filing a new regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act requiring manufacturers to notify the agency before using these chemicals in any consumer goods. They’ll also monitor and regulate commercial use of diisocyanates in locations and buildings where the general public could be exposed.
The foam insulation industry seems to be taking steps in the right direction too. Two years ago, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance created a product safety program to educate consumers about proper use and handling. Industry spokesperson Kathryn St. John commented, “Working with the EPA over many months, we have enhanced product stewardship programs to further improve safe use of spray polyurethane foam.”
What Climate Change Means for Your Home Heating/Cooling System
Scientists have linked climate change to extreme winter storms, and expect volatile temperatures to continue for decades. (image: photos.nola.com)
This year’s heating season is coming to a close, so let’s take a minute to reflect: it was the most expensive winter ever for heating oil users, a record number of Americans applied for federal home heating assistance, and there was a particularly high weather fatality toll of cold and winter storm related deaths. In short, the weather was pretty intense. You may be thinking, if the planet is getting warmer, how come I still need a plow to dig a path to my heating oil tank?
“Heavy snowstorms are not inconsistent with a warming planet,” said Jeff Masters, director of meteorology for www.wunderground.com, and member of the Union for Concerned Scientists. “In fact, as the Earth gets warmer, and more moisture gets absorbed into the atmosphere, we are steadily loading the dice in favor of more extreme storms in all seasons, capable of causing greater impacts on society.”
The Northeast has suffered the greatest increase in extreme storms. Since 1958, the amount of precipitation in the region’s largest storms has increased by 67%, according to a recent Tahoe Daily Tribune report. The Midwest experienced similar harsh conditions, with a 9% increase in rain and snow during the most severe storms. Even Americans doing their best to keep thermostats set low and conserve energy were forced to turn up their systems. Unfortunately, this won’t be an isolated situation, but instead a trend we should expect to continue.
“If the climate continues to warm, we should expect an increase in heavy snow events for a few decades, until the climate grows so warm that we pass the point where it’s too warm for it to snow heavily,” Masters said.
Homeowners can prepare for spiking summer temperatures by tuning up their home HVAC systems now. (image: thisislondon.co.uk)
The effects of climate change are even more obvious during the summer months, when we feel the heat directly. Studies from National Geographic, NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and other reputable research organizations have proven again and again that Earth’s temperature is rising at an ever-quickening pace. This has fairly obvious and unfortunate implications for your summer cooling needs – keeping your home comfortable will require substantial energy and money.
Staying educated about climate change can help you take preparatory measures to curb your heating and cooling costs. Your system has its work cut out for it, and will certainly endure some wear and tear during both summer and winter months. You can offset degradation by minimizing heat leaks with insulation, weatherization, air duct testing, and regular inspections. Talk to your HVAC technician about energy efficient products and maintenance techniques that will cut your heating and cooling bills. And remember the golden rule of conservation: use only what you need.
Chicago Sees 12th Cold-Related Death This Heating Season
People die of cold-related accidents every year in Chicago, which experiences exceptionally punishing winters. (image: allthisgraceandcharm.blogspot.com)
Chicago officials announced that this winter’s cold-related death toll has risen to twelve, the Sun-Times reported. The last cold death was reported on February 5th, when an autopsy showed that La Grange resident Eugene Michalski, 82, had died of cold exposure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Most of the twelve cases were ruled accidents, but officials were alarmed by the number of victims who’d died in their own cold homes. The youngest victim, Krzystoff Pekala, was 34.
One journalist pointed out that another victim, Rowland Draper, 60, was found dead and frozen in his apartment on the very same day President Obama announced his budget plan to slash funding for LIHEAP. “I can’t help thinking it’s an indication of what could happen if we decide to cut programs for the nation’s most vulnerable residents,” she wrote.
When frostbite occurs, blood vessels close to the skin constrict and cells start to deconstruct. (image: everester.com)
If LIHEAP’s budget is cut in half, as outlined in the federal proposal, Illinois could receive only about 62% of the aid it does now. That means a significant number of the 460,146 households that received heating assistance last year won’t have access to it again – even though more people than ever are applying for help. Over 9,000 applicants have flooded the Central Illinois office since September.
Last heating season, Cook County alone reported 12 cold-related deaths.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Steve Day-Kaufman, general manager of Carver Community Action Agency, told the Register-Mail. “If [LIHEAP] gets cut we are dead in the water.”
Earthquake Survivors Endure Near-Freezing Temperatures on Japanese Coast
Friday's earthquake left 24,000 people stranded with nowhere to go, while 1.9 million households still have no power. (image: framework.latimes.com)
Survivors of Friday’s 8.9-magnitude earthquake suffered through another night without heat on Japan’s coastline, where temperatures this time of year often straddle the freezing line, according to NPR. Broken natural gas lines, electrical outages, and the shutdown of the country’s nuclear power plants have left 1.9 million homes without power, and forced another 310,000 survivors into emergency shelters.
Since the initial quake, the coast received over 150 aftershocks, including a 6.3-magnitude tremor that fueled fear of another tsunami.
“This is Japan’s most severe crisis since the war ended 65 years ago,” said Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
The Japanese government has dispensed 120,000 blankets in the rescue effort so far, as well as 120,000 bottles of water and 29,000 gallons of gasoline. However, it will likely take several days to restore electricity, and almost 1.5 million households still have no water. The USS Ronald Reagan has been delivering food and water to the region with helicopters since last week, but authorities said that overall, aid has been slow to reach the most damaged areas. Aid workers calculated they only had about 10% of the food and water supply needed to help survivors, and some victims reported waiting in line for over four hours for gasoline to fuel their gas heaters.
“I’m giving up hope. I never imagined we would be in this situation, “ one survivor told The Associated Press after waiting in line to buy dry ramen noodles and being told gasoline would only be made available for emergency teams and government rescue workers. “I had a good life before. Now we have nothing. No gas, no electricity, no water.”
Miyagi police said that at least 2,800 people have been confirmed dead, but thousands more are missing and officials now estimate the death toll may be closer to 10,000.
Earthquake Leaves 8 Million Japanese Without Heat or Power
The 8.9-magnitude earthquake triggered a 30-foot tsunami, leaving millions of Japanese without heat or even a home. (image: cnbc.com)
The fifth strongest earthquake since 1900, followed by a 30-foot tsunami ravaged Japan today, killing hundreds and leaving thousands more homeless. Electricity outages and broken natural gas lines left eight million Japanese without heat or power.
“It’s pitch dark in my neighborhood,” Makiko Tazaki, a resident of the northeastern coastal city of Sendai, told the Agence France-Presse. “We don’t have power or clean water. We have no heating either. It’s cold.”
However, Tazaki knows it could be worse – her home, located on high ground, wasn’t destroyed by the giant tsunami that wiped out entire neighborhoods in low-lying areas. Between the earthquake and the wave, at least 1,200 homes were destroyed. Global investment banking groups estimated the damage to be at least $10 billion so far.
Because of the power outage, Tomoko Suzuki and her elderly mother were unable to take the elevator to their condominium on the 29th floor of their building, one account from the Huffington Post reported. Suzuki was unable to hail a cab to go stay with family, and all hotels in the region are already filled to capacity.
“We are so cold,” she said. “We really don’t know what to do.”
As rescue workers scramble to find survivors in the city’s wreckage, buildings that remained structurally sound and still have power opened their doors to victims, becoming makeshift homeless shelters. Aftershocks continue to ripple through the region, and disaster management officials have predicted it will be quite some time before the true extent of the destruction can be calculated.
