Electricity is a valuable resource to everyone in our community. Without it, we are simply left in the dark. That is why helping our customers use electricity safely and efficiently is so important.
During the first week with 10 solar panels in operation the veterinary clinic saved 76.7 kilowatt-hours of energy use, McNeal said. When the entire system is operational, it will include 22 solar panels.The audit resulted in a series of environmentally friendly and energy-efficiency initiatives at the veterinary hospital, including the installation of solar panels, radiant barriers, solar attic fans and new insulation."We went from 3,200 watts of lighting in the office area to 320 watts," he said.3. Turn off lights that aren�t in use, even energy efficient lights.What is now home of Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital was built for residential use in the 1960s, but has been used as an animal clinic and the clinic's Pet Resort for three decades. The need for improvements only increased since the veterinary office was constructed for residential use and not a veterinary clinic and because of its age."I knew I was hemorrhaging a large amount of money in energy costs," he said. "I was paying about $1,600 every month."Summer Tips10. Cook with a microwave or a barbeque instead of the stove or oven. It will heat up your food but not your kitchen.6. Fix leaky faucets as soon as possible. A hot water leak is an energy drain.5. Weatherstrip and caulk your doors, windows and penetrations into the attic or crawl space that allow warm air to escape.4. Replace the furnace filter and clean the outside coil on your air conditioner.Although he qualified for federal tax incentives, McNeal said installing the solar panels and other energy-efficiency initiatives was an environment decision - not a financial decision.Other services include grooming, bathing, behavioral medicine, dental care, emergency care, a pharmacy and surgery.McNeal said all the energy-efficiency and environmental improvements have been worth the expense and effort.Heat Exhaustion: Symptoms include heavy sweating, and skin may be pale, cool, or flushed. The victim will also exhibit a weak pulse, with fainting, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.3. Some sources suggest you wear �light colored, loose fitting clothes.� However, that�s only if you�re going outside. If you go outside, go with that rule and also wear a loose fitting hat or carry an umbrella for shade. Forget the fashion rules, follow the heat rules. (By the way, royal blue and/or white are the best colors to wear for their heat reflective qualities. Ever wonder why most tarps and boat awnings are blue? This is why.) For indoors though, forget all those rules and go with the �bare as you dare� notion. The more exposed skin you have the more efficient your cooling-by-sweating process can work. Also, be sure to tie up long hair, and if you have a beard, consider shaving in order to remove all that facial insulation.5. Failing to find another source of AC, and considering that the power might be out, here are a couple more tips. First, stand-alone floor unit air conditioners aren�t that expensive and can run off regular household current without the need for the special 220 volt outlets. This means that they can be operated using the smaller gas-powered electric generators. Can�t afford a generator? You can probably afford a power inverter which can sometimes be found for under twenty dollars. They plug into your car�s cigarette lighter and, using an extension cord, can power an appliance like your stand-alone AC, or at least some fans. Speaking of your car, if nothing else, if your car has AC you can ride around during the hottest hours of the day, providing you can afford today�s gas prices. If absolutely nothing else, go to your nearest �dollar store� and see if they have any of those little battery-powered fans.2. Close the blinds before the sun gets a chance to heat up the house. Open windows at night to cool down the house.1. Drink plenty of cool water to keep yourself hydrated and reduce your body�s core temperature. (Warm water won�t do this, and cold water might be a shock to sensitive systems.) Drink regularly, every hour, even if you don�t feel thirsty. Avoid soft drinks and alcoholic drinks that are actually diuretic and rob your body of the water it desperately needs.1. Use a ceiling, box or oscillating fan. The moving air cools you, creating less reliance on air conditioning.McNeal also installed an Ecobee Smart Thermostat, allowing him to monitor and control the temperature from remote locations. He is considering seeking LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.8. When replacing an old air conditioner, look for a more efficient one (SEER 14 or higher), preferably an ENERGY STAR� qualified model.8. Keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.9. Install window film or storm windows if you have single-pane windows.7. Now that we�ve talked about keeping you cool in the heat, let�s backtrack a bit and talk about reducing the heat you might experience. Naturally, the first rule is �block the sun.� Do what you can to reduce the sunlight that hits your house or comes in through the windows. Keep the shades drawn, and you might even consider hanging a white sheet or blue tarp as an outside awning on the side(s) of the house that catch the most sun. These tarps are also effective if placed on the roof as they�ll reflect the sun�s rays.4. Maintain your furnace or heat pump regularly to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.The solar panels were installed earlier this month by Sun City Solar of Oklahoma City.The building was in need of energy modifications when he purchased the veterinary hospital five years ago, McNeal said.He became concerned about the environmental effect of the clinic after he purchased Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital in 2005.7. Weatherstrip and caulk your doors and windows if you can see light or feel air coming through them.4. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120�F (unless your dishwasher requires a higher temperature).Winter Tips
10. Use power management settings on your computer. Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of your work session.
Author: Yoni Levy
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