Heat wave: see tips on how to cool the environment and save electricity

A heat wave which hits Minas Gerais in recent days has caused temperature records. According to Climatempo, the forecast is that thermometers will continue to rise at least until next Wednesday (20), the day autumn begins in the Southern Hemisphere.

On Sunday (17), BH recorded the hottest day of the year, with 35.3ºC. In other capitals, the hardship is even greater. In Rio, for example, the thermal sensation reached 62.3ºC at 9:55 amat Guaratiba station.

With the heat, the use of electrical equipment such as air conditioning, fans and humidifiers increases. Therefore, Cemig (Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais) gives tips on how to save energy on these excessively stuffy days.

Tips for refreshing your space on a budget

Among the alternatives to alleviate the ambient temperature, fan is the most popular, as it is generally the most affordable device to purchase. Furthermore, this equipment has the lowest power among the options. According to Cemig engineer Thiago Batista, even though it consumes less energy, the customer must be aware of how long the fan is used.

‘Energy consumption depends on two variables: equipment power in watts (W) and time of use (in hours). To correctly use energy, you must act on these two variables. Therefore, even if the fan has a lower power, if the device is left on for a long period of time, the customer may experience a significant increase in their energy bill’, he states.

The ideal is to compare the data indicated by the Inmetro label and choose those with an ‘A’ classification. ‘The consumer must multiply the consumption indicated on it by the number of hours of daily use. In this case, the customer will find the value in reais for that day of use’, explains the engineer.

Air conditioning

Another frequently used equipment is air conditioning. According to Thiago, it has high power and works in a similar way to a refrigerator, only removing hot air from the environment. Therefore, the consumer must pay attention to the time of use.

‘For homes, there are two models: the window type (less efficient) and the Split, which is more efficient. When purchasing any of them, preference should be given to those whose label indicates the likely annual consumption and multiplied by the energy tariff found on the electricity bill. This way, the consumer will have a good idea of how much each piece of equipment will ‘spend’ during the year, as this consumption has been standardized for typical use in the country’, he states.

The expert lists other savings tips for proper use of air conditioning units:

It is important to keep the environment closed;
Place curtains or blinds to avoid sunlight;
Keep the temperature at 23 or 24 degrees – which is the comfort temperature.

‘These actions contribute to the use of devices consciously and taking advantage of their benefits’, he explains.

Fridge and shower

Studies indicate that the refrigerator is the second most energy-consuming piece of equipment in a home, mainly due to its time of use and because it ‘opens and closes’.

The specialist recommends that customers check the condition of the refrigerator sealing rubber and adjust the thermostat of this equipment, considering that the ambient temperature is higher. If the doors are not closing properly, the refrigerator (or freezer) will use more energy to cool the food.

‘To find out if the rubber seal is in good condition, do the following test: place a sheet of paper between the door and the refrigerator, close the door and try to remove the sheet, if it comes off easily, it’s time to change it. the rubber. Repeat the test at various points on the refrigerator door’, he explains.

The electric shower, which is the equipment that consumes the most energy in homes, can have its power drastically reduced at this time of year, when turning the shower key to the ‘summer’ position. ‘People can save approximately 30% of the consumption of the device turned on at maximum power. But even so, it is important that the usage time is maintained, as there is no point in reducing the power of the equipment and increasing the bathing time’, warns Thiago.

*Under the supervision of Enzo Menezes