How to Reduce Energy Usage When Your Utility Sends a Energy Conservation Alert

It’s no secret that America’s electric grids are in need of TLC and struggling to keep up with demand at times. 随着夏天的到来，天气越来越热，暴风雨越来越多, 人们在家里增加了更多的设备，人口也在增长, 这个问题在近期内不会得到解决. 

Utilities around the country are doing what they can to mitigate the problem as they work to shore up electric grids. However, right now the best option in many cases is to make it a group effort.

能源节约警告正变得越来越普遍, especially during sudden heat waves and long periods of high temperatures. An energy conservation alert is a message from the local utility that calls on end-users to reduce usage as much as possible during a certain timeframe, 通常是高峰使用时间. 节约能源完全是自愿的, 但这样做有助于减少停电和停电的可能性.  

That’s reason enough for a lot of people to dial back their energy use for a few hours. 但是你应该关掉什么呢? 你是应该把所有的事情都砍掉，还是应该做一些大的事情?

Ultimately, every kilowatt-hour that’s saved makes a difference when the electrical grid is strained. Here’s a breakdown of what to know and what to do when you get an energy conservation alert.

节约能源警报须知

Not all electric grids have an energy conservation alert program in place. But when they are used they serve the same purpose and function mostly in the same way. 

通常,一个 彩色编码系统 与警报一起使用，让你一眼就知道它有多严重. 它非常容易识别，绿色意味着不需要警告, and it progresses from orange to red as the need for energy conservation goes up. 

Everything is based on weather conditions are normal or t在这里’s an energy emergency. An energy emergency is any time the utility is having difficulty meeting demand. Once the energy emergency reaches a certain level it will trigger an energy conservation alert. 这是一种只有在极端需要的时候才会用到的资源.

大部分的节能预警系统, 消息通过文本发送到实用程序区域的客户, 电子邮件, 或两个. Customers opt in to receiving the alerts and designate how they can be contacted. The other option is to download an app from the utility that sends alerts. 

当有一个能源节约警报时减少使用的方法

首先，在能源紧急情况下，每一点都有帮助. Even just turning off a few lights adds up when many customers are doing it together. However, time is of the essence when you get an energy conservation alert. Fast energy reduction is all about what can be done quickly and what will make the biggest immediate impact. 

• 如果你 干燥的衣服，关闭机器，让物品继续风干. 干衣机是一个巨大的能源消耗器. 
• Set the 恒温器 to 82 degrees or higher when you leave home if you don’t have a smart 恒温器 in case you get an alert while you’re away.
• 拔掉所有不用的插头，关掉电线杆. 这样你就可以切割 吸血鬼的能量 使用也.
• 把冰箱开着但关着. Every time the door is opened the inside warms up a bit and energy is needed to bring the temperature back down. 
• If you have an electric vehicle, delay charging it until the alert is over if possible.
• 走出户外! 当你白天在室外时，就不需要灯了, 空调, TV, 以及家里的许多其他电子产品.
• 如果外面太热，不能真正享受, 计划去有空调的公共场所, 像购物中心一样, 杂货店, 或教堂. 

想要了解更多减少用电的方法，请看下面这些 夏季节能小贴士. 你也可以在这里了解最新的能源问题 立博网站中文版的博客.