January 2019 was colder and snowier than is normal for our area. Our actual average temperature was several degrees colder than the January average according to WLFI-TV meteorologist Chad Evans. Bone chilling artic air blanked our area January 29 – 31 with wind chills as low as -50. These wind chills were the lowest since January 1994.
These cold temperatures cause an increase in your energy usage, often more than in the hot summer months. The reason is temperature variance.
Why energy use is higher in cold weather
A frigid fact: You use more energy in cold weather.
In cold weather, your heating system works much harder to keep your home comfortable. Even if you don’t change your thermostat setting, it runs longer to heat your home.
Heating and cooling are almost always the biggest energy users in your home. Of those two, heating is the larger user because of indoor/outdoor temperature variance. The greater the temperature difference, the harder your heating system has to work to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
If you typically set your home thermostat at 70 degrees and it is 20 degrees outside, your heating system has to make up a 50 degree difference in indoor versus outdoor temperature. In the summer, that temperature variance is usually 30 degrees or less as temperatures rarely climb above 100 degrees.
When winter temperatures drop down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, now we’re facing a 70 degree difference in temperature that your heating system has to account for. The result is high energy use.
We can help with high energy bills
Tipmont is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that sells energy at cost. We exist solely to serve you and to deliver value to the communities we serve.
If you have questions or need assistance with a high energy bill, we can help, but only if you contact us. Our Member Service team can be reached at (800) 726-3953 during our normal business hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Or, you may contact us by emailing memberservice@tipmont.org.
Additional information and resources on energy assistance and energy efficiency are available on our website.
