516-837-3459Record New York Heat Hits Our Bank Accounts
From AC’s to washing machines, the appliances you’re using today are more energy efficient than ever. If that’s the case, then why were this summer’s electric bills for New York City and Long Island so high? In PSEG and ConEd territory, this year’s electric bills creeped to $400, $500 or even $900 for many homeowners. It’s no wonder why New Yorkers are demanding an explanation for the holes in their pockets. EmPower Solar decided to investigate the cause for bill increases, and here’s what we found:
- 2018 Aug – each day was on average 4 degrees warmer than 2017.
- 2017 August only had 5 days above 85*. 2018 August had 12, with four of them over 90!
- 2017 July had 70% of days above 80 F. This year, the number jumped to 90%!
- 2017 August had 68% of days above 80 F while 2018’s August had 74% of its temperatures above 80 F.
- August 2017 had no record of any day above 90 F while 16% of August in 2018 was above 90 F.
- There was a 4 degree and 4% average rise in temperatures from August 2017 to August 2018. This might not seem like a lot, but if you keep your AC at a steady 72, then 82 to 86 is a big difference!
With temperatures this high, it requires that much more energy for your AC to bring it to the temperature of your liking. As we know, transfer of heat always takes place from hot to cold. Even if the difference is as low as 1 F, heat transfer is triggered. The hotter it is outside, the more energy is needed to prevent that heat from entering and rising the temperature of your home. The more energy you use, the more that meter spins!
Hundreds of Long Island homeowners took to Facebook and other online forums questioning their bills and citing a 2x or 3x increase in electric bills this year. Even those with solar panels saw an increase because the energy they used this year exceeded the amount they expected to use. Because solar production and energy consumption are unrelated, this was the case even for solar homes that produced more energy than they were expected to!
Summer Weather Data – 2017 compared to 2018
What Can NYC & LI Expect Going Forward?
Weather varies month to month, season to season, and even year to year, but most of the hottest summers on record have been in recent history. All of this points us to a grave underlying problem – global warming and climate change!
New Yorkers can demand explanations for your bills from your utility company; but it’s all going to point back to the weather. Just this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a warning that we had only 12 years left to prevent a climate change catastrophe. If we don’t do something now to change our energy habits, this summer’s weather will become the new normal!
Now’s the time for us to do our part for the environment, to be proactive and to make sure we leave a beautiful, sustainable future for the generations to come!
We at EmPower Solar are doing our bit to avoid the looming onset of global warming. Contact us today to find out how you can make the switch to clean energy, reduce your utility bills, and be part of the solution!
Source: Weather Forecast & Reports – Long Range & Local. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wunderground.com/
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About the Author
EmPower Solar develops, engineers, installs, and services solar and battery systems for residential and commercial clients. Since 2003, EmPower Solar has empowered thousands of New York homeowners and businesses with 47 megawatts of distributed solar. Its vision is to create a new energy paradigm powered by clean, renewable energy for a more prosperous, healthy, and civil world. The company culture is defined by the EmPowering Way, which results in consistent 5-star customer service reviews. For more information visit empower-solar.com.