Summer is in full swing and heatwaves are coming for much of the U.S., including Oregon.
Air conditioning hasn’t been a staple in buildings across the Pacific Northwest thanks to a historically mild climate but after recent years involving summer heat domes, more folks are turning to AC to seek relief from the heat.
This begs the question: What temperature is the most popular for Oregonians to set their AC units to?
Heat waves and rising energy demands
During heat waves, energy demands can increase as more electricity is needed to cool spaces.
Last year, during an August heat wave with temperatures over 100 degrees for four consecutive days, the Eugene Water and Electric Board called on customers to cut their energy use wherever possible. The response from utility customers included setting thermostats a couple of degrees higher, turning off or delaying the use of appliances that draw heavily on electricity and avoiding straining the electrical grid in the early evening hours, typically from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. These energy-saving tweaks saved as much energy as shutting off 10,000 to 15,000 window AC units across Eugene, according to an EWEB press release.