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(Idaho Power News Brief, July 28, 2026)
Hot temperatures and smoky conditions can mean spending more time indoors. A few simple changes around your home can help improve comfort and reduce energy use.
- Replace your air filter. Dirty and clogged air filters prevent airflow, which can make your HVAC system work harder. Replacing your dirty filter can lower your A/C’s energy usage by 5 to 15%.
- Use fans to stay comfortable. Ceiling fans, floor fans, and box fans can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler, allowing you to maintain comfort without lowering your thermostat. Remember — fans cool people, not rooms — so switch the fans off when the room is unoccupied.
- Keep heat and smoke outside. Close windows, doors, blinds, and curtains during the hottest part of the day, especially on east- and west-facing windows. If temperatures cool down and air quality improves, consider opening windows in the early morning or late evening to bring in fresh, cooler air.
- Reduce oven use. Heat from the oven makes your cooling system work harder. Consider using a microwave, slow cooker, pressure cooker, or recipes that don’t require heating to help keep your home cooler and save energy.
A few small adjustments can go a long way toward staying comfortable and managing energy costs throughout the hottest and smokiest days of summer. For more energy-saving tips, visit idahopower.com/save.
