How to keep cool without breaking the bank during the heat wave

With temperatures climbing into the upper 90s this week and holiday festivities just days away, experts agree on one thing: Seek out air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.

Beyond that, their advice on staying cool varies.

As electricity prices soar, many people are seeking ways to balance staying comfortable with keeping their utility bills from spiking.

Duquesne Light recommends cost-conscious consumers keep their thermostats at 78 degrees.

“That’s kind of the sweet spot in terms of trying to save on cost while still staying cool at home,” said Ashley Macik, a utility spokeswoman.

Macik, however, conceded that temperature setting might not please everyone, acknowledging that 78 degrees seems “a little high.”

Another Duquesne Light spokeswoman, Alyssa Battaglia, went so far as to suggest setting thermostats “closer to 85 degrees” when out of the house.

As for the 78-degree option, Battaglia said that “strikes a balance between comfort and energy efficiency” while reducing strain on the electric grid.

Duquesne Light said for each degree you lower your thermostat below 78 in the summer, your bill will go up by about 2–3%.

Bridget McNie, a spokesperson at West Penn Power, also encouraged customers to set their thermostats to higher temperatures to cut back on cost “as comfort allows.”

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association reported that the national average price of household energy has increased 10.5% since this time last year.

That increase is pushing summer cooling expenses to record levels. According to the group’s report, the average household is expected to spend $792 to cool a home this summer, up from $717 a year ago.

In the Pittsburgh region, West Penn Power’s residential rate increased at the start of June to 12.08 cents per kilowatt-hour from 10.95 cents per kilowatt-hour.

For a typical household using 750 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month, that translates to roughly $11 more on a monthly bill — another hit to budgets already strained by rising summer cooling costs.

“These increases reflect broader market dynamics, including growing demand for electricity, particularly from large-scale users such as manufacturers and data centers,” McNie said.

For those with more wiggle room in their budgets, Lisa Iulo, a Penn State University architecture professor, recommends cooling homes before the heat wave sets in by keeping windows closed, blinds drawn and thermostats set at between 69 and 72 degrees.

No relief in sight

Experts offered a range of ways to stay cool, from staying well-hydrated and keeping ice packs nearby to taking advantage of cooler nighttime air by opening windows and running fans.

But relief from the heat isn’t expected anytime soon. Matt Brudy, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Pittsburgh is likely in for an extended stretch of high temperatures.

“It’s going to be a prolonged period of heat, and there’s not going to be much relief,” he said.

With scorching conditions persisting, Dr. Brent Rau, medical director of Allegheny General Hospital’s emergency department, is warning people to watch for signs of heat exhaustion.

“Paramedics have brought us patients in the past where they go inside homes that don’t have air conditioning, despite it being 90 degrees outside and quite hot,” he said.

He added that keeping homes warm during the day only to cool them down at night might be dangerous and energy inefficient.

“It heats up to 78, but then it can overheat beyond that so quick,” Rau said. “To catch up and cool it back down, you have to use so much energy.”

Despite rising costs, Dr. Rau emphasized the importance of keeping homes cool during the summer months.

“Getting ventilation is really the important thing,” he said.

Iulo, the Penn State professor, echoed his advice, adding that avoiding stove and oven usage, turning off appliances and lights and even limiting computer usage can reduce the amount of heat produced in the home.

Tips to keep cool

Energy providers recommend:

• Closing vents and doors in unused rooms

• Turning off AC, fans and lights in unused rooms

• Regularly cleaning or replacing HVAC filters

• Sealing doors and windows to keep cool air inside

• Unplugging electronics after they are fully charged

• Running appliances late at night or early in the morning

• Staying hydrated

• Cooking outdoors

• Keeping ice and emergency supplies on hand

• Keeping fridge and freezer doors shut during electrical outages

• Signing up for electrical outage notifications

Rau said that while young children and the elderly are most at risk of overheating, those planning to celebrate July 4th with alcohol should also be sure to stay hydrated with non-alcoholic beverages as well.

While the jury is still out on what the ideal summer thermostat setting is, Duquesne Light, West Penn, Rau and Brudy all urged people to move to air-conditioned spaces when homes become too hot.

Cooling centers

CitiParks will open cooling centers this week at five senior centers throughout the city when temperatures climb above 90 degrees. Hours of operation at each facility are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m..

Cooling center locations:

• Beechview Healthy Active Living Center

1555 Broadway Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15216

• Greenfield Healthy Active Living Center

745 Greenfield Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

• Homewood Healthy Active Living Center

7321 Frankstown Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

• Sheraden Healthy Active Living Center

720 Sherwood Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15204

• South Side Healthy Active Living Community Center

49 South 12th St. (at Bingham Street)

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

For more resources for mitigating cooling costs, customers across the region can view assistance programs here.