4 Simple Ways to Keep Cool in San Diego This Summer

San Diego is widely connotated with being outdoors, surfing, BBQing and watching beautiful sunsets. And now that June Gloom will be coming to an end, the community will begin transitioning into summer.

Summer solstice officially kicks off on June 21 at 8:54 am in San Diego. This means that the sunsets are longer and the heat will be ever present. As temperatures begin to rise, so does energy use throughout the day.

In the early morning just as we start our day and start using energy, California taps into a variety of its clean energy sources that are naturally available as the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. In the late afternoon as we come home, our energy use reaches an all-day high just as less clean energy becomes available — requiring the system to rely on more traditional energy sources. By using less electricity during the hours of 4 and 9pm, you can ensure that your energy is coming from cleaner sources.

When we all do our part in managing energy usage this summer, we can stay cool and protect the natural beauty of San Diego.

To start out the summer right, Energy Upgrade California, a statewide initiative committed to helping Californians use energy better, has created this list of easy tips for San Diego residents to kick off their summer routines:

• Summer chores switch: Before you head out for the day run your dishwasher. You’ll come home to cleaner dishes ready for dinner or an impromptu BBQ made by cleaner energy.
• Pre-cool your home: Keep your home cool by turning on your AC earlier in the day. After 4pm consider turning your AC to 74 degrees to efficiently use energy while still keeping cool.
• Charge early: Consider charging up your music speakers and smart devices during the day so they are ready to go when entertaining on the weekend.
• Turn off the lights: You may be tempted to turn on more lights as you try and keep the sunlight out, but remember to turn off lights when you aren’t in the room!

For more information on how to stay cool this summer while keeping California golden, please visit: www.energyupgradeca.org.