People ‘beat the peak’ at the pool
People across the county hit the pool Thursday, Aug. 1, as electric companies urged people to conserve energy through the period of extended heat.
Central Electric Cooperative urged its members to “beat the peak” Thursday, when temperatures neared 90 degrees in Butler County and increased demand for electricity usage. Thursday morning, West Penn Power on Facebook suggested customers tick up their thermostat temperatures and unplug unnecessary devices to help cut electricity usage.
Residents of Butler County may be taking the suggestions of the electric companies to heart, because attendance at Alameda Waterpark has been steady all summer, and sales for passes hit record highs.
“Our pass sales are at the highest they’ve been in the past four years,” said Ashley Helmstaedter, assistant director of Butler County Parks and Recreation.
Central Electric Cooperative’s “beat the peak” notice suggested people shift the use of items such as dehumidifiers, pool pumps and electric appliances to hours outside of the peak period, which is from 1 to 7 p.m. Small adjustments in when, where and how members use electricity make a difference in energy costs during high-demand periods, the notice said.
FirstEnergy, parent company of West Penn Power, has suggestions for managing electric costs while using air conditioning.
Air conditioning systems should be cleaned and inspected by a professional, and air supply and return vents should not be blocked by rugs or furniture, according to FirstEnergy.
Shades or blinds should be placed on south and east facing windows to reduce heat gain through the windows and put less strain on air conditioners, and air leaks in attics should be sealed with caulking or expanded foam insulation.
The last day of the season for Alameda Waterpark is Aug. 25. Helmstaedter said the parks and recreation staff are expecting daily visitation numbers to drop slightly this month, as other activities arise and some employees go back to school.
“When it comes into August it tends to drop a little bit, because of the farm show and people taking animals there,” Helmstaedter said. “We’ve got a full staff; we’ve got a mix of college and high school employees. When the college students go back, the high schoolers fill in.”
According to meteorologist Colton Milcarek with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, the heat is expected to cool down slightly into Friday into the mid 80s. By the weekend, Milcarek said to expect temperatures in lower 80s, before “a brief rebound Sunday and Monday.”
Next week, temperatures will reach seasonal averages in Butler, Milcarek said, at 82 degrees.
Eagle staff writer Irina Bucur contributed to this report.
