Power for Progress…A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority Saving daylight and saving energy 

Last weekend, we all moved the clocks forward and entered Daylight Saving Time. As a result, we get more sunlight into the evenings which, for many of us, translates into more time spent outdoors, in the backyard or even at the lake or river.

While the time change might require a couple of days of adjusting, it is also a good time to revisit some helpful steps you can take this time of year to curb energy usage in your home. Here are a few to consider:

1. Open your curtains and allow the sunlight to help heat your homes. That “extra” hour of evening sun can help take the chill away during the cold March evenings.

2. As you adjust your clocks, reverse your ceiling fans as well. During the winter months, they rotate one way and help to push the warm air down. However, springing ahead is a good time to change that rotation, so that they will draw the warm air upward during the coming summer months.

3. Also, remember to adjust your thermostat to fit your daylight-saving time schedule. If you plan to be outdoors longer in the evenings, you can save energy by not heating or cooling your home as much during those times.

4. Bonus tip: This may also be a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

While we cannot do anything to help you recover the hour of sleep you lost while springing forward, these tips can help you conserve a bit more energy during this time of year.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.

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