For the millions of us who are in the midst of the massive heat wave across large swaths of the US, there is a simple move we can make that helps reduce CO2 emissions. It’s called “Shave the Peak.” The Green Energy Consumers organization in RI/MA promotes this, and I get alerts from them and from our utility on days when it’s needed, but everyone can do this.
Here’s why: On days with very high electrical usage, which mostly is the hot humid days with air conditioners going full blast everywhere, the utilities have to kick in the plants they don’t normally operate. Those are the old dirty inefficient ones (coal, in our region), the ones we really don’t want to have operating, that kick out way more CO2 per kilowatt than the usual mix does. (They’re also the most expensive per kilowatt.) So if we can even out the usage, and keep those plants offline, we’re helping reduce CO2 emissions. It also saves money, which in the long run should help utility rates.
What they ask: During the worst hours, generally 3-8 pm, do everything you can to reduce electrical use. Move every activity you can either earlier or later: laundry, cooking, dishwasher, hot showers that kick on an electrical water-heater, running the A/C or dehumidifier; charging electronic devices. It’s not that difficult if you plan ahead; do the cooking for dinner in the cooler mornings and eat a cold meal. If you have someone in the household who’s elderly or ill who can’t tolerate heat, run the A/C extra (to a cooler temp) in the morning, and then see if you can shut it down during the peak.
I find this easier — and easier to persuade people to do — than telling people not to use electricity at all. Obviously, reducing total usage is also helpful, 365 days a year. But this time-shifting is supposed to help a lot too, without causing as much dislocation.
On Twitter: @ShaveThePeak