With parts of the country seeing record-setting chilly temperatures — including in places where coats and gloves are rarely needed — power operators and the National Weather Service have been offering tips for how people can conserve energy and stay warm at home, with or without power. Tim Burke, president and chief executive officer of the Omaha Public Power District, asked his 300,000 residential customers to conserve energy by lowering their thermostat a few degrees, turning off any unused lights, postponing laundry and dishwashing, and unplugging devices that are not currently being used. In a video announcing planned power outages, he showed that his office thermostat was set to 55 degrees and that there were “no lights on in our offices.”The National Weather Service in Kansas City, Mo., also shared ways that people can avoid losing heat. They included placing rolled-up towels at the base of exterior doors or stuffing rags in cracks under the doors.

Source: New York Times February 16, 2021 19:30 UTC