Welcome to Summer!
This is your formal welcome to summer, which officially begins on June 20 when the sun reaches its highest point, resulting in the longest day of the year. Yes, we are aware that the beginning of summer is largely ceremonial in Gainesville since it has already been stifling since May, but we recommend using this date as a reminder to assess what you can do to reduce usage and lower bills.
With average highs in the 90s for the next couple of months, we also understand that changing behavior requires some creativity. So for inspiration, we partnered with a few local artists to illustrate cost-saving tips. We hope their work inspires you to adopt one or more of these tips and lower your summer utility bill.
Line Dry Clothes by April Burk Clark
A Missouri native who has called Alachua County home since the 10th grade, April was excited to encourage GRU customers to line-dry clothes rather than using an electric dryer. A University of Michigan study says dryers account for 3% of home energy costs. The same study says a household could save $2,100 over the lifetime of their dryer by exclusively drying by line. Additionally, sun and air are a natural disinfectant and won’t shrink, fade or damage your laundry.
April beautifully illustrates this tip in a mixed-media work she calls, “Solar Power.” In describing her art, April says she “finds joy in rescuing and repurposing interesting items, peeling dried glue from her fingers, working with collage, and learning new techniques to use in mixed media.”
You can find her work in a variety of spots around town and online at Redbubble.com.
Get Outdoors by Ari Uberti
Venezuela-born but now living in Gainesville, Ari says her art is based on a simple premise: to make you smile. A digital artist and muralist, Ari’s work is heavily influenced by her love of nature, which is why she asked to illustrate a tip for getting outdoors. Peak electricity usage occurs when we return home in the evening and crank the air. Instead, consider taking advantage of our amazing natural resources as temperatures shift to cooler in the evening.
As you can see, Ari’s illustration lives up to her reputation for “blending shapes, colors and characters to transform the ordinary into something vibrant, joyful and full of life.”
You can find Ari’s work at www.ariuberti.com.
Visit a Local Spring by Diana Tonnessen
Gainesville-based artist Diana Tonnessen specializes in hand-colored linoleum block prints that depict Florida’s natural history and cultural heritage. Her Lazy Gator is an homage to our local springs, which, at 72° year-round, are the perfect antidote to a scorching summer day. You will find more than 190 freshwater springs within a 50-mile radius of Gainesville, a feature that makes our region unique to the world. Make it a priority to check out a least a few springs this summer. A few recommendations:
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Poe Springs (an Alachua County park)
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Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
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Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Check out Diana’s work at http://www.floridianastudios.com/
Adjust Your Thermostat Setting by Brandon Osmul
A member of the GRU communications team and digital artist, Brandon took a humorous approach to a difficult recommendation for some: Set your thermostat to 78° in the summer. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends this temperature setting for the ideal combination of comfort and energy savings. For additional savings, the DEP recommends turning your A/C up a few additional degrees when leaving for the day. If you’re not convinced 78° is right for you, try setting your thermostat to 81° and then lowering it two degrees each day until you find your happy place. But keep in mind, each degree above 72° can save you 3% on your cooling costs.
Five-Minute Showers by Reid Fogler
Raised on Gainesville sunshine, Reid Fogler is a local artist and real estate developer who most recently displayed his work at the Sweetwater Print Cooperative during Artwalk Gainesville. Among his oil paintings on display was this life-like grizzly, post-plunge. Similar to Floridians, grizzlies bathe frequently in hot weather. Unlike Floridians, grizzlies aren’t concerned about energy bills, so they take their time (who’s gonna tell them otherwise?). If that grizzly lived in Gainesville, we would recommend he got his paws on a shower timer and limited his showers to five minutes to save about 900 gallons per year, plus the cost to heat that water.
Plant a Shade Tree by Joon
Artist, calligrapher and designer Joon Thomas says, “Every day I wake up to a blank sheet of paper and a lifetime of experience. I pick up my brush and create something new.” For us, Joon illustrated planting a shade tree to save on energy costs. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting shade trees can reduce cooling costs by up to 35%. A yard with 50% shade, they say, can knock an average of $30 per month off your summer cooling bill. “I love the way that houses and trees become compatible with one another over the years, creating a sense of home,” Joon says. “I tried to portray a house nestled between trees that offer shade, protection and beauty.
Check out Joon's work here: https://palmstone.com/
Take a Bath by Rhea Thomas
Rhea Thomas is a lifelong resident of Gainesville, preschool teacher and artist who “strongly believes in nurturing an appreciation of our earth among our youngest generation.” For us, Rhea illustrated the tip, “Take a Bath” before bed to beat the heat. A warm bath about an hour or two before going to bed augments our body’s natural evening cooling pattern. The warm bath causes your blood to abandon your body’s core and head to the surface, dropping your body temperature and resulting in a cool and peaceful slumber.
Drink Up! by Sarah Hinds
Sarah Hinds is a visual artist and arts facilitator who works at UF Health creating art with hospital patients. Among Sarah’s creative collaborations is a wall of mosaic tiles (the HeART Wall) outside a GRU facility in downtown Gainesville. For GRU, Sarah illustrated a tip to help regulate your body’s temperature on hot, summer days: Drink up! Studies show that drinking cold water during exercise can keep your body from overheating, but hot beverages can also cool you down. A hot beverage can cause you to sweat; the sweat evaporates on your body and cools you down. But if you’re drenched with sweat, stick with a cold glass of GRU water.
Check out Sarah's work here: https://www.sarahhinds.com/
Summer Checklist
- Turn your A/C to 78
- Set your thermostat to "auto"
- Use fans only while in the room
- Wash clothes on cold setting
- Hang-dry laundry
- Use blackout curtains
- Follow watering guidelines
- Fix leaky toilets and dripping faucets
- Keep showers to five minutes or less
Important Phone Numbers
- GRU Energy and Water Surveys: (352) 393-1460
- GRU Customer Service: (352) 334-3434
- City of Gainesville Housing: Home Rehab/Roof (352) 334-5026
GRU has worked with the following organizations to provide relief:
- Alachua County Habitat for Humanity: Home Repair/Weatherization (352) 378-4663
- Central Florida Community Action Agency: Weatherization/Emergency Assistance (352) 373-9805
- Neighborhood Housing and Development Corp.: Emergency Home Repair/Code Repairs (352) 380-9119
- Rebuilding Together NCF: Home Repair/Energy Efficiency (352) 692-4973
- Alachua Social Services: Rent/Electric (352) 264-6750
- Catholic Charities: Utility Assistance (352) 372-0264
- Elder Care (60+): Crisis Electric (352) 265-9040
- Gainesville Community Ministries: Crisis Electric (352) 372-8162