skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Staying Safe and Warm at Home During Polar Vortex

play audio
Play

author Mary Kuhlman, Managing Editor

 Contact

Wednesday, January 30, 2019   

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The polar vortex has arrived in the Buckeye State, and energy experts have suggestions on how to keep homes warm, safely and efficiently.

Furnaces work overtime in sub-zero temperatures, and utility companies recommend setting thermostats as low as possible for comfort and health. Matt Schilling, deputy director of public affairs for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, said that will help keep bills down and save wear and tear on heating systems. Indoor space heaters can provide extra warmth, he said, but only should be used with caution.

"We strongly encourage people to never be using them when they're not in the room; and then also, to keep them away from blinds, curtains, furniture, because they do get very, very hot," he said. "That can be a fire hazard and can quickly turn dangerous."

Space heaters also should be limited to one per room to avoid overloading a home's electrical system. Other ways to maintain warmth indoors are to ensure no heating vents are blocked, keep all doors and windows closed as much as possible, and close blinds and shades when the sun isn't out.

Another cold-weather concern in the home is carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that can be emitted from faulty gas-burning heating sources. Schilling strongly recommended installing a carbon monoxide detector and making sure it works.

"What's tricky about it is, it's really undetectable," he said. "There's no odor - you can't see it, of course - but it can affect your breathing, and the signs of it are very similar to flu symptoms. So, you might be feeling drowsy, a little bit sick, a little tired."

Schilling also suggested preparing for the possibility of a power outage by having flashlights and batteries ready, and keeping mobile phones charged.

"High winds or ice storms can really sometimes cause power outages," he said, "so be mindful of that so you have a charged cell phone to be able to contact anyone that you might need to."

Power outages should be reported right away, so the utility can determine their exact location and extent. Grid operators and power companies in Ohio prepared for the expected extra energy demand by canceling maintenance shutdowns and increasing staff available to respond to service disruptions.

More information is online at puco.org.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant can now access funding to drive financing for thousands of climate-focused and clean energy initiatives. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion …


Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Environment

play sound

A new report contends fossil fuel funding has biased Columbia University's climate research. The report, by two Columbia students, shows the …


Alabama releases roughly 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails each year. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

An Alabama woman is on a mission to help people who've been incarcerated for decades successfully transition back into society. The mission to …

Health and Wellness

play sound

In North Carolina, the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of dental care has reached a crisis point, impacting both …

So far in 2024, community health centers in North Dakota have screened 11,580 patients for food insecurity. Through those screenings, more than three thousand box meals have been distributed. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

September is Hunger Action Month. In North Dakota, it isn't just food banks trying to help underserved populations get nutritious items. Health …

Environment

play sound

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

Social Issues

play sound

Like polling from other battleground states, the race for the White House remains close in Wisconsin. But fresh numbers out this week show some …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021