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Wilson This Week -- January 18, 2024
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Let's get Winter ready!
Wilson may not be digging out from the blizzard conditions we've seen across the country, but we are about to have an influx of Arctic air. We won't be much above freezing this weekend and overnight lows are expected to be in the teens both Saturday and Sunday night.
Even if you never touch your thermostat, your heating systems have to work much harder to keep your home or business at the same temperature in conditions like these. It's like riding a bike on a flat road and then going uphill; you have to pump harder to maintain the same speed. And some heating systems really struggle to keep up when temps are as cold as forecasted for the next few days.
We don't want anyone to have sticker shock when you get your next utility bill. We've put together a few tips to help manage energy usage - and your utility bill - during these very cold spells.
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Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your energy usage and bills. We recommend a maximum of 68 degrees in the winter.
- If you heat your home with a heat pump, set it and forget it! Heat pumps work best with a consistent temperature. If you heat with natural gas, you can turn the thermostat down when no one is home and set to the lowest comfortable setting when you are home.
- One of the easiest things customers can do for heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy and can increase costs. Also, have heating systems checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance.
- Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun's rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help insulate your home.
- One of best energy-saving habits you can do each year is to check windows, doors and vents for air leaks. Caulking, sealing and weatherstripping leaks can save 10% to 20% in heating costs.
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Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction in the winter, which pushes warm air back down into the room. (Most fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the motor.) While fans move air and make people more comfortable, they do not provide heat, so remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
- Manage water heating. Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second biggest user of energy in your home.
The good news is that warmer temperatures are coming soon. We hope everyone is able to stay safe and comfortable until we get to spring.
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Council meets tonight
The Wilson City Council will hold its first meeting of 2024 tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. at Wilson City Hall, 112 N. Goldsboro St. You can see the agenda linked below.
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Watch online
The public is always welcome to come to the City Council meetings, but we also stream the meetings live. Here is a link that will be live by 6:45 p.m. tonight.
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City has a milestone birthday this month!
The City of Wilson will be celebrating its 175th birthday this month! I know, I know, we don't look a day over 117!
But it's true -- the N.C. General Assembly approved our charter on January 29, 1849. The birthday celebration starts with an official proclamation by City Council tonight, plus we will look at some of the city's landmark events in the weeks to come.
We have made remarkable strides in the past 175 years, including being one of the first towns in eastern North Carolina to start its own electric utility; start a fire department and hire professional firefighters; build a reservoir; and offer citywide broadband services.
Here is a link to learn more about Wilson history, and if any local teachers or anyone else are planning on doing any programs about the anniversary, please email us at communications@wilsonnc.org.
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Know your recycling schedule
Now that we are through the MLK Day holiday, our environmental services trucks are mostly on a steady schedule for a few months. But what if you are unsure if what the schedule is?
You can look up any address in the city at the link below. The key things to determine are, 1, what day we collect your garbage, and, 2, whether you are a red or blue week for recycling. We provide residents 96-gallon blue rollout recycling containers that we pick up once every two weeks on your trash day.
You can see the red and blue week schedules for 2024 on our website (click on the 2024 Schedules button below).
If you prefer a paper copy, stop by the customer service center, 208 Nash St. NW.
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