Latest news with #FloridaPower&Light
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida high heat index: What's the best temperature to set your air conditioner thermostat?
Temperatures are rising and we are depending more and more on the state's most appreciated appliance: the air conditioner. It's roasting out there, which brings up the question: what temperature should I set my thermostat on? Short answer: it depends. Can't see the poll? Follow the link to vote. There isn't a magic number that everyone should use. It's a decision you make based on: What feels comfortable to you and the other people in your household The health conditions of people in your household How well your home is insulated and otherwise protected against heat What other cooling methods you use (floor fans, ceiling fans, closed curtains/shades, etc.) How much you're willing to pay on your electric bill The first and last ones are the most important ones. If you can afford it, run your a/c as low as you want. Just be prepared for considerably higher bills and likely more air conditioner maintenance and repairs, although Florida Power & Light has been lowering rates lately. FPL spokesperson Katarina Alvarez said a one-degree increase in thermostats could save between 3-5% on cooling costs. The less your a/c has to work, the lower your bill. So set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can remain comfortable in and can afford, and look for other ways to cool off your place. For a long time, 78 degrees has been the number everyone drops in their "stay cool" guides. Which is fine for some people, and for lizards. When the media and electric utility companies promote 78 degrees they often refer to ENERGY STAR, a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that has become synonymous with energy-efficient appliances. But ENERGY STAR doesn't recommend any specific temperature. 'ENERGY STAR does not assert that any particular temperature setting is good for households,' the EPA said in an email to The Palm Beach Post. In the Florida summer, opening your windows day or night isn't a good idea unless you just like the heat. Temperatures don't drop that much in the Sunshine State overnight and letting the place heat up means your a/c will have to start from scratch in the morning. It also means letting in a lot of moist, hot air that will get absorbed by the carpeting and furniture upholstery, which means an uncomfortable house and the increased possibility of mildew. Turning it up a bit while you're gone can save you money, but unless you'll be gone for a week or more the work your a/c will have to do to bring the temp back down to liveable when you get home may not be worth what you save by turning it off. Air conditioning also helps reduce humidity in your house, and that helps keep mold and mildew in check. There are also your pets to consider. Your dogs and cats don't like the heat any more than you do, and they have fewer ways to cool off. When you're out of the house for an extended amount of time, FPL recommends setting your thermostat to 85 degrees with the fan on "auto." Older adults are more prone to heat stress, according to the Centers for Disease Control. They don't adjust as well to temperature changes, they're more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes their normal responses to heat, and they're more likely to take prescription medicines that affect the body's ability to control its temperature. Older people also are more prone to Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses, and scorching heat can be even more dangerous for individuals who may not notice that they're overheating, may not understand what it means, may have impaired judgment, or may not be able to tell anyone about it. "Summer can be extremely dangerous for those with Alzheimer's in Florida," Julie Shatzer, Vice President of Programs for the Florida chapters of the Alzheimer's Association, said in an email. "Symptoms of overheating can be difficult to detect in those with Alzheimer's and other dementia since they can be similar." Even if you're running your a/c nonstop, there are plenty of ways to give your air conditioner less to do. Use a programmable or smart thermostat. Raise the temps to 78-82 or more while you're at work, away or during the night (if you can). Start a fan club. Fans don't cool the air but they do make you feel better as the moving air cools your skin and helps your body evaporate sweat. Turn on your ceiling fans and put smaller fans around the place to keep your air circulating. Be sure to turn them off when you leave the room for more savings. Change your a/c filter regularly. Easy to do, and it does wonders to help your a/c help you. Dirty or clogged filters make a/c units work harder. Don't use a heavier filter than you need. Some promise to filter out all viruses, contaminants and pet dander, but they also choke airflow and may make your a/c work harder. The government's Energy Star program suggests changing your a/c filter every three months but says if it looks dirty after a month go ahead and swap it out. Close curtains and blinds. Keeping direct sunlight out of the house helps keep the inside from heating up. Keep vents clear. Blocking a/c vents blocks airflow. You want airflow so the room will cool to the temp the thermostat is set at. Check your insulation and weatherstripping. If heat is getting into the house (and cool air is getting out) your a/c has to work harder. Check the weatherstripping around windows and doors and make sure your attic is insulated. Close doors and vents of rooms you're not using. Why pay to cool a room you don't need to? Close the vents in your guest room, utility room or any space you don't use regularly and keep the door closed. However, don't close off any rooms that connect to other rooms you do use, otherwise you'll block airflow through the area. Cut your electric bill elsewhere. Unplug equipment and appliances that use energy even when turned off, such as TVs, air fryers and video game consoles. Turn lights off if you're not using them. Lower your water heat temp to 120. Use cold water in the washing machine. Use smaller appliances in the kitchen. Basically, everything your parents used to tell you to do. Sorry. . A/C repair companies are busy in the summer, and if yours breaks down they might not be able to get to you right away. Keep yours in good shape before it starts to make weird noises. Things you can do: 6 easy air conditioner tips to keep the cool air coming in the Florida heat ENERGY STAR recommends once a year, in the spring, but Floridians might want to go twice, especially if you live near the coast. Change or clean the air filter every month. Keep leaves, shrubbery and other debris at least 18 inches away from the outdoor unit to avoid blocking the airflow. Don't cover the condenser coil outside to make your house look prettier. Cooler is more important. If you have an outdoor drain, keep it clear and unclogged. Your a/c needs to be repaired if it stops working (obviously), makes loud noises while running, or can't keep your house cooled to at least 78 degrees. But it might need to be replaced if it's over 10-15 years old, your energy bills have skyrocketed and you keep having to get it fixed Older units have other issues, such as increasingly scarce parts or outdated coolant. The U.S. ceased production of Freon in 2020 and older units used R-22 Freon, which is getting tougher to find. And newer systems are more energy efficient. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida heat wave: For hot weather keep your a/c to these settings
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nominate your favorite play of the school year for the Sarasota-Manatee Power Play Award
The Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards, Presented by Sarasota Ford, is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program. What was the most outstanding high school play you saw this past year in the Sarasota-Manatee area? The Sarasota Herald Tribune is taking video submissions for the FPL Power Play contest, sponsored by Florida Power & Light. Footage of any play showing any high school in the Sarasota-Manatee area is eligible. The top play, as decided by a panel, will be honored at the 2024 Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards, Presented by Sarasota Ford, on Friday, May 30 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. Advertisement Nominate your top play by uploading video to the contest page linked here: Power Play Award The nomination period is under way and will end on Tuesday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be obtained here: 2025 Sarasota and Manatee High School Sports Awards Tickets The 2024-25 Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards, Presented by Sarasota Ford, is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Nominate your favorite play for the Sarasota-Manatee Power Play Award
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff Turmoil Got Your Portfolio Down? All It Takes Is $5,000 Invested in This Rock-Solid Vanguard ETF to Help Generate $150 in Passive Income Per Year.
It's been a rough start to 2025, with the S&P 500 having its worst quarter since 2022 followed by escalating trade tensions in April. Yet through it all, the utilities sector has been a passive-income powerhouse and a beacon of safety thanks to its low volatility. Investors looking for broad-based exposure to the utilities sector might want to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEMKT: VPU). By investing $5,000 with the Vanguard Utilities ETF, you can expect to generate $150 in annual dividend income based on the fund's 3% yield. Here's why the ETF is worth a closer look. Utilities are the second-best-performing sector year to date and one of just two sectors that are up slightly compared to the S&P 500's more than 8% drop. The utility sector mainly comprises regulated electric utilities. These companies work with regulators and government agencies to set prices, which allows utilities to budget for necessary maintenance on existing infrastructure and plan for new investments without squeezing their customers. Many utilities effectively act as regional monopolies. So, buying a utilities ETF is a simple way to get exposure to the national electric grid rather than investing in one single region. For example, the largest holding in the Vanguard Utilities ETF is NextEra Energy, which owns Florida Power & Light, the state's largest electric utility. It also has power generation assets across the country. Southern Company serves customers in the southeastern U.S. But like NextEra, it also has nationwide power generation assets. Electric and gas utilities operated by Duke Energy serve customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana. The company has a mix of fossil fuel and renewable energy power plants. Utilities are a relatively safe sector during economic uncertainty, trade tensions, and even recessions because keeping the lights on and the water running are basic needs -- similar to why the consumer staples sector is holding up so well despite the broader market sell-off. If the U.S. economy were to dip into a recession because of a trade war, then utilities would be one of the best-positioned sectors. They aren't exporting power overseas, they are producing it domestically and then transmitting and distributing it to consumers in the U.S. There isn't the global trade component as there is for, say, the oil and gas industry. The downside of investing in the utility sector is its low growth. Regulated utilities are limited in how much they can raise prices, so they mainly depend on higher resource demand and a growing population. Higher interest rates have increased borrowing costs, which is challenging for these capital-intensive businesses. Many have considerable debt on their balance sheets, and higher interest rates make it harder to manage that debt. Still, the sector as a whole is an excellent way to generate passive income. Many of the companies in the Vanguard Utilities ETF pass along the majority of profits to shareholders through dividends. NextEra has a multi-decade track record of raising its dividend. In February, it announced a 10% hike and plans to increase its dividend by around 10% per year through at least 2026. The stock currently yields 3.4%. Southern Company has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years and currently yields 3.2%. Since so many utilities have high yields, the Vanguard Utilities ETF averages out to an excellent 3%. It also has a price-to-earnings ratio under 20, making it a good fit for risk-averse value investors looking for passive income. And with a mere 0.09% expense ratio and a minimum investment of just $1, the ETF is a simple way to get exposure to the utility sector without racking up high fees or having to commit a lot of capital. The Vanguard Utilities ETF is a great fit for folks who are more focused on capital preservation and passive income than capital appreciation. Utilities are well positioned to grow their dividends even during economic downturns, but they also tend to lag the broader market during periods of expansion. Over the last 10 years, for example, the Vanguard Utilities ETF has produced a total return (capital gains plus dividends) of 133.9% compared to a 203.8% gain for the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). In the long term, the utilities sector will likely underperform the S&P 500, but that might be OK for investors looking to reduce volatility and boost their passive income. Before you buy stock in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $502,231!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $678,552!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 800% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 156% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Duke Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Tariff Turmoil Got Your Portfolio Down? All It Takes Is $5,000 Invested in This Rock-Solid Vanguard ETF to Help Generate $150 in Passive Income Per Year. was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
16-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Tariff Turmoil Got Your Portfolio Down? All It Takes Is $5,000 Invested in This Rock-Solid Vanguard ETF to Help Generate $150 in Passive Income Per Year.
It's been a rough start to 2025, with the S&P 500 having its worst quarter since 2022 followed by escalating trade tensions in April. Yet through it all, the utilities sector has been a passive-income powerhouse and a beacon of safety thanks to its low volatility. Investors looking for broad-based exposure to the utilities sector might want to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEMKT: VPU). By investing $5,000 with the Vanguard Utilities ETF, you can expect to generate $150 in annual dividend income based on the fund's 3% yield. Here's why the ETF is worth a closer look. Boring but reliable businesses Utilities are the second-best-performing sector year to date and one of just two sectors that are up slightly compared to the S&P 500's more than 8% drop. ^IXR data by YCharts. The utility sector mainly comprises regulated electric utilities. These companies work with regulators and government agencies to set prices, which allows utilities to budget for necessary maintenance on existing infrastructure and plan for new investments without squeezing their customers. Many utilities effectively act as regional monopolies. So, buying a utilities ETF is a simple way to get exposure to the national electric grid rather than investing in one single region. For example, the largest holding in the Vanguard Utilities ETF is NextEra Energy, which owns Florida Power & Light, the state's largest electric utility. It also has power generation assets across the country. Southern Company serves customers in the southeastern U.S. But like NextEra, it also has nationwide power generation assets. Electric and gas utilities operated by Duke Energy serve customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana. The company has a mix of fossil fuel and renewable energy power plants. A safe sector with limited growth prospects Utilities are a relatively safe sector during economic uncertainty, trade tensions, and even recessions because keeping the lights on and the water running are basic needs -- similar to why the consumer staples sector is holding up so well despite the broader market sell-off. If the U.S. economy were to dip into a recession because of a trade war, then utilities would be one of the best-positioned sectors. They aren't exporting power overseas, they are producing it domestically and then transmitting and distributing it to consumers in the U.S. There isn't the global trade component as there is for, say, the oil and gas industry. The downside of investing in the utility sector is its low growth. Regulated utilities are limited in how much they can raise prices, so they mainly depend on higher resource demand and a growing population. Higher interest rates have increased borrowing costs, which is challenging for these capital-intensive businesses. Many have considerable debt on their balance sheets, and higher interest rates make it harder to manage that debt. Still, the sector as a whole is an excellent way to generate passive income. Many of the companies in the Vanguard Utilities ETF pass along the majority of profits to shareholders through dividends. NextEra has a multi-decade track record of raising its dividend. In February, it announced a 10% hike and plans to increase its dividend by around 10% per year through at least 2026. The stock currently yields 3.4%. Southern Company has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years and currently yields 3.2%. Since so many utilities have high yields, the Vanguard Utilities ETF averages out to an excellent 3%. It also has a price-to-earnings ratio under 20, making it a good fit for risk-averse value investors looking for passive income. And with a mere 0.09% expense ratio and a minimum investment of just $1, the ETF is a simple way to get exposure to the utility sector without racking up high fees or having to commit a lot of capital. A safe choice amid tariff uncertainty The Vanguard Utilities ETF is a great fit for folks who are more focused on capital preservation and passive income than capital appreciation. Utilities are well positioned to grow their dividends even during economic downturns, but they also tend to lag the broader market during periods of expansion. Over the last 10 years, for example, the Vanguard Utilities ETF has produced a total return (capital gains plus dividends) of 133.9% compared to a 203.8% gain for the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). In the long term, the utilities sector will likely underperform the S&P 500, but that might be OK for investors looking to reduce volatility and boost their passive income. Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Utilities ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $502,231!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $678,552!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is800% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to156%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Duke Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Traffic crash serves as reminder to stay away from areas around South Florida brush fires
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – A large brush fire burning between the Florida Keys and Miami continues to cause significant problems along U.S. Highway 1 - the only route in and out of the islands. Dubbed the "344 Fire," the blaze has been raging for more than a week and has scorched in excess of 26,000 acres. Firefighters warn that the fire's size and proximity to the key thoroughfare has occasionally hampered conditions for drivers. A multiple-vehicle crash on Friday served as a stark reminder for motorists to avoid the area, allowing first responders to focus their resources on battling the fire and ensuring public safety. "This incident highlights the importance of avoiding travel near the southeast Miami-Dade brush fire. Heavy congestion can delay response times for first responders during emergencies," the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department said on social media. Traffic disruptions have been ongoing for days, as authorities have periodically shut down U.S. Highway 1 due to the fire's proximity and the need for staging areas for emergency personnel. Hurricane Hunters Increasingly Missing Mission Requirements In Powerful Storm Systems Although the fire is large, authorities have not reported any significant damage to infrastructure beyond the disruptions to traffic. However, air quality in the area has been heavily impacted by the thick smoke, which shifts depending on the wind direction. Nearby residents and visitors have been advised to take precautions, particularly those with respiratory conditions. Both Florida Power & Light's Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant and the Homestead-Miami Speedway have been unaffected by the fire, but officials remain on alert, especially on a busy NASCAR weekend. The 344 Fire is just one of dozens of blazes currently burning across the Florida Peninsula as the state enters its annual wildfire season. Lack Of Winter Rainfall Puts Florida In A Precarious Fire Situation Conditions throughout the Sunshine State are prime for wildfires, with warm temperatures, dry weather and gusty winds creating a tinderbox effect. Fire experts warn that the fire danger is likely to persist through the spring and possibly into the summer months, until the annual rainy season begins. While the 344 Fire is not yet fully controlled, authorities are optimistic that containment will increase in the coming days, as hundreds of crews work from the air and ground to combat the blaze. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office has also urged the public not to call 911 for updates on road closures or fire-related impacts. Instead, officials recommend staying informed through media channels, where critical updates will be article source: Traffic crash serves as reminder to stay away from areas around South Florida brush fires
