Texas summers can be tough on wallets, especially if you have kids home throughout the day, electronics plugged up constantly and AC’s blasting to keep the heat away. These tips can help you save energy and money on your electric bill this summer!
Cover Your Windows and Turn on Your Fans
Selected window treatments can prevent your home from heating up in the summer and blinds and drapes can help reduce heat gain by almost half when fully closed. Take a look around your house and see what windows may be receiving direct sunlight so you can cover them accordingly.
Having a ceiling fan can also help cool down a room by around 4 degrees and is a great tool to coincide with a working AC to keep air circulating and a whole house fan can help suck out the home’s hot air through the attic to help cool things down, helping to keep down your electric bill in the summer months.
Load Up Your Machines to Save Energy
Fully loading your dishwasher can help save energy and water by having less frequent uses! Skipping the dry cycle and hand drying your dishes can also help cost some cost in the long run. Doing the same for your washing machine also enables you to get more for your money by running it less often. Running the water heater can also kill your power bill, so using cold water when possible is also a good idea.
Use Less Electricity by Going Dark
We mean this in every way, electronically and literally. Make sure you keep your lights off when they aren’t necessary, like during the daytime or if a room isn’t in use. Also, unplug unused electronics and appliances, even if it isn’t in use it could be a vampire device sucking out your electricity! Using surge protectors can help you easily switch off multiple devices when they aren’t in use, and installing motion sensors to your lighting can make sure they are only being used when people are in the room!
ENERGY STAR Appliances Keep Costs Down
ENERGY STAR products are in line with the guidelines set in place by the US government to help reduce greenhouse emissions, meaning the appliances use less energy than models without the certification. Some air conditioning models even have energy saver modes that will keep your house cool enough so that it won’t have to work harder to cool it back down once it’s turned back on to its original settings.
Keep the Cool in with Thorough Home Insulation
Although hard to notice, air leakage could be pulling your cold air out and through openings and cracks in your home. This can make it more expensive to properly ventilate the space because the cold air escapes as the hot air enters. Ensure you seal your windows and doors properly and install weather stripping or even re-caulk needed areas that have a draft coming in. Attic insulation is also essential as it can be taking your cool air as well, making your air unit strain to cool off your home.
Control Your Use with a Programmable Thermostat
With a smart programmable thermostat, you can control the air conditioning when you aren’t even physically at home. This energy efficient tool can let you program specific times to use the AC or heat and allows you to adjust according to your household and their plans for the day via an app. Save money by automating and setting your thermostat to your family’s patterns by having it turn the air conditioning on only when the family is home on even on their way there. This allows you to turn off your AC when it’s not in use. The thermostat should also be set between 78 °F and 80 °F and for every degree higher you can save almost up to 8% on cooling costs for your home.
Think you have a more significant electrical issue raising your bill this summer? Contact Colvin Electric today for a home electrical inspection to make sure everything is in good shape!