No, Texas is not a beacon of hope when it comes to energy conservation. We are much better at other things, like digging for oil, football and gun ownership. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not here to judge if you drive a suburban or own a 4,500 square foot micro mansion. Heck, I drive a full-size 4X4 truck.
Despite our large lifestyles, we should always be open to quick and simple ways to save money on our electric bill. Here are a few options for you to consider that you could even put into action today.
Program Your Thermostat
Seriously, they don’t program themselves (unless you have a Nest). Most thermostats are more than just a light on the wall with an up and down arrow. You may even discover that yours is programmable when you didn’t previously know it. When programming your thermostat, think about your schedule and habits, and set it up optimally.
If your house is a cozy 74 all day while you are at work in the winter, then you’re wasting a lot of money on your dog’s comfort (trust us, your dog will be fine). The Department of Energy recommends keeping your home at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 in the summer, temperatures that yield the most energy savings. Correct programming can add up to 22% in savings off of your home’s cooling or heating costs.
Lower the Temperature on Your Hot Water Heater
The groundwater in Texas is already pretty warm already. That means you can crank back the temp on your water heater, especially during the summer months. This means your water heater won’t use as much energy keeping the water in the tank hot. Call your local plumber if you need help.
Air Dry Laundry
You might think it’s a crazy idea, but your drier pulls a lot of amps, which means you spend a good amount of money drying clothes in it each month. Take advantage of the Texas heat by drying clothes outside. If you don’t want to go the distance on this one, consider just air-drying bigger laundry, like towels and bedspreads.
If you are interested in going off the deep end and really saving some serious dough, there’s much more that you can do! From windows to insulation, there are plenty of products out there to help you save money.
Contact Mission AC today for more information on energy savings or to schedule an HVAC or plumbing service.
