It can get pretty hot and humid for people who live in the South. Texan summers are usually scorching hot, for instance. Besides, this inevitable seasonal discomfort, there are soaring energy bills that may prove somewhat hard to manage. As such, this article highlights a few guidelines on how to reduce summer energy bills. Read on to discover the top 5 tips for reducing your Texas electricity bill. These tips are brought to us by EnergyPromoCodes.com – our favorite Texas electricity promo codes site.
1. Use Programmable Thermostat
Did you know that you could save up to $180 every year by using a programmable thermostat? While this figure holds if you use your thermostat well, the Energystar.gov describes such thermostats as a fantastic trick to help you limit your energy consumption. Since we are all forgetful, this appliance minimizes electricity consumption by automatically adjusting the temperatures, even when you’re away. To acquire a great thermostat for the hot season, visit the local stores and get a long-lasting brand that fits within your individual budget.
2. Set Your Air Conditioners For Beyond 78 Degrees
Due to the technical fact that air conditioners cool at a uniform rate regardless of the settings, it’s advisable to turn it on when it’s really necessary to do so. In fact, 78 degrees are the recommended temperatures for the hot summer months. By setting your air conditioner for 78 degrees or higher, you’ll stay cool and keep your rising energy bills under watch. In a similar vein, see to it that the air conditioning systems are immediately switched off in the evening when temperatures are low.
3. Do Proper Maintenance on Air Conditioners
If your air conditioners do not operate efficiently, they’re likely to use unnecessarily higher amounts of power. Therefore, you should undertake regular and painstaking air conditioner repair to ensure that power doesn’t go to waste running inefficient internal cooling devices. As a way of keeping your conditioners at peak efficiency, make sure that the filters are changed at least once every three months. On other occasions, the hitch may not be about the filters. This means that you should keep a watchful eye on your system so as to detect any possible malfunctions as soon as they occur.
4. Use Blinds/Shades
To minimize the amount of heat entering your house, you should use blinds or shades to keep it well at bay. As such, blocking direct sunlight means that you don’t have to use extra electricity units powering any cooling appliances. Even if you find blinds/shades rather expensive, use your creativity to prevent excess sun exposure. The whole aim is to keep temperatures within tolerable levels and thus preclude the need for turning on any electricity-powered cooling apparatuses.
5. Plant Trees
Instead of using more power running air conditioners and fans during hot summer months, it’s more affordable to grow shrubs around the house. Particularly, make sure that you plant such shrubs or trees near the windows and the sunnier sections of your home. There are really no specific rules – simply position the trees at strategic positions where they can shield your house from direct sunlight. However, these plants should be grown a few months before the hot season sets in so that they’re able to protect your house against the searing summer sun.