When summer rolls around in Texas, the natural result is that we will turn up our air conditioners as high as we can, but this results in high power bills as well. The truth of the matter is that we can easily lower the temperatures while lowering our power bill as well. Just make a few changes around your home and in the way that you act.
Conserving energy and using less electricity has long been a focus for people who want to save the environment, and it's definitely good for the world around us, but it's also good for our wallets. After all, the less power you use, the less you have to pay for. In the summer time, bills can soar due to air conditioning use, but a few simple things can help you reduce the cost of staying cool
Try keeping shades and blinds closed during the hot part of the day, and leave most lights off, using only the ones you need at the moment. The sun and electric lighting can both add pretty significant amounts of heat to a room. Keep in mind that heat rises. That means that if you're up really early in the morning you can open upstairs and downstairs windows to let the cool air rush in and the hot air rush out. Close them just as soon as it starts to warm up, however, and just leave the upper windows open. That way, upstairs rooms don't turn into a muggy sauna.
Also consider when you do the laundry. Make sure that you run your washer during the early morning and put your clothes outside on the line to dry. (Check the weather forecast first!) You may also choose to run your clothes at night. There is a lot of heat created when you run your washer and dryer, and you'll get charged less for using major appliances at night, which will save you cash in the long run.
Cool as little space as you can. Air circulation is a good thing, but in a house that's not designed for it, you can't get a breeze going through the house. In this case, shut the doors and spend most of your time in one room, running a fan or air conditioner only there. There's less space to cool, and less energy expended in doing it. Don't mess with the AC, either. Leave it at the same setting consistently, and don't turn it on and off. That'll cool things the most efficiently. Even if you have an air conditioner running, use your ceiling or floor fans, too. They use a remarkably small amount of energy, and are a big help in keeping things cool.
Remember that you should go outside. It varies by the day, but going outside and getting some fresh air is good for you. Also remember that you can take cool showers, eat meals that don't require cooking and drink a lot of water. Stick the shade when you go out because this will make you much less likely to overheat. Getting outside and getting acclimatized to the heat will make you much happier for the AC that you do have!
Conserving energy and using less electricity has long been a focus for people who want to save the environment, and it's definitely good for the world around us, but it's also good for our wallets. After all, the less power you use, the less you have to pay for. In the summer time, bills can soar due to air conditioning use, but a few simple things can help you reduce the cost of staying cool
Try keeping shades and blinds closed during the hot part of the day, and leave most lights off, using only the ones you need at the moment. The sun and electric lighting can both add pretty significant amounts of heat to a room. Keep in mind that heat rises. That means that if you're up really early in the morning you can open upstairs and downstairs windows to let the cool air rush in and the hot air rush out. Close them just as soon as it starts to warm up, however, and just leave the upper windows open. That way, upstairs rooms don't turn into a muggy sauna.
Also consider when you do the laundry. Make sure that you run your washer during the early morning and put your clothes outside on the line to dry. (Check the weather forecast first!) You may also choose to run your clothes at night. There is a lot of heat created when you run your washer and dryer, and you'll get charged less for using major appliances at night, which will save you cash in the long run.
Cool as little space as you can. Air circulation is a good thing, but in a house that's not designed for it, you can't get a breeze going through the house. In this case, shut the doors and spend most of your time in one room, running a fan or air conditioner only there. There's less space to cool, and less energy expended in doing it. Don't mess with the AC, either. Leave it at the same setting consistently, and don't turn it on and off. That'll cool things the most efficiently. Even if you have an air conditioner running, use your ceiling or floor fans, too. They use a remarkably small amount of energy, and are a big help in keeping things cool.
Remember that you should go outside. It varies by the day, but going outside and getting some fresh air is good for you. Also remember that you can take cool showers, eat meals that don't require cooking and drink a lot of water. Stick the shade when you go out because this will make you much less likely to overheat. Getting outside and getting acclimatized to the heat will make you much happier for the AC that you do have!
About the Author:
About the author: Jerry Dyess has been involved in the Texas Electricity market segment for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Texas Electric rates.
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