How to Lower Your Texas Energy Bill
Worried about which one of your household appliances uses the most energy? Before you rush out to buy new, energy-efficient ones, keep in mind that there are ways to lower your Texas energy bills by optimizing the ones you currently own. Here are the 5 appliances that use the most energy in your home and tips on how you can improve their efficiency so you can save on your monthly electricity bill.
These 5 Appliances Use the Most Energy in Your Home:
- HVAC (Heating/Cooling)
- Water Heater
- Washer & Dryer
- Refrigerator/Freezer
- Electric Oven/Stove Top
1. HVAC
Space heating and cooling account for 51% of energy use in the average home. But, you don’t rush to upgrade your HVAC system right away. There are several steps you can take to reduce how much energy your HVAC systems requires.
Start with making sure you have a smart thermostat. These make it easy to keep your house at the optimal temperature without excessive cost. And if you don’t have one, you can sign up for a smart thermostat energy plan. These plans provide free smart thermometers when you sign a contract.
Next, you’ll want to make sure your HVAC system runs efficiently. Replace furnace air filters every three months, or monthly if you smoke or have pets. A clogged air filter and sharply reduce your HVAC systems efficiency. Be sure to check for leaks in your ducts. Also, take advantage of sunlight. Leave your curtains open to let light and heat in during the day. And close them when it’s hot outside to keep your home cooler.
2. Water Heater
Roughly 18% of your home’s energy use goes to heating water. But you don’t need to run out and buy a solar water heater to save money on your energy bills. Instead, try changing habits. Choose taking shorter showers over baths. And set your water heater temperature to 120°F. Keep in mind that for every 10°F lower, you can expect roughly 3% – 5% more savings on the cost of heating your water.
3. Washer/Dryer
Your washer and dryer use a lot of energy, especially if you use it often during the week. For your washing machine, most detergents are now formulated for cold water so it’s now okay to take advantage of cold water to help reduce electricity use. And when you use the dryer, make sure you clean the lint filter and don’t overload it. Also, take advantage of windy, warm days by air-drying your clothes outside.
Keep your energy plan in mind when using these appliances as well. If you have free nights electricity in Texas, you’ll get the most out of that plan by saving these chores for those times.
4. Refrigerator/Freezer
Replacing an older fridge with a new one can save you $300 over 5 years. But, before you rush off to buy a new refrigerator, there are some ways to help reduce its energy use. Move it out of the garage and into a cool place with a stable temperature. Also, once a year, clean the condenser coils in the back to help with air flow. Also clean the door seals to prevent mold growth and check for leaks.
Habits go a long way in reducing energy use. So, minimize the number of times you open the fridge by grabbing everything in one go. And let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator. Finally, set it to the optimal temperature, between 36 – 38 degrees, to save even more electricity.
5. Electric Oven/Stove-Top
Cooking heats up your monthly energy bills. The trick to savings? Use the right pots and pans when you cook. Flat bottomed pans work more efficiently when they’re in full contact with heating elements. Don’t cover oven racks with foil as this can restrict airflow and us high-quality cookware (bad pans waste heat). Also, consider cooking more food in one go, and only open the oven to put in and take out food.
When cooking, you should also consider whether or not a microwave or toaster oven would be a better alternative. Both are smaller and use less electricity than your oven.
Pro tip: balance cooking with heating your home. Cooking tends to heat up your kitchen. During these times, you can lower your thermostat and let the action in the kitchen heat up your home.
Save Even More By Switching to a New Electricity Provider
Making sure your appliances use less electricity is only the first half of saving big on your energy bills. To get the cheapest electric rates in Texas, you need to find the best energy plan for your household. The best way to do that is to compare providers when you shop for a new electricity plan.
With the power to choose, you can shop for and switching to a cheaper plan in Texas. With over 100 plans to choose from, it’s possible to pick the wrong plan and miss out on the cheapest electricity rates. That’s why you should visit www.texaselectricityratings.com for more information on how to shop, compare, and eventually switch to the best electricity plan for your Texas home.