Texas is a southern state that enjoys a great deal of intense sunshine throughout the year. If you live in the state, you may be concerned about the rising cost of energy. What you may not know is that there are many ways of minimizing your energy consumption and reducing your energy bills. Read on to learn more about energy saving in Texas.
Energy Saving Tips
i) Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
It is important to note that old appliances consume more energy than new appliances. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including wear and tear due to old age and obsolete technologies. Whether you’re talking about air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators or cooking stoves, you should consider purchasing new appliances that use state of the art technologies, which are known to be more efficient. Be sure to also replace fluorescent and incandescent lamps around the house with LED lights as they consume less energy.
ii) Install Solar Systems
A solar hot water heater can save you a lot of money by significantly reducing your domestic water heating bills. The system works by harnessing the sun’s energy and using it to heat water. Be sure to also install a PV power system to meet your domestic electricity needs. The energy savings you can make from these solar power systems can offset the cost of installation in just a few years. After that, you will enjoy free hot water and electrical energy for many decades to come.
iii) Turn Off Appliances
When you leave a room, be sure to turn off the lights. This simple habit can save you hundreds of dollars in a year. Be sure to also turn off appliances, such as the TV and home theater from the socket wall. This is because most appliances normally consume energy, known as standby power, when they are not turned off from the socket.
iv) Zone Air Conditioning and Heating
A zoned HVAC system is highly efficient. After all, it makes it possible for you to heat only the rooms you are using. You may have six bedrooms in the house, but you are currently only using two of them. There would be no need of heating or cooling the other four rooms. Zoned AC and heating will make this possible. Having a zoned HVAC system will save you a lot of money over time, so consider hiring a competent HVAC contractor to design and install the system, or carry out modifications on your existing systems. Another measure to save you money is to wash a full load of clothes every time, instead of washing smaller loads frequently.