Groundhog Day: Save Energy with These Tips | Electricity Company in Texas

Are we expecting an early spring or six more weeks of winter? That’s up to Punxsutawney Phil to decide.

Whether the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2nd or not, following these energy saving tips will help you get into the habit of saving energy and money as the winter season lingers or spring starts.

Take shorter showers

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating may be responsible for 17 percent of your yearly utility bill. Using hot water for your shower is a big energy waster. Although everyone loves a long, leisurely shower in the morning, you can save energy by limiting your shower to no more than 5 minutes. You can also make your shower a little cooler if you want to save. Bonus: Cold showers can boost circulation and increase alertness!

Switch your washer and dryer settings

Laundry is a chore that is seemingly endless. The good news is, you can take measures to be more energy efficient when washing clothes. Whenever possible, wash your clothes with cold water and use a lower-level water setting when washing small loads. In addition to a timer setting, some dryers now come with a moisture sensor. Use it so as not to over-dry your clothes.

Set and forget your thermostat

Save up to 10 percent annually on your utility bill by adjusting your thermostat back 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 hours per day. It’s best if you use a programmable thermostat that has the ability to adjust your home’s temperature automatically. Program it so that you are not cooling or heating an empty home. You can also manually adjust it before you leave the house.

Let the sunshine in

Open your curtains and blinds on cooler days before you leave your home to let the sun naturally warm up the inside. This will make your heating system work less to keep your home toasty.

Close your curtains and blinds on hot days to keep the sun out. Your cooling system need not work as hard to keep your home cool.

Use a power strip

Having power strips in your home is an easy way to be more energy efficient while saving money.  Using a power strip will be very useful for saving energy, especially on some older electronic devices. These older devices continue to consume energy even when in sleep mode. Simply turn off the power strip when not in use, especially when you leave the house or go to bed to save energy.

Make Groundhog Day an energy efficient one by learning new energy saving tips and keeping more money in your pocket!

Sources:

“EIA’s upcoming Residential Energy Consumption Survey will collect data from all 50 states,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/

“Thermostat Operation,” U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats

“Save Energy in Your Household With A Smart Power Strip,” U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/save-energy-your-household-smart-power-strip