WAYS TO CONSERVE ENERGY

All of us here at Texas Power want to show you ways to conserve energy. One way to save on your electricity bill is not the energy we use but it is the energy we waste.

Here are some tips to help save energy:

Lighting

• Turn lights off when you leave a room.
• Use a timer or motion detector for outdoor lighting to turn it off when not needed.
• Keep your light fixtures clean.
• Fluorescent bulbs last 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity.

COOLING

• Check your air filter once a month by holding it up to a bright light. If you can't see through it, it's time to clean or replace the filter.
• Use ceiling fans rather than the air conditioner when possible.
• Close curtains and blinds to help keep the sun out in the summer.
• Make sure there are no cracks around doors and windows.
• Avoid cooling rooms that are not occupied.
• Improving attic ventilation and insulation can lower the temperature of your home during hot summer days. Also consider installing an attic fan to dispense hot air.
• Raising the thermostat to 78 degrees can save on cooling costs.
• Awnings, trees and large shrubs near windows all help to block out the heat from your home.
• Avoid opening and closing doors. Heat enters and the cold air escapes.

HEATING

• Open curtains and blinds to let the sun warm your home in the winter.
• Keep drapes closed at night to keep warm air indoors.
• Check your air filter once a month. Replace dirty filters regularly.
• Ensure that your home has proper insulation in walls, ceilings and floors.
• Storm windows and doors prevent warm air from escaping.
• Keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use.
• Keep your thermostat at the lowest temperature comfortable for you.
• Avoid opening and closing doors. Cold air enters and the heated air escapes.

Kitchen

• Use your microwave when possible to heat food rather than your stove or oven.
• Make sure your oven door and refrigerator doors seal when closed.
• Make sure you turn off your oven and stove top after cooking.
• Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard.
• Cooking with a lid on your pan, keeps the heat inside and speeds up cooking time.
• Use a toaster oven to cook small items.
• Avoid opening the oven door while cooking. It lowers the oven temperature.
• Avoid running the dishwasher until it is full.
• Open the dishwasher after the rinse cycle and let your dishes air dry instead of using the heated drying cycle.
• Check your refrigerator door seal to ensure that the door does not leak cold air.
• Clean refrigerator condenser coils in the back and bottom to increase efficiency.
• Be careful not to block the freezer fan that allows cold air to circulate.
• Refrigerator temperature should be 36-38 degrees.
• Refrigerator freezer temperature should be 0-5 degrees.
• If possible, locate your refrigerator away from heating vents.

Water Usage

• Insulate your water heater and hot water pipes.
• Lower your water heater temperature. 110 to 120 degrees is sufficient.
• Use a “flow control” device on your showerheads and sink faucets to regulate hot water usage.

Laundry

• Avoid washing clothes until you have a full load.
• Use a cold water detergent. The temperature of the water used during the rinse cycle will not make your clothes any cleaner.
• Dry laundry loads one immediately after the other to use left over heat efficiently.
• By reducing drying time, you can save energy and extend the life of your fabrics.
• Moisture sensing dryers shut off automatically when your clothes are dry.
• Clean out the dryer lint filter often to ensure proper air flow and shorter dry times.

Other useful tips

• Turn your computer off at night.
• If you have a pool, set the pump to the minimum time required for the time of year. You do not need to run the pump as long in the winter as you do in the summer.
• Consider a solar heater for your pool.
• Turn off the hot tub when not in use.
• Unplug cell phones, cameras, lap tops, etc. when charged.