The Summer Sun is Coming.
Here Are the Best Ways to Keep
High Energy Use at Bay.
by
SETH ROSSER
With hot summer temperatures around the corner, being energy conscious and breaking bad habits can reduce energy consumption and save energy dollars. As temperatures begin the ascent to triple digits, members across United’s service territory may struggle to stay comfortable within their homes. However, there are many ways to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort in the home this summer.
Overall, the Texas summer heat presents a challenge to United members trying to use as little electricity as possible. Taking a holistic approach to fight the heat will allow for not only a more comfortable home in the summer, but also a lower electric bill as well. As with any energy-efficiency measure, please feel free to contact one of United’s trusted energy advisors with questions, or to sign up for a free home energy audit here that will specifically identify weaknesses that a home may present.
Quick Facts on Hot Spells
On average, the hottest months in Texas are July and August. The larger the gap between outdoor temperatures and indoor temperatures, the harder an AC unit has to work to keep a home’s interior cool. This can lead to sticker shock when these summer energy bills arrive.
Heating and cooling accounts for the largest portion of a home’s energy usage. More than half of a home’s energy is consumed by space conditioning. A considerable amount of power is consumed in the summer. The hotter it is outside, the more people stay inside to seek refuge from these higher temperatures. Humidity also plays a role in summertime discomfort. Reduce the humidity in the home by using a dehumidifier, turning on your ventilation fans while showering and maintaining outdoor water drainage.
The Less Used, The More Saved
While the Texas heat can seem relentless, there are a few simple and cost-effective tricks that can reduce energy use this summer. Give these a try and watch usage drop.
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United recommends setting the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher in the summer. Each degree that is deviated from this recommendation equates to about a 5 percent increase on a monthly electric bill. Additionally, make sure the thermostat is set a few degrees warmer if the home is unoccupied during the day.
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Fans are inexpensive to operate and can help you feel cooler allowing you to raise the temperature a degree or two. Always remember that fans cool people, not homes. So, be sure to only use fans in areas of the home where people are.
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Make sure to change your HVAC filters regularly. This will reduce the wear and tear on the system and lower the run times of the unit, decreasing energy usage and increasing the life of the system. Don’t forget that members can get HVAC filters at steep discounts.
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Having an HVAC tune-up performed by a licensed contractor will ensure the AC system is running at its utmost efficiency. A tune-up may also identify potential issues with the AC and give plenty of warning before a costly repair. United also offers up to $100 per HVAC system, per year, as a rebate to our members. To learn more, please visit our rebate page.
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Taking the appropriate steps to seal around windows and doors will reduce both the runtime of the AC as well as the electrical bill. Caulking around the interior and exterior of windows can slow the exchange of hot air into the home’s conditioned interior. In addition, replace old, cracked, or missing weather stripping on all exterior doors and attic entrances within the home.
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Installing solar screens over any window that receives direct sunlight can reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed into the home. Solar screens can block up to 90 percent of the heat before hitting the first pane of glass. There’s a rebate for that, too! To learn more, please visit our rebate page.
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Another commonly overlooked power consumer outside the home is a pool pump. United recommends members run their pool pumps for one hour for every 10 degrees of the outside temperature. This means that in the summer, pools should optimally run 9-10 hours per day to maintain a clean pool without over-paying on the electric bill. If less runtime is required to keep the pool clean, then this will only increase the savings seen on summer electric bills.
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Heat produced by various appliances in the home will cause an AC to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. This includes the oven/stove, dishwasher, clothes dryer and even lights. Only use these appliances when necessary, as the radiant heat these give off will cause a home to become warmer.
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Replace old lights with LEDs. Not only do new LEDs require less power to operate, they do not emit as much heat as older incandescent light bulbs.
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Fireplace flue dampers should be kept tightly closed when not in use. These will not be used for a while, so we recommend checking to make sure they were shut after their last use.
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Having a good blanket of insulation over your home in the attic will pay dividends for years to come. United recommends an attic insulation R-value of 38. This R-value can be achieved by installing any of the following insulation amounts: 17 inches of blown fiberglass, 10 inches of blown cellulose, (2) 6 inch fiberglass batts, or approximately 5.5 inches of spray foam. United does offer rebates for added insulation. Another great reason to visit the rebate page. To get qualified, request a free home energy audit today.
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Water heaters may not need to be set as high as the cooler months. United recommends setting the water heaters at 125 degrees or lower to minimize the standby losses and runtime of the water heater. Approximately 16 percent of a home’s electrical usage is consumed by the water heater.
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A home’s attic should be well ventilated to the outside to decrease the heat transfer into the home. If the attic is not well ventilated the heat will build up to dangerous levels and play havoc on the HVAC system and ductwork. The attics ventilation should be properly designed with intake and exhaust vents. Request a free home energy audit today to have the ventilation of the attic checked.
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Having sealed ductwork in the attic is very important. Mastic needs to be applied to all duct connections to ensure that the conditioned air within the ducting is not escaping to unconditioned areas. Mastic where the ductwork meets the plenums (both supply and return plenums), any joins in the ducting, and where the ductwork meets the supply registers.
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Insulating and weather-striping attic entrances that are located within conditioned areas will decrease the amount of heat and air that is able to transfer through these corridors. It is common for these access corridors to be covered with thin sheets of plywood or sheetrock, both of which possess poor insulation values and air sealing qualities.
Request a free home energy audit today by one of United’s trusted energy advisors to identify any weaknesses or opportunities to save.