Simple energy saving tips

Simple energy saving tips

March 20, 2017
by
Shawn Cornett

Heat and cool your home efficiently

One degree of heat or air conditioning can result in a 6-8% increase in energy use. For example, keeping your home at 74°F in the winter instead of 68°F could increase energy use by 40%!

> The optimal settings are 78°F / 25°C in the summer and 68°F / 20°C in the winter
> Clean or replace air filters
> Install a programmable thermostat
> Consider high efficiency air conditioners and geothermal heat pumps
> Use window shades, blinds or tinted glass to control sun-generated heat
> Have your heat and air conditioning units serviced every year
> Use attic insulation at least 12 inches thick

Easy Energy Savings Tips

> LED bulbs can help you save 75% or more off lighting costs!
> Turn off fans when you leave a room – a running fan will not lower room temperature
> Keep your refrigerator at 38°F / 3°C and the freezer at 5°F / -15°C
> Dust under and behind your refrigerator – clean coils help it run more efficiently
> Clean the lint filter in the dryer before every load
> Clean filters and appliances in accordance with manufacturers instructions

Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs.

> Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to ‘normal’ or 120°F / 48°C when home
> Turn your hot water heater thermostat to ‘vacation’ when away
> Turn off hot water while brushing teeth
> Wash your clothes in cold water

Home Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

If you live in the U.S. and install energy-efficient replacement windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in your home you may be eligible for a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500. See EnergyStar.gov’s Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency for details.

 

Direct Energy Free Nights Review: What the EFL Actually Charges After the Free Window

Direct Energy free nights (Twelve Hour Power) is free 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. As of September 29, 2026, the 12-month EFLs charge 34.5 to 35.4 cents per kWh after the free window. Here is the break-even math.
Read More >>

27 Texas Electricity Plans Got Withdrawn on September 12 Alone. Here Is the Best Time to Renew Your Contract This Fall.

Best time to renew a Texas electricity contract: the fall shoulder window and the 14 days before your end date. 27 plans got pulled Sept 12. Here is the clock.
Read More >>

SmartEnergy Just Launched a $200 Bill Credit Plan on September 3. Here Is How Bill Credit Plans Actually Work in Texas (And When You Lose the Credit)

SmartEnergy launched a $200 bill credit plan on September 3, 2026. Here is how Texas bill credit plans actually work, and the four conditions that forfeit the credit.
Read More >>

No Deposit Light Companies in Texas: What You Actually Qualify For Without a Credit Check

Four legal ways to skip a Texas electricity deposit as of September 2026: soft-check plans, PUCT Rule 25.478 waivers, letters of credit, or prepaid Rule 25.498 plans. What each costs and who qualifies.
Read More >>

Every Ambit Energy Plan Compared for 2026: Rates, Terms, Fees and Who Each One Actually Suits

Compare every Ambit Energy plan in Texas for 2026 side by side: Lone Star Classic 12 and 24, Flex, Free and Clear Nights, Solar Buyback, small business TSC. Rates, fees, terms and who each one actually suits.
Read More >>

Your Oncor Delivery Charge Went Down on August 1. Your Bill Still Went Up $2.73. Here Is Where the Money Went.

Oncor's per-kWh delivery rate dropped on August 1, 2026, but a new PUCT-approved Rider IS surcharge started the same day. Here is the exact math on the $2.73 bill increase.
Read More >>

TXU Free Nights and Weekends vs Ambit Free and Clear Nights: The Break-Even Math on Both Plans

Comparing TXU Free Nights and Weekends vs Ambit Free and Clear Nights: hours, rates, ETFs, and the smart-meter break-even math your bill actually needs.
Read More >>

Should Texans Lock In a Fixed-Rate Electricity Plan This August? Here Is What the Forward Price Curve Says

August 2026 fixed vs variable Texas electricity rates. What the ERCOT forward curve says about winter 2026-2027 and a five-filter lock-in decision framework.
Read More >>

Commercial Electricity Rates in Texas Are Repricing Right Now. A Small Business Renewal Guide for August 2026

Texas commercial electricity rates average 5.98 to 8.35 cents per kWh in August 2026 as TDU charges reset. Here is when to lock and what to compare on renewal.
Read More >>

Texas Electric Bill Too High After the July Heat Wave? The 4 Assistance Programs That Actually Help in 2026

Four Texas assistance programs will actually pay part of your summer electric bill: CEAP, Texas Utility Help, 2-1-1, and Salvation Army. 2026 eligibility, benefit amounts, and how to apply.
Read More >>

How to Read Your Texas Electricity Facts Label: The 6 Numbers That Actually Tell You What a Plan Will Cost

The 6 numbers on every Texas Electricity Facts Label that decide your bill: average price per kWh, base charge, energy charge, TDU delivery, bill credits, and cancellation fees. Worked math plus a real two-plan comparison.
Read More >>

Same-Day Electricity No Deposit in Texas: How to Turn Power On Today Without a Credit Check

Turn on same-day electricity in Texas with no deposit or credit check. Compare provider cutoffs, PUCT deposit-waiver rules, and the 3-Path Same-Day Framework.
Read More >>

No-Deposit Electricity in Texas: How to Get Power Without a Credit Check

Three legal ways to skip an electricity deposit in Texas: qualify on credit, use a PUCT Rule 25.478 waiver, or enroll in prepaid under Rule 25.498. Costs and how to apply.
Read More >>

Texas Households Are Overpaying $480 a Year on Electricity. Here Are the 5 Plan Tricks to Recognize Before You Sign

A June 2026 Retail Energy Revealed report found Texas households overpaid $4 billion in 2024 (roughly $480 each) on retail electricity. Five plan-design tricks drive the gap. Here are the six numbers on every EFL that catch every one of them.
Read More >>

TDU Delivery Charges Explained: Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP, TNMP Line Items on Your Texas Bill

TDU delivery charges are your Texas utility's pass-through fees. See current 2026 Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP, TNMP rates and how to offset them on your bill.
Read More >>

Best Solar Buyback Plan in Texas 2026: Provider-by-Provider Rate Comparison

A 2026 side-by-side comparison of Texas solar buyback plans by provider, with export credit rates, terms, base fees, and caps for TXU, Green Mountain, Chariot, Gexa, Rhythm, Ambit, Champion, and Think Energy.
Read More >>
1 2 … 16