Saving energy is one of the easiest ways to curb household expenses. Everyone likes to save money and minimizing utility bills is one of the easiest ways, but many of us lack the information to be efficient and conserving. Here are some easy tips to lower your electricity bill. If you live in Plano the climate is unique and these are fairly common, yet little known, tips that just about any Plano electrician professional should be able to give you.

Light and appliances turned OFF!

The simplest way to save energy is to remember to turn off lights as you leave the room. With lighting, compact fluorescent light bulbs are the best at conserving energy, as they use 75 % less energy than an average light bulb. The same goes for all appliances, simply turn off a device, which is not in use and significantly lower your bills. In the Plano market, there are now low cost devices available from electricians and electrical supply stores, that can sense when a light or an appliance is no longer needed and automatically shut the device off. It can also be set to automatically turn on!

Temperature Comfort 

• Always purchase your heating and cooling machines with an ENERGY STAR® rating, as it was built to save energy.
• Keep your furnace clean, lubricated, and properly maintained with annual maintenance from professionals; you could consult an electrician in the Fort Worth area for quotes on maintenance contracts.  If your furnace is working at peak efficiency, it will use less energy and this offsets the cost of maintenance. Proper professional maintenance can save you money.
• Change your air conditioning filters after every 1-3 months, depending on usage and the changing Plano weather. Dirty or clogged filters cause air conditioners to use more energy.
• Don’t switch off the air conditioning when you are out of the room or the house just for a short time. As the room warms up and starts to match the outside temperature, it will use more energy to cool the room back down than if you had maintained a level temperature and let the thermostat do its job.
• Install a programmable thermostat, which helps to maintain an energy efficient temperature for your house according to your own comfort level.
• Use ceiling fans as opposed to air conditioning when the temperature outside is moderate as they significantly make the room cooler at fraction of the cost.

Laundry and cleaning 

• Use a front loading washing machine with a full load in cold water, as 85-90 % consumption of energy happens in heating the water while washing.
• Use the dishhwasher only with a full load and use the option of air-dry on the ‘energy saver’ setting.

Windows, doorframes, sills and joints

• On a sunny day, open your windows to get natural sun light and allow a breeze to flow through the house.
• Apply a sealant, and plastic covers around windows, door frames, sills and joints to keep cold out in winter and cold in during summer. Also insulate your basement walls.
• Plug in gaps around pipes, vents, ducts, and fans to avoid leakage of conditioned air.

Paying attention to these small things and holding yourself and your family to a certain set of rules until they become a habit can save hundreds of dollars per year on your energy bills.