Purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner or picking up some energy-efficient light bulbs will definitely help lower your energy bills. However, you are not saving as much energy as you could be unless you have a comprehensive energy savings plan.

General

The easiest way to increase your energy savings is to properly insulate your walls, attic, floor and crawl space. Insulation should have a high R-value, which is the thermal resistance rating, especially here in Texas where temperatures get so high.

Seal all holes, cracks, windows and doors. You pay good money to get that air to a comfortable temperature; don’t let that money slip away.

Central Air and Heat

Energy Star-approved cooling and heating equipment is usually more than 20 percent more efficient than other units. You can make that number even higher by using a programmable thermostat that is set to your specific schedule. Even if the thermostat is manual, you can save by setting it a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees cooler in the winter.

Water Heater

Besides heating and cooling systems, water heaters use the most energy in your house. Annual maintenance and draining of the tank is a must. You should also insulate the hot water pipes, set your heater at the right temperature and look into products for drain water heat recovery. Top it off by finding ways to cut your household hot water usage and use hot water during off-peak hours.

Lighting, Appliances and Electronics

These devices take up over 30 percent of the energy used in your house. Make a conscious effort to change your behaviors in order to save power. Purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs and turning off your computer when it is not being used can help significantly. More importantly, upgrade to Energy Star-approved appliances and electronics, which will pay for themselves in the form of energy savings.

Ben Maines Air Conditioning has been helping households survive the east Texas heat for over 60 years. Contact us todayso we can help you lay out a specifically-tailored, comprehensive plan to increase your energy savings and you can start saving money today!

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy savings plans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Ben Maines Air Conditioning services the Greater East Texas area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!      

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