Currently, ERCOT – the Texas state grid operator – is asking everyone, including homeowners and businesses, to voluntarily cut back on their energy usage. With temperatures soaring and peak demand at record highs, the grid is under strain – and although there are currently no rolling blackouts expected, this may change at any time. Here are some energy saving tips and ways that you can save energy at home this summer, from our cash for homes agency in Dallas. What’s more, your wallet will thank you too!
#1 – Turn up your thermostat
If you’re not at home through the weekday, turn your thermostat up to a higher setting. This can save you about 10% in energy costs! A great investment is a smart thermostat, which you can program to automatically increase the temperature in your home when you’re out, and then lower it before you get home. You don’t have to let your home get too warm either (or your air conditioner will have to use a lot of energy to get it cool again). Just 78 degrees is perfect.
#2 – Cook outside
Is there ever a bad reason to have a BBQ? Cooking appliances add an impressive amount of heat to your home, which means your air conditioning system has to draw a lot more energy to keep it cool while you cook. Instead, opt for evening BBQs outside. Ovens are very high energy users, so you can also choose to use an air fryer, microwave, or crock pot to get the same meal but use far less energy to do it! And if you don’t feel like a BBQ, choose low energy dishes like salads, cold pasta dishes, sandwiches, and wraps. You can also cook in low-demand hours of the day and quickly reheat it later for your meal.
#3 – Seal your home
When the air conditioner is running, it will have to consume a lot more energy to keep your home cool if the cool air is leaking out constantly. If you want to know how to save energy at home, it doesn’t mean no air conditioning! Take a weekend to caulk air leaks around windows, seal cracks, and seal external doors with draft excluders. You can also call in professionals to seal and insulate your HVAC system’s ducts, as leaks here can cause a massive 30% loss of cooling. This will also help your home stay warmer in winter!
#4 – Cut down on pool pump hours and times
A pool pump can use up to 2,500 KWh of energy each year, making it one of the biggest energy users in the home and costing $270 per year! But you can still enjoy your pool and make it more energy friendly. Start by running your pool pump for the minimum number of hours, and plan this for outside of high demand hours (the best time would be late at night). One of our best energy saving tips is to run your pool pump for just 3 hours a day to maintain water quality, regularly clean the filter, and use a net or cover to actively reduce debris in the pool.
#5 – Hang your laundry to dry
Using a clothesline to dry your laundry is another easy way to reduce energy consumption and is a great way to save energy at home. And with the hot weather, there’s no better time to use your clothesline! The best spot for a clothesline is in a breezy, shaded spot (this won’t bleach your clothes). Shake each item well before you hang it to reduce wrinkles, and use a vinyl coated line for strength and easy hanging. When you take your clothes off the line, fold them right away so you have minimal ironing too!
#6 – Skip the drying setting on your dishwasher
If you want to know how to save energy at home, then use your dishwasher! Using your dishwasher is the most energy and water efficient way of cleaning pots, cutlery, and crockery, but skipping the heat drying phase will make this even more efficient. De-select it or use a program that has no heat drying, and simply open your dishwasher and leave your items to dry naturally.
#7 – Shade the sunniest side of your home
Natural sunlight is a great way to light your home without using electricity and is one of the best energy saving tips for your home, but it can create heat traps that will drive your home energy usage up. If you’re not at home or not using these spaces during the day, close the blinds and curtains to help keep them cool. You can also plant native and water-wise, sun loving shrubs outside to help filter the light. We love juniper, American beautyberry, bellflower clematis, butterfly milkweed, Indian paintbrush, and evening primrose.
We home you enjoyed these tips on how to save energy at home! By following these energy saving tips, you can not only help reduce strain on the Texas grid, but your wallet will thank you too.
Interested in selling your home quickly? Our Dallas cash home buyers are ready to buy!
When you want to sell your house quickly without spending more money on it or paying real estate agent fees, there’s no one better than Shiny Key Properties! Our Dallas cash home buyers purchase houses in any condition, at any time of year, from well-kept family properties to teardowns. If you want to sell your property as is without having to look for a buyer, deal with a real estate agent and pay their commission, or even empty the property, then the best option is to sell directly to our cash for homes agency. We price your property according to the market, so you get a fair deal in record time!
We will buy your property fast, putting a lump sum into your account in a matter of days. Here’s how our process works:
- You enter your information on our website. We’ll contact you directly to discuss an offer for your property (you can also get a free property evaluation from our website)
- You can accept or reject the FREE NO-OBLIGATION offer
- Cash will be deposited into your bank account – with no real estate agent fees or realtor fees
- We can handle all aspects of the process, including clearing out the property
- You can also call us directly on 469-858-0088
That’s all there is to it!
Our team is compassionate and highly motivated to offer you the best possible market-related price for your house, so you can sell your property fast. Not only does this cash go straight into your bank account as soon as the sale goes through, but you also pay no real estate agent fees or commission.