Energy Conservation Tips & Tricks
While you're at home or on campus, learn how you can conserve energy wherever you go
Usage Texas Energy Demands
Wind Greening Texas
Population Texas will double by 2060 - 25 million more people
Set Thermostats to Conserve
To conserve electricity, set home thermostats to 78 - 80 degrees when using air conditioning to help reduce energy demand and to save money. When leaving your home be sure to set your thermostat between 80 - 82 degrees and close all window blinds and curtains to reduce heat transfer into the home.
You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
For more information on how to save costs on your next electricity bill explore these helpful tips from Energy Saver.
Large Appliances
For energy and cost savings, unplug all unused appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, computers, chargers, TV & DVD players, game stations, and other appliances you don't use throughout the day.
When purchasing new appliances look for Energy Star certified products.
Upgrades to the Home
Adding insulation to the attic or crawl space and to exterior walls in conjunction with air sealing will help keep a home warm during colder months and help keep a home cool during warmer months. Increasing a home's insulation is one of the fastest and cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste.
For more information regarding sustainable insulation and green home improvements explore these helpful insights from the GreenHome Institute.
Lights Out
As always, be sure to turn off all lights when leaving a room, apartment, office space and your home. Not only is lighting an empty room a waste of energy, but also a waste of money.
Incandescent lights should be turned off whenever they are not needed, because they are the least efficient type of lighting. 90% of the energy they use is given off as heat, and only about 10% results in light. LEDs are a great alternative, they use a fraction of the energy and produce less heat.
While halogens are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, they use the same technology and are far less efficient than CFLs and LEDs. Therefore, it is best to turn these lights off whenever they are not needed.
Hotter Than a Habanero
Texas + Water
