August 6, 2015 - As we enter August, the hottest month of the year, DETEC would like to remind members to conserve now to save later! In fact, DETEC encourages members to conserve year round.
Hotter or cooler temperatures = higher energy usage, higher energy usage = higher bills. It is important to remember that unlike many of your other needs; electricity is paid for after it is consumed. With this in mind DETEC would like to encourage members to conserve now to avoid higher bills later.
Summer time can be a recipe for high electric bills; temperatures are grueling and for many, kids are home all day. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that 6 percent of Americans’ household energy costs are dedicated to air conditioning alone. While there are many things one can do to reduce energy costs, here are a few tips that are often not thought of and many that are at no-cost:
Don’t overwork your air-conditioning unit.
More people in the house, plus doors hanging open from the last trip to play outside, plus high temperatures, equals an air-conditioning unit that has to work harder to keep the house cool. Be sure to adjust settings to maximize efficiency, such as using the “auto” function instead of keeping the fan running all the time.
Make sure to rearrange your furniture so that appliances that put out a lot of heat aren’t near the thermostat. Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your home by applying caulk or weather-stripping around leaky doors and windows.
Use fans and ventilation strategies to cool your home.
If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Remember during the summer, your fan should be set to spin counterclockwise (clockwise in the winter.)
Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room, fans cool people not rooms by creating a wind chill effect.
When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home. Make sure bathroom and kitchen fans are vented to the outside (not just to the attic.)
Don’t add heat to your home with appliances and lighting if possible during the warmest time of the day.
On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside.
Take advantage of daylight when possible instead of turning on all the lights, but avoid direct sunlight. Install efficient lighting that runs cooler - only about 10% to 15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light—the rest is turned into heat.
Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. Consider air drying both dishes and clothing. Remember these appliances put off heat, try minimizing these activities during the day when temperatures are the hottest, wait until the sun has set to run appliances allowing your air-conditioning unit to work less to cool the home.
Lower your water heating costs. Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).
Avoid ‘phantom’ load.
Get your family in the habit of turning electronics on and off via power strips as they move from one activity to the next. As electronics and appliances become more technologically savvy, they often draw power even while turned off. A good indicator of this—called “phantom load”—is to check the device for a light that stays on all the time. Phantom load will add a few watt-hours to energy consumption, but a few watt-hours on each of your many electronic devices adds up.
High bills are troubling even at the best of times; we understand the frustration and stress a high bill can cause. Member Service representatives are always available to discuss your bill and payment options with you, but in order to assist you as best as possible, please call the office immediately, should you realize that you may need to make payment arrangements prior to your bill due date.
For questions about your bill or if you are having difficulty making a payment,
call and discuss it with one of Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative’s Member Service Representatives.
Local: 936-229-4000
Toll-Free: 1-866-392-2547
