Super Cheap Electricity Blog

It’s very important to keep appliances and electronics in the best working order possible. This is where maintenance instructions come into play.

Make sure you don’t forget by creating a maintenance calendar. Create a yearly calendar complete with filter changes, oil changes for the car and past maintenance needs. Most filters need changed on a relatively short periodic basis. Some filters need cleaned on a monthly basis and others may last 3-4 months, but in every case, a dirty filter will use more energy and cost you more money in the long run. (more…)

It seems everyone understands how limited natural resources could get and how our wastefulness can put future generations at risk. This is great news for the cost-conscious energy consumer because this means that resources are available. (more…)

For any home owner, there eventually comes a time when some structural work has to be done. During this re-modeling, no matter how small it could be, take the chance to evaluate ways to reduce energy usage and make some changes to help make your house more efficient in the future. (more…)

If you plan to replace windows in the near future, or add new ones to a future home addition, then use Energy Star qualified, Low Emissive (Low-E) windows. They could reduce your energy bill as much as 15%. (more…)

One notorious energy burners are light bulbs. Unless you’re Amish, you need to turn lights on for work and family time at least once per day. However, accidentally leaving lights on or using the wrong wattage can significantly increase your energy usage, which then significantly increases your energy costs. Especially in this day and age of concerns over a recession, every little bit helps. Let’s discuss a few of these ideas. (more…)

It’s funny to think that you can save on your electric bills by actually going out and spending money. However, when considering the return on investment over a period of time, sometimes spending money now can provide higher returns in the future. Some of the ways you can accomplish this include:

Replace old appliances! If your appliance is more than 10 years old, chances are that the appliance is nearly as energy efficient as newer appliances are. Some of the worst offenders are refrigerators and washers and dryers. If purchasing a new appliance is going to be a big strain on your budget, check out the sales and clearance specials. With the economy as tight as it is, many shops are heavily discounting larger purchases in order to keep sales flowing through the stores. Keep your eyes open and check out the clearance flyers.

Change light bulbs. These new compact fluorescent bulbs are awesome! There have been numerous studies showing the ROI (return on investment) from replacing older standard light bulbs. They are pricier than the older standard bulbs, but you don’t have to replace all the bulbs at the same time. The next time you purchase light bulbs, replace just one bulb at as time and you will start to see results in your energy bill. If the bulbs are too big to fit in your socket, don’t be discouraged – look for an adapter as well.

Purchase timers. Kids are notorious for forgetting to turn off TV’s, radios, lights and more. Some adults are as well. If you sometimes forget, buy a timer. Set televisions and lights to automatically turn off at bedtime. Another option is to set the time for shortly after everyone leaves the house to go to work or school. Don’t leave any chance that electronics can stay on for any length of time when no one is using it. (more…)

“Wall Warts” are all of those external power supplies (EPS) at the end of power cords that you get with cell phone chargers, telephones, MP3 players and so on. These things are also often called Energy Vampires because they literally keep sucking power the entire time they are plugged in, albeit at a somewhat reduced rate. (more…)

A wonderful way to improve your home is to introduce more natural light. Natural daylight increases happiness and helps improve mental performance. However in warm to hot climates sunlight can heat your home, increasing the load on your air conditioning system. A comparatively recent innovation is tubular skylights, which can be added very easily to an existing home. Smaller ones can often be installed for as little as $450.

The benefit of tubular skylights is to bring in natural light without the heat gain that you get from electric light fixtures - heat that you then have to pay to get rid of through air conditioning. Flat skylights are comparatively poor performers because they allow so much heat into the home in summer when the sun is high above. Then, in winter, heat that you want to keep in your home rises straight up and out. Tubular skylights also have the advantage of being easily installed in more places, and more cheaply than skylights.

Tubular skylights transmit indirect, diffuse sunlight. That reduces any potential UV ray damage to your furniture. It also means a more even light distribution within a room.

There are now quite a wide number of reputable manufacturers of tubular skylights. Look at price and the variety of options available for the diffusion lens, tube diameter, length of the tubes as well as options for in-build electric fixtures. Also consider the roof mounted dome, its strength and the durability of the flashing. You may need to know the pitch of your roof to order the correct flashing mount.

Electricity Texas is a reseller of Texas electricity and generally concerned when it comes to excess electricity usage by providing access to cheap electricity in Texas. The Texas energy company maintains a save electricity blog which provides tips and suggestions about how to save money on your electricity bill.

You can use nature to help improve the performance of your home. Your home’s cooling needs are largely affected by the heat that enters your home. While your home’s heating requirements are driven partly by cold air that leaks into the house. Both can be improved with the use of carefully selected and positioned trees and vines.

The simple strategy is to place deciduous trees or vines on the south side of your house and evergreens on the north side.

On the south side, well placed deciduous trees will shade the house in summer but let sunlight through in winter. And that winter sun can also help warm your home when you need it to. Be careful to let to trees shade as much window area as possible, particularly from midday to late afternoon. Try to consider how the trees will grow over the years. Deciduous vines are another alternative that can give you results sooner. Build a trellis a few feet from the window to support your vines. It can be either vertical or horizontal but make sure the end result will provide shade to the windows.

On the north side of your house you should plant evergreens – either low trees or shrubs to buffer your home from cold north winds. Remember that large trees should not be planted too close to the house as the roots can damage your foundations. Some sources recommend keeping large trees 35 feet away from the house. Keep in mind that the roots will typically spread as wide underground as the branches spread overhead.

Properly sited trees and landscaping could save you up to 30% of your home’s heating and cooling costs. Be sure to select plants that are appropriate to your climate zone. Work with a local gardening professional if you lack any confidence.

Texas electric is a reseller of Texas electricity and generally concerned when it comes to excess electricity usage by providing access to cheap electricity in Texas. The Texas energy company maintains a save electricity blog which provides tips and suggestions about how to save money on your electricity bill.

Most building professionals agree that a well ventilated attic helps to save money on air conditioning. Your attic probably has a ridge vent to allow heat to escape at the top, plus soffit vents at the edge of the roof that allow outside air to enter from below. In many cases natural ventilation is adequate, but for most homes in hotter climates a powered fan is used to increase the air flow and better cool the attic area. This can even help extend the life of your roof tiles.

If you already have powered ventilation then replacing it with a solar attic fan can save you money on your electricity while continuing to cool your attic.

If you don’t have powered ventilation then it’s worth considering a solar powered unit to avoid the power costs and still benefit from the cooling effects.

Beware however that powered ventilation in an attic can, under certain conditions, depressurize your house to some extent. So it’s important to be certain that your attic space is well sealed from the house below. Either ask your builder or inspect it yourself for openings. Most openings will be around where light fixtures are mounted below, and where the interior dividing walls are. Small openings can be caulked. Larger openings should be closed off with rigid foam insulation and caulk.

Can lights are notorious for leaking air into the attic and for adding heat to your home. If the lights are IC (insulation contact) rated you can insulate around them. Best is to build a small box from rigid foam insulation and caulk allowing at least 3 inches around the fixture in every direction. But the bulb should still be replaced with a compact fluorescent to avoid excess heat build up and to save you more energy.

Electricity service is a reseller of Texas electricity and generally concerned when it comes to excess electricity usage by providing access to cheap electricity in Texas. The Texas energy company maintains a save electricity blog which provides tips and suggestions about how to save money on your electricity bill.