Give your energy bill a break when you get away.
Summer is the time when many of us pack up and head out on vacation. But even when you're away from home, your appliances and electronic equipment can continue to gobble up electricity—whether they're being used or not. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to save on energy use and costs while you're away, so you don't come home to a surprising energy bill.
Here are a few simple steps to help take your mind off your electric bill while you're on vacation:
1. Turn Your Air Conditioner Up or Off.
When you are away for just four or more hours, you can save a considerable amount of energy and money. Consider turning your air conditioner above 85 degrees and keep the shades and curtains drawn to keep your home cooler.
2. Put Your Lights on Timers.
Instead of leaving your porch lights on while you're away, put your outside and indoor lighting on a timer. This not only reduces energy usage, but also acts as a security measure, making it appear as if someone is in the house. Also, be sure to use compact fluorescent bulbs. Inside, you could save up to 75 percent in lighting energy use. And if you have outdoor security lighting—where each floodlamp can use as much as 30 kWh a month—connect them to a timer, photocell control or motion sensor for additional energy savings.
3. Use a Programmable Thermostat.
TXU Energy is offering a new Web-enabled, programmable iThermostat™ that you can control from anywhere. Set it to turn on at 78°F one hour before you return home from your trip, and you'll have a comfortable temperature when you arrive home. Sign up today.
4. Turn Off Your Electric Water Heater.
Probably one of the biggest culprits in the vacation energy-use is your water heater. Sitting home alone, a water heater can turn on up to five times a day to maintain its current temperature setting! Turn down the setting to as low as possible to reduce this "standby" heat loss while you're away. To turn off your electric water heater just switch it off from the circuit breaker box. It will only take about an hour to reheat once it's turned back on.
5. Check Your Fridge.
A refrigerator can be one of the biggest energy-wasters while you're away. If you'll be gone for several weeks, empty out the food and unplug it. If that's not practical, get rid of easily spoiled items like milk and yogurt, and turn up the thermostat a notch or two. You can raise the internal temperature up to 38 degrees and still keep your food safe.
6. Change or Wash Air Conditioner Filter.
Change or wash your air conditioner filter once a month to keep your system running efficiently and help save energy.
7. Adjust Swimming Pools and Spas.
Turn heaters off. Reduce filtering time to a minimum. Pool maintenance companies recommend a minimum of 4 - 6 hours a day in summer and 2 - 4 hours a day in winter. Reduce pool circulation time to the minimum necessary to keep your pool clean. And if you are leaving for an extended period of time, cover the pool to save water.
8. Unplug Radios, Stereos, Clocks and Instant-on TV's.
A phantom load, sometimes referred to as "standby power," is electricity consumed by electronic devices even when turned off, such as TVs, phone chargers, DVDs, even coffeemakers with clocks and timers. Unplug your electronics when you're away from home for an extended period of time. Unplugging devices also protects them from damage in the event of a lightning strike.
9. Don't Forget Your Waterbed.
A waterbed in your home is so quiet, you may never think about all the electricity it uses! If you'll be gone a few days, lower the temperature setting 10 degrees or so and cover it with a couple of extra quilts or comforters for insulation.
10. Check Your Meter.
Before leaving town, write down your electric meter reading and then re-check it when you return so you'll know how many kilowatt-hours were used. Remember, you'll probably have a lot of laundry to do when you come home. This laundry will give your electric water heater a workout. Even if you give your electric meter a vacation, it may work overtime when you return. Click here for help reading your meter.
NOTE: If you're going to be gone for an extended vacation, sign up for the TXU Energy E-Bill program to automatically have your TXU Energy bills paid by your bank account, credit card or debit card.