Houston—
Saving money and energy during the summer can be easy. Make a simple switch from traditional light bulbs to the increasingly popular CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps). This will help save about 75% less energy than the traditional light bulbs. They actually last seven to ten years longer, and they can save you about 50 dollars per the year of the light bulb. CFL's only cost about a dollar more.When leaving your home, it is not a good idea to turn off your air conditioner. It actually makes the A/C work twice as hard. That is because of the energy it will need to cool you home back down. A good rule of thumb: leave it at 78 degrees when you are at home, and put it up to 80 degrees when you are not home.
And that ceiling fan; just leave it on. It is cheap. Ceiling fans cost about one cent, a penny, to run for about ten hours a day.
Seal doors well. If you can see daylight, you are losing energy, and losing it quick. It is also a good idea to place screens on your window. It lowers temperatures up to ten degrees in your home. Lastly, consider using a power monitor. It actually allows customers to know how much energy they are using at that exact second, that exact minute and how much they have already spent that entire month.
