With the first week of solid 90s + my AC is running longer an higher throughout the day. I personally like the warm climate and keep my thermostat around 80F.
With the City of Austin passing Ordinance No. 20081106-047 requiring homes, 10 years and older, with Austin Energy service, to complete an energy audit before closing a property and everybody's electricity bill rising, I think it is time for us to look at some small and simple changes that can make a difference in our energy consumption.
The City of Austin provides an Austin Energy Analysis tool which can be accessed at this URL: http://tinyurl.com/5r2l8p
Seal doors and windows:
Hot or cold air creeps in through cracks on our doors and windows. Some sources estimate that that about 35% of our energy is lost just through cracks. A energy audit profession said to me that if you add up all the cracks and openings in your house it is usually as large as a full door or even French doors standing open all day long. That is a lot of wasted energy and money.
To prevent or improve this:
- Go with a candle around windows and doors on a windy day to find out where drafts are.
- Remove old and damaged caulk and weather stripping.
- Window shades, blinds and shutters can also help.
- If your home is older replacing windows might be the way to go. Check with your window specialist on that.
- When you are purchasing a home, especially here in Texas and you are conscious about its energy consumption, check with the seller on their energy bills and make sure you don't have huge south facing windows that are not protected from direct sun light.
- Seal and insulate your AC ducts. With our ducts sitting in the hot attic, the AC has a lot of work just cooling down the hot air in the ducts to the temperature you desire. Insulating the ducts can reduce the temperature of air in the ducts. Sealing will reduce the loss of cold circulating air in the attic.
Appliances: 
- Electric cooktops drain energy! If you use an electric cooktop, make sure that your pan has the right size for the burner and that you use flat bottom pans for best contact with the heating element.
- This is really a no brainer, but I see it frequently. Shut refrigerator and freezer as fast as possible, don't stand in front of it with both doors open starring at the food thinking what you want to eat. It is not good for the food and consumes lots of energy.
- Exhaust fans can help pulling humid, hot air out of kitchen and bathrooms.
Thermostats
- A programmable thermostat can help you safe a significant amount of energy. Setting it to no lower than 78F will reduce your energy bill.
- Also consider, when your family is not in the house to set the thermostat even higher than that and only cool the house to 78F when you are at home. The AC running while nobody is home wastes energy.
Fireplace
- I found this tip somewhere online, and have honestly not thought about it before but it makes sense to me.
- Unsealed fireplaces are another factor that will increase your electricity bill. If you don't use your fireplace, consider sealing it. Make sure you talk to a specialist in this field.
I hope some of these tips are helpful.
Stay cool!
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Iliane
Texas Capital Real Estate
www.TexasCapitalRealEstate.com
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