Megan Navarro
JOHNSON CITY — As the holiday season is in full swing, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) provided some tips on how people can save money on their energy bill.
According to PEC Media Affairs and Communications strategist Kendra Acosta, over the holidays, people are likely doing one of two things: hosting family and friends or traveling to go see them. In each scenario, there are ways to save on their energy bill, including with the HVAC system.
When hosting, before guests arrive, Acosta said PEC recommends lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees lower than the recommended winter setting — which is 68 degrees or lower — because the extra body heat is going to naturally raise a home’s temperature.
“If that's too chilly, maybe that sounds cold for you and your guests ... you could set it at 70 degrees to see how that feels wearing warm layers of clothing or bundling up with blankets,” she noted. “Everyone's idea of comfort is different, so just be sure to find the lowest possible setting that you and your guests can tolerate comfortably.”
After a comfortable temperature is found for the host and guests, Acosta emphasized to not touch the thermostat anymore, but if needed, it can be raised by a couple of degrees at a time, as any more than that can put too much pressure on the HVAC system.
In the case that families are traveling and away from home, the thermostat should also be kept at 68 degrees or lower in the winter and — similar to that of when hosting guests — it can be turned up, gradually, two degrees at a time, back to a comfortable level when they get home.
“You want to check your weather reports, as well, and lower your thermostat while you're away. Texas can be a little bit unpredictable, so check the weather before you set it,” Acosta said. “If you have a smart thermostat and can control it remotely from your phone, that's another great option.”
Acosta also recommended for travelers and guests to have their HVAC system serviced before the winter season, as well as change air filters and ensure that all air vents within the home are open and not obstructed by furniture.
“Those vents need to be free and clear of objects and clean, so that the air can circulate like it's designed to circulate. This keeps your system working as efficiently as possible and not having to work harder,” she explained. “There's a misconception that you should keep your vents closed and that you should close the rooms to doors that you're not using, but you actually want to keep all interior doors open because the idea is to keep air flowing freely. This helps your HVAC system run smoothly and without pressure interruptions … Then, [we are] always going to stress to seal any leaks and you can do that easily with weather stripping or around windows and doors, feeling for cracks and looking for anything that needs to be sealed.”
In the kitchen, when cooking with guests in the house, the thermostat can also be lowered even more, since it’s going to put off some additional heat, or use alternative appliances that use 50-90% less energy, such as slow cookers, air fryers and microwaves.
Other tips for energy savings, according to Acosta, include:
If using an oven, bake several dishes at once to maximize efficiency
Do not pack the refrigerator too full, as that can block the circulation and make the unit work harder
Run completely full loads in the dishwasher
Taking shorter showers
Washing clothes on cold water
When it comes to holiday decorations, Acosta also recommended switching the lighting to LED instead of the traditional incandescent — this could save homeowners as much as $100 per year on their bill and use up 90% less energy. People can also use their holiday lights to illuminate the room, instead of having to turn on their regular lights, but ultimately, when leaving the house, lights should be turned off — or on a timer — and appliances should be turned off.
Acosta also noted that PEC members have access to the Smart Hub app that is available to track and monitor trends, in order to see how much energy has been used, which can be helpful to keep bills manageable and avoid surprises.
Learn more about energy saving tips and more at www.mypec.com.
