Home Energy Management

Manage Your Energy Consumption
The first step of managing your energy consumption is knowing how much energy you use. Your monthly bill statement shows the number of kWhs you use each month, but daily usage data — available through the myTCEMC app — allows you to see patterns of energy use and determine how you may be able to cut back. The daily energy usage graphs allow to you to see what days you use the most energy. By comparing that to the activities in your home on those days, along with the outside temperature, you will be able to determine what appliances are using the most energy and figure out ways to reduce the consumption.

 

 

Small Changes. Big Savings.
While some energy conservation improvements cost money, you can also conserve energy just by changing your behavior. The simplest thing you can do that would have the most impact is to increase the temperature on your thermostat. Each degree increase can save about 3% on your bill. Another way to cut energy use is to keep the heat outside — draw your drapes to avoid direct sunlight, cook outside instead of using the oven and avoid using heat-producing appliances such as hair dryers and curling irons. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full and run them during the cooler parts of the day. Also, turning the temperature on your water heater down from 140 to 120 degrees can save 4% or more on your bill. And using ceiling fans when you are in the room can make the room feel 6 degrees cooler while using less energy than a light bulb.  

Invest In Energy Savings: 
If you are interested in investing money to conserve energy, there are a few more advanced changes you can make in your home. With attic temperatures getting up to or above 140 degrees in the summer, installing recommended levels of insulation can go a long way to lower cooling costs. Another way to manage usage is to install a programmable thermostat. Once programmed, you will not have to worry about turning the temperature up when you leave the house or down when you return. The thermostat will gradually adjust the temperature according to your schedule, making your HVAC system more efficient. In addition to the thermostat, having your HVAC system serviced can increase the life of the system and allow it to run more efficiently. And a simple investment of adding weather-stripping and caulking to your home can help keep the cool air inside and hot air outside. 

In Home Energy Audits Available
If you would like advice on the best ways to save energy in your home, contact our office for a complimentary in-home energy audit. Our Energy Services Representative can take a closer look at your energy usage to see what actions you may be able to take to cut back on your energy consumption. For more information, contact us at 1.866.254.8100.
 

---

• Categories:
• Custom News

• Tags:
• myTCEMC App
• energy savings

---