June 25, 2023
Filed Under: Sustainability

Practical Tips for Summer Energy Savings

Brutal Texas temperatures have finally returned for the summer. With ERCOT issuing alerts to conserve, online discourse has been heated over recommendations to bump thermostats up to 78 degrees. And we get it, no one wants to endure sweltering conditions inside their own home!

This inspired Whisper Valley to drum up a few practical conservation tips that will also help you reap summer energy savings.

Turn Off and Unplug

Unplug unused devices and non-essential lights! They use energy even when turned off, adding to your utility bills. Don’t forget to turn off fans and lights when you leave a room, as well as unplug appliances and electronic devices when you are not using them.

One of the many amazing benefits of new homes in Whisper Valley is our partnership with Sense home energy monitoring. All new Whisper Valley homes include Sense, which delivers real-time information to an app so you can track how much electricity you are using, identify personal energy behaviors and find opportunities to save money.

Rework Chore Schedule

Running large appliances like ovens and washing machines are a huge energy drainer. In traditional homes, you’ll want to do your laundry and cooking at night to conserve more power. However, if your home draws power from solar panels, like homes in Whisper Valley, you’ll actually want to do those chores during the day to take advantage of using solar energy!

Another energy-hungry appliance is your clothes dryer. Take advantage of the longer days by hanging clothes to dry outside, or buy a folding drying rack that you can use indoors and stow away when you’re done.

If you’re able to invest in new home appliances, energy-efficient home appliances can help significantly reduce your electric bills.

Program Your Thermostat

Heating and cooling make up for 48 percent of a home’s energy consumption, according to the Department of Energy. If you can stand to raise your thermostat just 1-3 degrees higher, it can make a difference on your bills: about 1 percent for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours.

Installing a smart thermostat in your home can also help you conserve by automatically raising the temperature when you’re away.

Block Out the Sun

Heat gain through windows is responsible for up to 30 percent of a home’s cooling energy use, according to the Department of Energy.

Simply closing drapes and blinds during the heat of the day can help cool your home. For an even more dramatic effect, installing interior window treatments like window films or exterior solar screens can also help block solar heat gain.

Choose an Energy-Efficient Home

In the long-term, an energy-efficient home will help you save more money on your energy bills than an older, less efficient home.

Whisper Valley homes reduce energy consumption by up to 80 percent thanks to the combination of geothermal ground source heat pumps for heating/cooling and solar PV technology for generating power. As result, our homes achieve incredibly low HERS ratings of 16-25, compared to the 60+ rating most energy-efficient new homes built today receive.

Homeowners in Whisper Valley with good energy habits rarely experience bills over $40 per month, even during the summer!

Ready to make your move to a zero energy capable home? Contact us today.