TEXAS, USA — Have you noticed that summer came early this year? That means a much more expensive bill.
So, what can we do to hedge against this inflationary cost? Certified Financial Planner Neil Vannoy says you've got to put modern technology to work for you.
Vannoy told 6 News using a programable thermostat to increase the temperature in your house when you're not home can help the average homeowner save money.
And if you thought that a smart thermostat was at the top of the technological scale, Neil told us that there’s even more.
"For the tech-savvy viewers, there are smart thermostats that use geofencing to set your home's temperature based on your location. They'll know when you leave, and these thermostats can start cooling off your house when you're on your way home so it's at your preferred temperature when you arrive."
And once you are home, Neil says you can go from the modern gadgets to the proven reliables saying, "The old-fashioned way to save money on a/c is to use a fan. Ceiling fans help keep the air moving in your home and help it feel cooler. I've found that I can keep the thermostat set one to two degrees warmer when I use the ceiling fan in my home office."
It might be uncomfortable, but just know that a couple of degrees can really make a difference in that bill. Neil added, "Setting your thermostat one to two degrees warmer might not sound like much, but the public utility commission of Texas estimates that each additional degree of cooling will increase energy usage by six to eight percent.”
Also replacing your HVAC filter regularly can increase the efficiency of your a/c.
Once again, if you are looking to shop for electricity prices in the state of Texas go to powertochoose.org and shop for the fixed-rate plan that is best for you and your electricity consumption.
Some plans offer discounts for either using more or less than your monthly consumption. Be aware of a variable rate plan that could leave you with a big bill if we have a weather event such as snovid!
Same for the month when your contract expires as you are usually switched right over to variable.
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