Energy Saving

Did you put your computer to sleep? It can still draw more than 20 watts in sleep mode. None of us want to miss the next episode of our favorite TV show. But remember that while the DVR is recording, it’s using nearly 38 watts of power. Plug devices into power strips rather than individual outlets. Instead of unplugging everything, simply turn off the power strip and unplug it.

Each year the holiday season and cold weather cause Sam Houston Electric Cooperative members to consume more electricity. Bills are calculated each month based on the exact amount of energy your home uses. Cold-weather heating and cooking cause more electricity to be consumed.

Just as your car consumes more gasoline on long trips, your home consumes more energy for heating during cold weather. You may have noticed your heater running constantly, or you may have used space heaters to maintain a comfortable home. Here are a few tips to keep your electric bill from ruining the holidays:

1. Program your savings with a programmable thermostat. When you are asleep or away from your home, turn your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours and save around 10% a year on heating and cooling.
2. Our hot water heaters are constantly warming the water in the tank trying to keep the temperature close to where you set it. And most of us have our hot water heater temperature set too high. Lowering this setting will save money.
3. Our devices don’t sleep. Even though we turn off the computer, DVR, PlayStation, or other devices, most go into standby mode—instead of completely powering off. They’re also regularly performing updates, downloading content, and wasting energy when they’re still plugged in. Phantom, or vampire loads, can account for more than 10% of your power bill.
4. Run your appliances without running up your bill with a few easy tips: change your A/C filter routinely; clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils; always wash or dry full loads of clothes; and turn off the heated dry setting on the dishwasher.

The amount of kilowatt-hours consumed during a given period is the basis for how your electric bill is calculated each month. Log in to your mySamHouston account, and with this information and a little research, you can track down your peak energy consumption.

Here’s what to look for:

• Are there unexpected patterns in your usage?
• Were your daily activities different on those days (e.g., family stayed home, extra guests, laundry day)?
• Was the temperature higher or lower on those days, causing the A/C or heat to run extra?
• You can export your data or view your billing history. While you’re logged in, you can sign up for email or text message alerts. Register your cell phone, landline, or email address with us, and we’ll make sure you stay in the loop. Set up your own alert preferences, and we’ll let you know when your bill is due, a payment is received, or even when you’re close to your desired monthly electricity usage.