If you suspect a natural gas leak in your home, knowing what not to do is as crucial as knowing what to do. Here’s how to recognize the signs of a gas leak in your home and the next steps to take if you suspect a gas leak.   Signs of a gas leak A gas leak in your home can be identified by smell or auditory signs, or by the presence of physical symptoms. If you suspect a gas leak, clear all people and pets from the building immediately. Then call 911 and your natural gas utility.  Common indicators of a gas leak include: Bad smell, similar to rotten eggs Hissing sounds coming fr ..read more

It may seem like closing vents in unused rooms would save energy and money by reducing heating and cooling costs. It’s less square footage to heat or cool, right? However, it’s a common misconception that closing vents in unused rooms can actually save energy. Find out why and what to do instead. Should you close air vents in your house to save energy? The short answer is no; you should not close air vents in your house. Closing vents can actually waste more energy than operating your system normally. How does closing air vents waste energy? Because when you close vents in unused rooms, your c ..read more

Air conditioners play a major role in Texas, especially during the hot summer months. This week, as temperatures soared, energy demand in Texas hit a record high, with a reliance on air conditioning accounting for a portion of that demand.  ERCOT projected earlier this week that demand would reach 75,104 megawatts of power – breaking the previous demand record of 74,820 megawatts set in 2019. During times of high energy demand, the wholesale cost of electricity normally goes up. This trend means you could end up paying even more to cool your home if your energy plan does not include a fix ..read more

In the U.S., tornadoes can occur at any time. But they’re much more prevalent in April, May, and June. According to data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Texas has significantly more tornadoes than any other state, so it’s twice as important for residents to take safety precautions. One important factor to consider is maintaining electrical safety during tornado season. Here’s what you need to know about how to keep yourself – and your electronics – safe during tornado season. Potential electrical dangers   While tornadoes present a risk to you, your family ..read more

If someone offered you $50 for simply unplugging your electronics when you weren’t using them, would you do it? What about $100? Or even $500?  That’s how much of your money could be going out the literal window if you aren’t taking advantage of these energy-saving tips and tricks. Find out how to save up to $500 per year — or more! —  with these easy home electricity hacks.  Based on data from Energy Star, we surveyed U.S. homeowners and renters to see how many people are maximizing their energy efficiency. Energy Star is a “government-backed symbol” representing thousands of o ..read more

Approximately 87 percent of Americans use their air conditioner to fight off the heat. It’s a must-have for many households, especially in southwest climates such as Texas, where the temperature soars above 100 degrees on some sweltering summer days. While we know that air conditioning accounts for 12 percent of U.S. home energy expenses, we can’t really say how much the average homeowner spends on their air conditioner in the summer months. Factors such as the size of the AC unit, square footage of the home, thermostat setting, and insulation can impact cooling costs. Take a look at your home ..read more

A solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) can make owning home solar panels cheaper and easier. Many companies handle all of the paperwork, national grid connection, and other hurdles surrounding installing a residential solar system. But before you sign a solar power agreement, there are a lot of things to consider. Most solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPA) involve a 15-20 year term, which is quite the commitment. If you’re looking into signing a solar lease or PPA, it’s best to make an informed decision and choose a company you can trust so you can protect yourself from ..read more

Your HVAC system has a big job to do. Heating and cooling your home make up about 32 percent of the average residential electricity bill. So, it’s important to make sure that your HVAC is maintained by a proper contractor. Whether you need your HVAC serviced or replaced, the right contractor is as important as the equipment. In fact, the wrong contactor can ruin your equipment and make your heating and cooling problems worse.  As the summer months roll in, it’s time to give your HVAC some attention. Hot temperatures will not only lead to higher electricity rates – especially in a deregula ..read more

Laundry is inescapable. No matter where life takes you, you will always find yourself back in your laundry room at some point. So, it’s important to know that washers and dryers are among the most expensive appliances to run. And this cost can add up quickly – the average family does about 8 to 10 loads of laundry every week. You can’t stop doing laundry, so how can you make sure your laundry room isn’t costing you too much each month? SaveOnEnergy® is here with tips and tricks to help your laundry room run efficiently while still keeping your clothes fresh and clean. Energy Star-certified lau ..read more

If there’s one room in your home that has probably required extra electricity during the past year, it’s your home office. When COVID-19 impacted the U.S., thousands shifted to working from home. The pandemic affected how customers consumed electricity. In fact, residential demand increased by 10 percent when work-from-home mandates first went into effect. So, how can you make sure your home office is operating as efficiently as possible? SaveOnEnergy® is here with ways to reduce energy usage in your home office. Use your laptop Your computer is one of the most important devices when working i ..read more