How to Reduce Your Utility Bills This Summer in Austin, Texas: Recent Tips from the City Government of Austin (TX):

The City Government of Austin holds the current copyright on informational services from Austin Energy, the registered-trademark-name for the department of the City Government of Austin, also called "City of Austin Utilities Department", that offers these May 2020 tips online:

"Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher in the summer. Raise the thermostat to 85 degrees when you are away for two hours or more. "Install LED light bulbs. ENERGY STAR® qualified LEDs use at least 75% less electricity, generate less heat, and last about 50 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, and five times longer than Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). "Save while streaming. Streaming video on a game console uses 15 times more energy than streaming on digital media players. Streaming on a laptop uses four times more energy than streaming on a tablet. "Point fans in your direction. Fans blowing directly on you can make temperatures around you feel about 4 degrees cooler. Only keep fans on when you are in the room. "Clean your AC condenser/evaporator coils. Clean coils lower your energy costs, extend the unit's life, and provide cleaner air for you to breathe. "Keep debris and high grass away from the condenser. These obstacles block airflow, which makes the condenser work harder and run longer. "Close shades/curtains on windows hit by direct sunlight. This helps to prevent heat from getting indoors. "Provide shade for outside AC units. AC units shaded by trees or structures work more efficiently and use up to 10% less electricity. "Dim the Screen. Dim your televisions and computer screens to reduce energy use. Some TVs have a 'home' or 'standard' setting option to help. This can also help with eye fatigue. "Avoid turning on the oven during the hottest time of the day. Using a microwave or a slow cooker produces less heat. "Unplug appliances, chargers, and electronic devices when you are not using them. They use energy even when they are turned off. Turn off your lights when you leave a room."