How Texans Struggle With Energy Costs Trying To Beat The Heat

With the summer months looming and the constant dramatic shifts in the weather, there is one thing on almost every Texan's mind. It's tearing homes apart, creating drama, and stressing people beyond belief. That one thing is the thermostat.

Texans Are Stressing Over The Thermostat The Most Right Now

We've all had the conversation over the thermostat in the house. I recently had it with my significant other. There's a lot of mental gymnastics and staring at the weather forecast involved.

READ MORE: How Insanely Hot It Gets In The Grand Canyon Of Texas

The reason is the energy bill. Electricity isn't cheap, and in my house, we do all we can to keep the cost as low as humanly possible. We open windows as much as possible, run ceiling fans, and try to convince ourselves it's not that bad so we can keep from turning on the A/C.

In a recent study from Home Energy Club, they found that an overwhelming majority of Texans are in the same boat. They found that 70% of Texans are spending most of their time stressing over energy costs.

Texans Are Fighting Over The Thermostat More Than Ever

The stress is leading to fights over the thermostat. Most of us remember having a parent who was lord over the thermostat growing up. Touching it meant certain doom.

Not much has changed. Over a third of Texans in a recent survey said they would rather live in discomfort to avoid fights over the thermostat. One-fifth of Texans have left their house to find somewhere to cool off.

There has to be a way to find some relief without creating so much tension in the home.

How To Fight Off High Energy Bills When The Texas Heat Sets In

There are some ways to keep your energy bill low without completely surrendering to the elements. The easiest way is to get a grip on your energy usage.

We keep our bill low by:

• Leaving the thermostat set higher when we're not home
• We use low lighting options in the house, and do a good job of keeping them turned off in rooms no one is in.
• If we can, we leave the A/C off and open windows to get a cross breeze going. If we must, we'll turn on the ceiling fans to circulate the air.
• If we have to turn on the A/C, we don't let it run unchecked. Once things are comfortable, we turn it off for a while.
• If you can, get a smart thermostat. We've got one and it has helped a lot.

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Those are the things we've done, and our energy bills stay relatively low. Experts also recommend making sure your home is well-insulated and making sure you're doing regular A/C maintenance, like changing filters.