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Smart Landscaping Can Save You Money

Strategically planted trees and foliage doesn’t just beautify your home. It can also save you money on electricity by cooling your home in the hot Texas summer. You just need to know where and how how to plant them. These smart landscaping tips can help you get started on saving money on your electric bill.

Before You Begin Landscaping

Examine how the sun, wind, and shade hit your home at different times of the day throughout the seasons. Understanding how the elements heat or cool your home is essential to strategic landscaping. Your windows take in the sun’s heat. In contrast, the roof and other dark surfaces absorb it. Shading your home protects it from the heat. And for that, you need trees.

Choose the Right Tree

The power to choose the best tree is all yours. While a fast-growing tree will give you shade faster, it’s also less durable than slow-growing plants. The best trees to cast shade during the afternoon sun are those with a dense canopy and multidirectional branches. For the south side of your house, choose to plant tall, mature trees with broad canopies for adequate shading for your roof.

Leave Some Space

Never plant trees with wide root systems near your house. Not only would that hurt the tree, but the roots may also destroy your house’s foundation. Leave around 15-20 feet for the best shade. Similarly, don’t plant shrubbery too close to your home either. Otherwise you risk adding more moisture near your home and increasing the humidity. Leave around two feet of space between your house and the closest planted bush.

Shade in the Sun’s Direction

In Texas, the sun will usually hit your house on the south and west sides for the longest. Planting bushes and shrubs on the western side of your house will help cool your home during the summer. Similarly, running ivy up the wall or on a trellis on the western or southern side of your house will be even more effective. Plus, it will look amazing.

Landscaping to Direct Cool Breezes

Trees around your home don’t just provide shade. They also direct cool night breezes into your windows. Planting evergreens on the northeast corner will create southwesterly breezes to cool your home. Prune the branches so the lowest ones are window-height. Shrubs planted underneath windows can also direct wind upwards into the first story of your house.

Cool Your AC Unit

Every AC works overtime during the hot Texan summer. So, don’t let it bake in the sun. You can make it run more efficiently by planting shrubs that give your outside AC unit some shade. Be careful, though. Leave enough space around it for maintenance access and adequate ventilation.

Great Deals on Electricity

These landscaping tips can cool your home and decrease your energy bill. But, nothing quite saves you money like a great deal on electricity. Visit www.texaselectricityratings.com to find the best rates in Texas and sign up easily.

Why Is My Texas Electricity Bill So High?

You might feel overwhelmed by all the data your monthly billing statement contains. Electric bills are often filled with industry jargon and technical terms that can make it hard to understand exactly what you're paying for. All the same, it's important to understand your Texas electricity bill. That way you can monitor your usage and ensure you're not paying more than you should. 

Once you understand it, you’ll know why your bill is so high, particularly in the Texas heat and humidity. You’ll see how your bill changes with the weather, hours of daylight, and appliance usage. Knowledge is power! 

Key Components Of Your Electric Bill

Here are some key components of a Texas electricity bill that you should know:

• Supply Charges: This refers to the cost of generating the power you use. This charge is based on how much energy you use as shown in kilowatt-hours (kWh): 1 kWh = 1000 watts used in one hour.

• Distribution Charges: This charge covers the cost of delivering energy to your home. This includes the infrastructure to transmit and distribute electricity such as power lines, substations, and transformers. Distribution charges also appear in kWh.

• Account Information: This section contains your account number, billing period, and due date. Review this information carefully to ensure it's accurate. If it is not, contact your provider to change it. 

• Energy Usage: This section displays your energy usage for the billing period. It may also show the same period from the previous year so you can see how your usage has changed.

• Riders: A rider is a charge added to the distribution part your electric bill. Riders often recover costs for specific programs or initiatives. For example, a green energy rider might fund the development of wind or solar power in Texas.

• Fees: There are several fees that may show up on your electric bill such as a late payment fee or a reconnect fee if your service has been disconnected. These fees vary by provider, but you can usually avoid them by paying your bill on time.

• Taxes: This section displays any state and local taxes charged during the billing period. There's no way to avoid these.

• Total Amount Due: This line shows the total amount due for the billing period. It includes all charges, fees, and taxes. This is what you owe.

Texas Electricity Bill Questions 

By learning the key facets of your Texas electricity bill, you can watch your usage and ensure that you're not paying more than you should be. If you have questions or concerns about your electric bill, reach out to your provider. 

And if you’re not happy with the answers you get, you may want to switch providers. In the Texas power market, you have the power to choose your provider! To find companies rated highest in customer satisfaction, shop for the best new power plan at https://www.texaselectricityratings.com.