The Natural State is best known for its scenic beauty and mild temperate climate, but it’s also no stranger to extreme seasonal weather! Electric bills and temperatures both soar into the triple digits every summer, and our gas bills skyrocket every winter. Our utility providers also have the freedom to increase rates as they deem necessary to recoup their own steadily increasing costs. The only surefire way to lower your energy bills is to reduce your consumption, and our team at Gary Houston Electric is here to help!

We’ve been offering trusted residential electrical service in Little Rock since 1978, and love helping our customers save money! An in-home energy audit with one of our licensed electricians is a great way to ensure that your home is as energy-efficient as possible, and we’ll also look for any potential safety issues in your home; home wiring needs to be inspected at least every 25 years, and you’ll need grounded outlets throughout your home and outlets with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in your kitchen, bathrooms, and outdoors.

Older appliances become predictably less energy efficient near the end of their operational lifespan, and replacing them before they break down spares you a lot of future hassle. The average lifespan of an air conditioning system is 10-15 years, and the average lifespan of tank water heaters is 10-12 years. Be sure to keep track of the dates when you purchase a new HVAC unit or hot water heater and review the manufacturer’s recommended preventive maintenance schedule and replacement recommendations.

If you have any drafty areas around your doors and windows, it’s costing you money! The good news is that inexpensive weatherstripping is a highly effective stop-gap solution that can immediately reduce thermal exchange from the outside to the inside of your home. The IRS also currently offers tax credits for qualified energy-efficient improvements made to your home before 2032, including storm windows and doors, so keep that in mind as you consider future home upgrades. A programmable thermostat can also help you significantly reduce your household energy consumption if it’s used correctly, and newer models even include Bluetooth connectivity!

To learn more or schedule an in-home energy efficiency audit, contact us online or at 501-375-8330.