Summer is here along with the higher electric bills!  By taking steps to increase energy efficiency at home, you can save money and do something to improve air quality!  Reducing energy use means fewer power plant emissions that contribute to ozone air pollution formation.  Some of the things that you can do to increase energy efficiency are to:

• use LED lighting
• turn off lights and appliances when they are not being used
• check insulation levels in your home  
• seal air leaks around windows and doors
• change air filters when needed
• use a smart thermostat to control temperature settings
• look for energy efficient appliances when appliances need to be replaced 

Some of the local electric cooperatives offer home energy audits for members that can help identify places where energy savings can be found.  United Cooperative Services offers free energy audits for residential and business members.  They also offer member rebates on some energy-efficiency projects.  For more information about these opportunities, visit https://ucs.net/energy-audits or https://ucs.net/rebate-programs.  Tri-County Electric Cooperative offers residential energy audits at a cost of $150 for their members.  They also offer rebates for energy efficiency projects.  More information about these programs are at https://tcectexas.com/audit and https://tcectexas.com/energy-efficiency-rebates.  

Taking steps towards energy efficiency leads to cost savings, energy savings, and cleaner air!