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  Utility bill costs are one of the biggest portions of a family’s budget, especially in North Texas where spring and summer temperatures can soar. Saving money on utility bills can put more money in your bank account to save for a rainy day, or summer vacation. If this issue hits close to home for you, and you could use some extra cash for warmer months, then you will not want to miss these energy-saving tips.

1. Insulate your attic. Many people associate insulation with winter because they want to keep the cold air out. But did you know that insulating your home, even the attic, can keep the cold air inside? You can add fiberglass insulation with little to no DIY experience, and just this one act can potentially knock as much as one-fifth off your utility bill.
2. Use weather stripping. This is another thing often associated with winter, to keep out drafts. Using weather stripping will also prevent cold air from escaping your home in warmer months. It also helps to keep rain from entering your home during the typically rainy springtime months, too.
3. Use a programmable thermostat. If necessary, then go ahead and spring for an electrician to do this for you. A programmable thermostat alone can knock about ten percent off your utility bills. This will let you regulate the temperature so it automatically adjusts to an eco-friendlier setting when your family is at school and work.
4. Insulate your light switches. This is another notorious place for letting the cold air out of your home in the warmer months – especially when on the outside walls of your home. Any big box DIY store can point you to the special insulated outlet switches and plate seals which you can swap out with the existing ones in just a few minutes.
5. Line dry your linens.Use a clothes line as much as possible Not only will you get the benefit of not running your dryer, but as an added bonus your clothes will have the smell of fresh, sunshine-infused air.
6. Get Energy Star appliances. Appliances with an Energy Star rating, such as laundry machines, refrigerators, stoves, and hot water heaters will use just a portion of the energy that non-rated appliances use. You might pay a little extra on an Energy-Star rated appliance now, but you will recoup the money in energy savings in the long run.

Air conditioning is the biggest drain on your utility usage through the warmer months. As a final tip, always remember to clean out the filters in your air conditioner. These savings might not seem like a lot when you consider them individually, but they all add up to huge savings in the end.