Home Energy Efficiency in Austin

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

Here are facts that are important to consider when thinking about home energy efficiency.

• Based on the highest temperatures, Austin is ranked in the top 10 hottest U.S. cities. This means that air conditioning is used by almost everybody to keep houses cool and comfortable. Winters, on the other hand, are generally mild, so heating isn't a large expense for most Austin homeowners.
• Electricity prices in Texas are average to low, compared to the rest of the country. Approximately three-tenths of the total U.S. natural gas is produced in Texas, which may account for Austin's natural gas prices averaging around $8.20 per thousand feet cubed, $2 less than the national average.
• However, this doesn't mean that energy is cheap. Trends in energy prices are increasing with time. In Texas, electrical power costs almost 80 percent more than it did five years ago.

Home Energy Audits in Austin

An energy audit will help you learn how efficient your house is and which upgrades will give you the most bang for your buck. An in-home energy audit typically costs a few hundred dollars, but in many cases, it'll identify easy problems to fix that'll result in at least a few hundred dollars of savings in the short-term, paying for itself!

If you'd like to find out — for free and within minutes — whether your home is a good candidate for an energy audit and for upgrades, take our online home energy report. We'll give you a home energy score and estimate your savings potential.

Home Energy Upgrades in Austin

So what are the smartest steps to take if you want to make your Austin home more energy efficient?

• Air Conditioning: Buy an energy-efficient air conditioning system. Air conditioning is responsible for a huge percentage of electricity used in most households.
• Renewable Energies: Solar panels may be worth considering. Austin receives about 4.5 kwh/meter squared of sunlight daily making it a suitable location for solar panels.
• Appliance Upgrades: Make sure your appliances, especially your refrigerator, are up to modern energy use standards. Other kitchen appliances contribute as well, but it's probably the fridge that uses most of the electricity in your kitchen.

Have a project in mind? Find the right contractor.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Austin

All these efficiency measures can save you money, but they still needs to be paid for up front. Luckily, there are plenty of energy rebates and energy tax credit programs that can help pay for your energy efficient home.

Home Efficiency Upgrades: Austin Energy offers an Energy Efficiency Rebate Program that provides rebates up to $650 for efficient windows, air conditioners and more. Also, the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit will cover 30 percent of the costs of upgrades such as added insulation, replacement water heaters, roofing, windows, doors and more. Many of these energy tax credit and rebate programs can be "stacked" for maximum benefit. It is likely that your energy efficiency project qualifies for both city, state and federal programs.

Renewable Energy Systems: If you decide to invest in solar energy solutions, there is a lot of money available if you know where to look. The Solar PV rebate program offers large rebates for residents planning to install solar panel systems. If you are more interested in solar water heating, there is a separate program that offers up to $2,000 in rebates, as well as a loan if you. Some local electricity providers also have buy-back or rebate plans for renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Austin.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

1. Home Energy Report: How efficient is your home? Find out how to improve your home's efficiency and comfort, without spending tons of money, with EnergySavvy's free online home energy report.
2. Energy Rebate and Tax Credit Directory: EnergySavvy's guide to energy rebates and tax credits can help you find all the energy tax credits and rebates that are available locally for you.
3. Energy Contractors: If you've got a project in mind to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and you'd like to talk with an energy expert about it, we can help. We focus on the relatively small group of contractors nationwide who really understand home energy auditing and energy retrofits.
4. Educational Content: Home energy efficiency is complicated stuff. It's not just as simple as laying some insulation in the attic. We've put together a library of easy-to-read topics that cover the basics of energy efficiency. And if you have a question about anything, you can ask one of our energy experts using our "Ask an Expert" feature.

Last Updated: March 2010

Recent Questions (see all)

---

---

---

---

---

---

See more questions for Home Energy Efficiency in Austin