Harlingen man's home gets 'energy makeover'

HARLINGEN -- Homeowner Felix Escobar expects his house's "energy makeover" Friday will fatten his wallet.

Escobar learned a week and a half ago that his house had been chosen for a home energy makeover from electric utility TXU Energy.

"It's the first time in my life that I've done something like this," he said.

A team of TXU workers arrived Friday morning to review the house, looking for problem areas that could be boosting the home's energy consumption.

He was surprised to learn gaps around windows could inflate the energy bill for his 21-year-old house.

"There were gaps in the windows that allowed air to come out," Escobar said. "I found out about the little things that can have an effect on our bill that we don't even see. I'm very surprised."

Escobar said his electric bill has been as much as $360 a month - something he would like to change, especially with summer approaching.

"Yes, I think this will help me save money," he said. "Especially since with an older house you have to keep up with the maintenance."

TXU spokeswoman Sophia Stoller said the morning was spent making low-cost improvements such as caulking windows and replacing light bulbs to make the house energy efficient.

Unplugging unused appliances can save electricity, and turning ceiling fan blades downward can create a better breeze inside a house, she said.

One change that requires some initial investment but pays off over the longer run is replacing conventional incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent light bulbs, Stoller said.

CFL bulbs require 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent light bulb to produce about the same amount of illumination.

"You can use three light bulbs for the same amount he's using," Stoller said of the light bulb replacement in Escobar's home.

About 50 percent of an electric bill is based on air conditioning, Stoller said.

She recommends installing a programmable digital thermostat, which can be set at 78 degrees while the house is empty.

"You can program a thermostat to cool down probably an hour before you walk in through the door," Stoller said. "Every degree below 76 (degrees) can cost 8 percent more on your A/C cost."

Stoller said the new Energy Power Monitor is a device that can help families track their energy usage in estimated dollars and kilowatt-hours.

The device is currently used in Dallas and Houston and should be available to TXU's South Texas customers soon, she said.

"You can set alarms that notify you when you've reached certain consumption or cost thresholds," she said.

"I use it with my own children," Stoller said. "Once we see that number coming up I start reminding them to shut off lights and unplug appliances that aren't in use."

Escobar said he intends to share the lessons he learned with neighbors and his children.

"This is important, especially down here since it gets so hot in the summer," Escobar said. "We will see a difference."