Reducing Energy Consumption – Tips to Sleep in Hot Weather

Texas is known for having hot summers. The summer heat in Texas requires reducing energy consumption to keep electricity costs down. Your task becomes a struggle at night, when the heat makes it hard to relax and fall asleep. Unsurprisingly, it is difficult to get comfortable, fall asleep, and then stay asleep when it is hot outside. It’s tempting to adjust the AC to bring down the temperature at night, but that will increase your electric usage, which isn’t so positive since even cheap electricity adds up to big bucks.

You don’t want to go broke just to cool off, but is there another choice? Unfortunately, it is Texas, and we can’t do anything about the heat during the summer months, but you can try a few things to stay cool this summer without going broke.

Reduce Your Energy Bill Without Losing Sleep

• Stay Hydrated – Staying hydrated helps your body regulate its temperature. When dehydrated, your body has difficulty controlling your internal temperature, making you feel hotter.
  • Humans have a natural cooling mechanism: sweating. When we are hot, we sweat; the evaporating moisture helps cool us down. If you are dehydrated, you may not be able to produce enough sweat to help you cool down. This makes staying hydrated an important part of reducing energy consumption, and it helps keep you healthy and happy.
• Use Cooling Sheets and Pillows – Look for sheets and pillows made of moisture-wicking materials that will help keep you cool and dry. Flannel sheets are perfect for the winter months because they retain heat. But when summer is upon us, heat is one thing you want to expel. To keep from turning up the AC and costing you money, pack up the flannel sheets until next year.
• Dress appropriately – Wear lightweight, breathable clothing made of natural materials. If you are investing in cooling sheets, make a lateral move and invest in some cooling pajamas. Cooling PJ’s will help you get a good night’s sleep. If your living situation allows, consider sleeping in your birthday suit.
• Keep Curtains and Blinds Closed – The sun will naturally help warm your room. Keep this from happening by keeping the curtains drawn and blinds closed during the day. Accomplish reducing energy consumption in your home by making changes like closing the blinds during the day to keep you cool at night.
• Close the bedroom door – Along with keeping the curtains and blinds closed, keep your bedroom door closed, especially if you have a window unit. It is much easier to cool and keep cool a small area, but once you open the door, the space you are cooling increases, and so do your electric usage and energy costs.
• Use a fan – A ceiling fan or any fan is a great way to keep the air moving, and the gentle breeze will help keep you cool.
• Take a cool shower – There is no better way to bring your body temperature down than a cool shower. Be sure to get your head wet. When your head and feet are cool, your body is cool.
• Grab an ice pack – On hot nights, go ahead and get an ice pack or a cold compress and rest it against your head or on your feet. The effect is similar to taking a cool shower. 

We all have to deal with the hot Texas summer. Learning how to keep cool without turning down your AC will help reduce your energy use and spending this summer. With these tips, you should get a good night’s rest even on the hottest nights, and with luck, you can reduce your energy bill by reducing energy consumption.

If your energy bill keeps rising even after you cut your usage and feel like you are losing your mind, along with all your money, contact Pogo Energy and see how we can help you save money month over month. Pogo will never charge a deposit and doesn’t have connection, cancellation, late payment, or gotcha fees. No Fees Equals Big Savings.