| Texas Is A National Leader In Low Energy Bills |
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Is everything really bigger in Texas? One thing which certainly isn't is the energy bill the average Texan receives. Texas leads the country in low energy costs, largely because of the widespread use of natural gas as a home heating fuel in the state. Of course, air conditioners and other appliances still use electricity, but newer and more efficient appliances and the use of central air systems in the place of window mounted air conditioners is reducing the cost of electricity for Texas homes.
Is everything really bigger in Texas? One thing which certainly isn't is the energy bill the average Texan receives. Texas leads the country in low energy costs, largely because of the widespread use of natural gas as a home heating fuel in the state. Of course, air conditioners and other appliances still use electricity, but newer and more efficient appliances and the use of central air systems in the place of window mounted air conditioners is reducing the cost of electricity for Texas homes. As a state which has accomplished reducing energy costs for its residents, Texas has become a model which other states are looking to for lessons on how to do the same. You may see natural gas becoming an increasingly common source of energy for home heating, displacing other more expensive energy sources like oil, propane and electricity. In Texas, 43% of homes use economical natural gas for heating, a much higher percentage than in many other states. People in Texas are building homes which are larger than was previously the norm, making heating these new dwellings using economic energy sources an important consideration. Natural gas is of course the most popular choice in newly constructed Texas homes than any other energy source. Texas does have the advantage of a warmer climate compared to much of the nation, with some regions being warm enough year round to make heating costs a minor concern. However, this doesn't change the fact that natural gas is a more economical fuel for heating and cooling homes, plain and simple. Natural gas has always been a less costly energy source than electricity or heating oil. In a southern state like Texas, cooling is often a more important issue than heating. Given the high temperatures which are a common occurrence in the state, it can be costly for Texans to cool their homes. As far as air conditioning is concerned, electricity is still the best way to go - yet Texas is right in the middle as far as US electricity usage by state is concerned. As far as fueling vehicles goes, gasoline is the most common fuel, just as it is in the rest of the country. There are a lot of cars and trucks on Texas roadways; Houston alone is nearly the size of Chicago with almost three million people and over a million cars to fuel. Many people are choosing to go green with their driving habits, but as elsewhere, most vehicles in the state are still running on traditional gasoline. The Clean Cities program encourages motorists to use less fuel by choosing to drive vehicles which use gasoline more efficiently, reducing driving when unnecessary and by making the transition to using cleaner burning fuels. Texas residents are concerned with the environment and there are many in the state who are interested in using cleaner burning alternative fuels for their vehicles. There are many experts who predict that Texas will soon lead the country in the use of these renewable fuels. It may not be long before there are more alternative fuel stations in Texas than there are stations offering gasoline. Texans are committed to using our natural resources widely and the state is looking to the future with the goal of protecting the environment and keeping energy costs low in the state. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. About the author: Jerry Dyess specializes in the Electricity segment. He has published many articles on Texas Electric prices. |