In Texas, the heat is particularly bad in the summer, but the strange advantage is that we have some of the lowest energy costs in the country.

SEE ALSO: How long will electricity prices in Texas stay this high? Ask Amy

Researchers at WalletHub compared the average energy costs of all 50 states, taking into account electricity, natural gas, fuel and heating oil. Their results led WalletHub to rank Texas 47th in terms of high energy costs, making it the fourth lowest-cost state in the U.S. between Nebraska and Kansas.

WalletHub reports that the average total energy cost is about $437 per month. For comparison, Wyoming has the highest energy costs in the country, with total costs of $1,591.

The Lone Star State also ranked 15th in natural gas prices, 16th in fuel consumption per driver and 27th in electricity prices.

But before you take the opportunity to turn on your air conditioner, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take precautions to save energy.

Not to mention, KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Amy Davis pointed out in a recent article that electricity costs in Texas are now much higher, which is why it might be a good idea to shop around to make sure you get a plan that fits your needs.

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Here are some helpful tips to help you save money on your energy bills:

• Follow the four by four principle. If you are out of the house for more than four hours during the summer months, you can reduce your energy use and electricity bills by setting your thermostat four degrees higher. If your thermostat is set below 25°C, each degree cooler can increase your electricity bills by up to seven percent. Although the recommended temperature for optimal energy use in summer is 25°C, we know that a comfortable temperature is a personal preference. Whatever your preferred setting, the 4×4 principle will help you reduce your consumption and ultimately lower your electricity bill.

• Change the way you do laundry. Changing your wash setting from hot to cold water can save you $22 A YEAR. You can also add a dry towel to your laundry to significantly reduce drying time. If you wash seven loads a week, you could save $27 a week.

• Insulate your home. Insulating your home is one of the best ways to lower your electric bill. You can build your own attic tent that will prevent the hot air from your attic from entering your home. It can also prevent cool air from entering the attic.

• Learn about smart thermostats. If you have a smart thermostat, are you using it correctly? You can set it to increase the temperature when you're not home. Some people are afraid of smart thermostats because they think your electric company can change your temperature at any time. That's only true if you give them permission. But some companies are tricky about it.

• Unplug vampires from electrical outlets when they use energy suckers. Unplugging devices when you're not using them can save you another $8.33 per month. Think computers, printers, and even all those smart speakers and devices that are constantly connected to Wi-Fi. The Department of Energy has a helpful list of high energy-using devices. Last year in August, we put together a story – and showed you 5 things you can do at home to save $816 per year on energy costs.

• Change the way you wash dishes. Using the U.S. Department of Energy's energy calculator, we determined that running your dishwasher daily costs about $161.50 per year. Cut that cost in half by choosing the quick wash option and skipping the dry cycle, saving $80.75.

• Let your clothes and laundry air dry. And while we're on the subject of air drying, get a clothesline and hang your clothes and towels to dry instead of using the dryer. The Department of Energy says this will save you about $9.53 a month, or $114.36 a year.

• Think about using the oven. Not only does the oven use a lot of electricity, but it also gets hot. In the kitchen, having a countertop air fryer can save you a lot of money by using it instead of your oven. According to the Department of Energy's energy calculator, using the air fryer instead of your oven would save you about $89.08 per year.

• Change the water temperature in your home. You can do this by turning down the heat on your water heater.

• Make sure the equipment doesn't have to work so hard. For example, don't put hot food in the fridge or freezer. Let the food cool down before putting it in, saving the extra energy the fridge needs to cool it down.

• Cool down your car. Do you circulate the air? Roll down the windows? Turn the temperature up to the highest setting? According to Consumer Reports, your car's air conditioning works much better when the vehicle is moving. So get in, turn on the air conditioning, and drive away. Make sure your cabin air filter is clean.