CO - OP LIVI NG
Submit your best shots for a chance to win $300
2012 Calendar Photo Contest O
klahoma Living is requesting reader-submit- ted photos for our 2012 calendar contest. There is no specifi c theme for the photos; however, photos must be taken in Oklahoma.
Thirteen best photos will be selected to create the 2012 calendar that will be sold through the maga- zine.
There is a $5 entry fee for each photo submit- ted. Funds from the purchase of calendars will go to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Asso- ciation’s International Foundation—a charitable organization dedicated to the mission of bringing electricity to the world, one village at a time.
One grand-prize winner will receive $300 and will be published in Oklahoma Living. Twelve other winners will receive a $50 gift card and their photo- graphs will be published in Oklahoma Living as well.
Contest rules:
✓ Submitted photographs will not be returned, and winning images become the property of Okla- homa Living for use in print, on our website, and on our Facebook page
✓ Photos must be taken in Oklahoma
✓ Digital entries must be in high resolution (300 dpi recommended)
✓ Entries can be submitted online at www.ok-
living.coop. Please note payment for each photo is requested at the time of online submission
✓ Entries may also be mailed as 8X10 prints or on a CD. Please make checks payable to Oklahoma Living Magazine. You may mail entries to: Oklahoma Living Calendar Contest P.O. Box 54309 Oklahoma City-OK 73154-1309
✓ Include your name, telephone number, and mailing address with each entry
✓ Last day to enter is October 15, 2011
To submit your photos online visit
www.ok-living.coop
Ask Willie!
To submit a question for Willie, visit
www-ok-living.coop. Dear Willie,
I want to decrease my bill by making my home more energy effi cient, but I’m worried I might break the bank investing in new products. What are some simple upgrades I can make to in- crease the energy effi ciency of my home?
—Darlene
Dear Darlene, You’re not alone in this question. Surveys show only about 15 percent of people make the move toward energy efficiency because it seems to be a daunting, expensive task. However, there are many simple upgrades you can make without break- ing budget.
If you do not want to invest in new appliances, you can help the ones you have run more effi cient- ly. For dryers, clean lint traps and don’t over-dry clothes. Keep cool refrigerator air from leaking out by replacing worn door gaskets and cleaning coils. Changing your air fi lters every three months will
lengthen the life of your central air unit’s motor. Don’t forget that even small changes like cooking outdoors on a hot day, drawing curtains to block the sun or turning the lights off when you leave a room can make a big difference. Also, beware of the “vampire” or “phantom”
load. According to the U.S. Department of En- ergy, 75 percent of home electronics’ power is used when they’re turned off. By plugging items like computers and TVs into a power strip and turning off the strip when they’re not in use, an average home could save 8 percent on its monthly energy consumption.
If you do choose to invest in new appliances, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR label. These appliances will use 10-15 percent less energy than non-certifi ed items. Check out www.energysavers. gov to see if there is an ENERGY STAR rebate pro- gram or sales tax holiday near you.
Brightly yours, Willie
Source: Cooperative Research Network Tip of the Month
When buying a new appliance, check the black and yellow Ener- gyGuide label. This label provides an estimate of the product’s en- ergy consumption and effi ciency. It also shows the highest and lowest energy effi ciency estimates of similar models. Most major appliances are required to have these labels.
Source: Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives
OCTOBER 2011 5
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