energy wise ■
The energy saving 60-watt incandescent replacement LED bulb is engineered to have the familiar size and shape of an incandescent bulb while providing a crisp white light that brings out more vibrant colors and patterns.
Auditing Your Energy Use Small measure can add up to real savings
BY JOHN DRAKE COOPERATIVE ENERGY ADVISOR
I
haven’t met a co-op member yet who wouldn’t benefit from an energy audit. Choctaw Electric Cooperative offers free home energy audits conducted by myself and Mark Zachary—and yes, we do stay busy. But that’s no reason why you can’t get started on your own finding low-cost solutions that could save money on your monthly electric bill.
First, ask yourself a simple question: Does my home feel drafty and cold in the winter, or stuffy and hot in the summer? If yes, then it probably has problems with air leakage.
To track down where those spots are, start with the usual suspects—damaged seals around doors and windows. If you see daylight or feel air, then it’s time to caulk and add weather stripping to keep outdoor air where it’s supposed to be.
But don’t forget spots you might not immediately think of, like recessed canister lights and electrical outlets. Outlet insulation kits can be purchased for as little as $2, and you can fix up your canister lights with some caulk around the edges.
“Notice any cobwebs? That means you’ve got drafts.”
Also, look where walls meet the ceiling. Notice any cobwebs? That means you’ve got drafts.
Next, peek into the attic and inspect the crawl space, or check your basement for sufficient insulation—how much you need depends on your climate. For our area, I recommend R42. There’s also a good insulation calculator from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory at www.
ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/
ZipHome.html.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Tip of the Month
When shopping for a new appliance, consider lifetime operation costs as well as the up-front purchase price. Refrigerators last an average of 12 years, clothes washers about 11, and dishwashers about 10. Check the Energy Guide label for the appliance’s estimated yearly operating cost, and look for ENERGY STAR units, which usually exceed minimum federal standards for efficiency and quality. To learn more, visit
EnergySavers.gov.
--US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Keep in mind insulation won’t do its job well if you don’t have a proper air barrier working in tandem. That means all joints and cracks must be sealed between your living space and insulation.
Finally, look to your light fixtures. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are up to 75 percent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they’ve come a long way in light quality, design, and affordability. You can purchase CFLs in a variety of shapes and hues. They cost more upfront, but you’ll make your money back in less than nine months, and after that, they really start saving money. Make sure to purchase a CFL that’s rated by ENERGY STAR, which means that product meets specific energy efficiency criteria. ENERGY STAR-rated CFLs typically last 10 times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb producing the same amount of light.
LEDs—light-emitting diodes—are in the next wave of residential lighting. An ENERGY STAR-rated model is estimated to use only a quarter of the electricity consumed by traditional bulbs and can last for 25 years. As with most new technologies, the up-front cost for an LED bulb is still much more than even a CFL, but prices should drop as new products are developed.
To learn more about ways to reduce your electric bill, visit EnergySavers. gov or
TogetherWeSave.com, or call Choctaw Electric at 800-780-6486. We are happy to help you find affordable ways to save energy. ■
John Drake is your Choctaw Electric Cooperative energy use specialist. For questions about your energy usage, please contact Drake or Mark Zachry at 800-780-6486, ext. 233.
inside•your•co-op | 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166