Energy Watch: Public Awareness for Energy Emergency

October 30, 2012:  Between 6 pm and 8 pm this evening, the Energy Watch Campaign is asking southcentral Alaska residents to voluntarily reduce their energy consumption. The annual test is aimed at preparing for the the possibility of a problem with delivering natural gas.

Energy Watch is a collaborative effort between the Municipality of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and regional utility organizations.

To learn more about the Energy Watch campaign, click HERE.

Mark Your Calendar : HEA's Energy & Conservation Fairs

 

Make plans to attend Homer Electric's Energy and Conservation Fairs hosted next month in Kenai on November 3rd at Kenai Middle School from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and in Homer on November 10th at West Homer Elementary from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The fairs foster an environment for members to seek information, services and products that encourage energy efficiency, conservation, and sustainability – all under one roof! Workshops, demonstrations, and speakers will be on hand with energy solution topics and programs.
This is a family friendly event with children's activities and "Louie the Lightning Bug's Conservation Voyage," complimentary food, giveaways and informational booths. Join us for this annual event!

For more information on the event, go to HEA Energy & Conservation Fair.  To view photos from the event, go to

http://heaenergyconservationfairkenai.shutterfly.com

 

 

 

 

October is National Cooperative Month

Join Homer Electric in celebrating cooperatives in Alaska and across America during National Cooperative Month.

Every October, cooperatives are recognized for the qualities that make the business model unique: local democratic control, commitment to supporting the communities they serve and improving quality of life, special benefits and services, and the return of margins (the co-op term for profits) back to members in the form of capital credits.

Homer Electric is one of more than 900 electric cooperatives, public utility districts and public power districts serving 42 million people in 47 states. Electric cooperatives were formed because rural communities were struggling for lack of investment. Neighbors banded together and lit up the countryside when no one else would. That’s what we celebrate each October.

Energy Efficiency & Conservation Student Contest

 

Homer Electric is  proud to sponsor our 3rd Energy Efficiency & Conservation Student Contest for grades kindergarten through eight. HEA invites students to enhance their skills in science, writing and technology by entering the contest held in conjunction with the 2012 Energy & Conservation Fairs in November. 

The contest categories are:

• Kindergarten, Grade 1 & 2 - Coloring contest
• Grade 3 & 4 - Energy limerick poem
• Grades 5 & 6 - Song lyrics or game
• Grades 7 & 8 - Script for a play/TV show

Entries and registration form should be postmarked no later than October 26, 2012. For more information on contest rules, prizes and to download an entry form, go to HEA Energy Efficiency & Conservation Contest link.  Contact Tanya Lautaret at 283-2305 or tlautaret@homerelectric.com for details.

Generator Safety

Late autumn, winter, and early spring are times when the threat of inclement weather and other unexpected interruptions cause extended power outages. Many of us, including our friends, family and neighbors, have considered purchasing or borrowing portable generators to use in the event of such a power outage.

For the safety of you and your family, along with our field personnel, Homer Electric encourages you to be aware of generator safety and operation.

Generator Connections
Thorough knowledge about residential wiring is a must. The number one concern is to avoid "backfeeding" which is the result of improperly installing the generator and endangers the lives of our line workers and other emergency personnel. A generator must always be grounded before connecting to the building load. The safest thing to do is to consult with a qualified electrician and consider installing a transfer switch.

HEA strongly encourages all residential customers to have a properly licensed electrician install the equipment necessary to connect emergency generators, whether permanently mounted or portable, to their home's electrical system. All installations must meet the National Electrical Code.

For more information on generator safety, view HEA's Home Generator Safety brochure. 

Shedding Light on Energy Savings

     The lightbulb has undergone relatively few changes since it was introduced in the late 1870s. But new technology that can drastically reduce the amount of energy and money used to light our homes (accounting for roughly 13 percent of the average household’s electric bill) has arrived.

     Consumers have several options when choosing lights: traditional incandescent lightbulbs, halogen incandescent lightbulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), regular halogen bulbs, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Most consumers are well aware of the energy savings of CFLs, but some are turned off by their curlicue shape and color of the light they produce. In response, manufacturers are making CFLs that look like traditional lightbulbs. CFLs can be as much as 75 percent more efficient than basic incandescent bulbs.

      LEDs are beginning to find their way onto store shelves as well. They can last up to 25 times longer than a classic incandescent bulb but are much more expensive. (Some LEDs are yellow in color even though the light they produce is white.) The key to buying an LED: Find one that has fins beneath the actual bulb to help cool it. LEDs make sense in fixtures like a yard or porch light that stays on eight to 12 hours a day.

      Halogen lamps (reflector-based, incandescent hybrids, and advanced lamps) are another option. They provide excellent color quality and can be dimmed. In fact, the dimming properties of halogens are the hardest for other light sources to mimic.

      When halogen lamps are dimmed, filament temperature decreases. This causes the light to change from white to yellow or red-orange. In many environments, such as homes and restaurants, people have come to expect and appreciate this “warmness”  from dimmed lights.

      However, after traditional incandescent lightbulbs, halogen lamps are also the least-efficient and offer the shortest life (only three times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb). Recent federal efficiency standards will eliminate most reflector-based halogen lamps from the market beginning in 2012.

      Advanced halogen lamps, on the other hand, use IR technology. These products provide a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in efficiency but cost two to three times more than standard halogen products. Halogen incandescents also remain a good alternative for consumers not ready to make the leap to CFLs or LEDs.

     You can also try other simple measures for trimming lighting expenses. Add occupancy sensors to wall switches in bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms. These devices will automatically turn lights off when no one is in the room.

     Dusk-to-dawn fixtures come with a photo sensor that shuts off a light when the sun comes up. However, if the sensor is positioned in such a way that it is covered by a shadow, or if the sensor breaks, the light will operate during the day. Replacing can be a fairly simple task, but pay careful attention to all of the safety warnings and precautions that come with the new sensor.

      Understanding how much energy different bulbs consume and replacing broken equipment can be easy ways to save energy while maintaining a home that provides ample light. 

Brian Sloboda is a senior program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Additional content provided by ESource.

Renters Have the Power to Save Electricity

If you rent your home, it often seems that you can’t do much to control your electric bills. But in reality, there are lots of low- or no-cost tricks that you can put into place to cut down on electricity use. 

“Usually leases forbid renters to make alterations to a structure, so your energy-saving solutions have to be simple,” says Brian Sloboda, a senior program manager specializing in energy efficiency with the Cooperative Research Network, an arm of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Electronics and Appliances

The notion that regularly powering down your computer will shorten its life is outdated. Nowadays, computers tend to become outdated themselves before frequent shutdowns cause any damage. The U.S. Department of Energy consumer website, EnergySavers.gov, offers this guideline: If you won’t use your computer for more than 20 minutes, shut off the monitor; if you won’t use it for more than two hours, shut the whole thing down.

However, there is a caveat: If your computer takes its time waking up, your own time might be worth more than the electricity you save.

Most electronics feature a glowing light when turned off—that means they’re still drawing electricity. A quick fix for this “vampire,” or phantom, load involves plugging various devices into a power strip. Simply flip the switch on the power strip when you won’t be using the devices. 

While your hands are most likely tied when it comes to the types of major appliances installed, if one needs to be replaced, lobby your landlord to purchase an ENERGY STAR model. Visit energystar.gov for more information on particular products.

Weatherizing

A roll of weather stripping and a tube of caulk can go a long way in saving energy and money. Check for gaps around doors and windows. Can you see daylight? If so, ask your landlord if you can seal cracks and reduce air flow.

The Air Sealing section on EnergySavers.gov offers tips on the right types of weather stripping and caulk for your residence. While you’re talking to your landlord, ask if he or she will pay the cost if you do the labor.

Look to your windows for additional savings. Of course, you probably can’t replace them, but if they’re drafty in the winter, try sealing kits you can purchase at any home improvement store. These plastic sheets fit over your window to block drafts. Curtains can also help—close them in the summer to block sunlight, and open them in the winter to let the warmth in.

Useful Tips

A few more simple tips can help shave your electric bills:

• When lightbulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). If they have an ENERGY STAR label, these bulbs typically last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity.
• Use your vacuum to clean coils in the bottom panel of your refrigerator. Never figured out where those coils are? Watch this video by Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives to learn how.
• Similarly, keep your dryer vents clean. Clogged refrigerator coils and dryer vents will cause your appliances to work harder and increase the risk of fire. 
• Don’t allow furniture to block air vents, and shut the vents in rooms you don’t use.
• Check the temperature on your water heater. These devices don’t need to be set at more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit for daily showers and chores.

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (EnergySavers.gov), Cooperative Research Network

Magen Howard writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.