When we were growing up, our parents taught us to be smart about life—to not waste food, to take care of things, to be sensible about how we spent money and to be considerate of others. The same sort of wisdom is what energy conservation is all about—using common sense about how we use energy and the money it costs to generate.

With rising costs for gasoline, groceries and other goods, most of us are looking for ways to be smart with our dollars. At the same time, we are enjoying the pleasures of new electricity-powered technologies, from flat-panel TVs to game systems and time-saving appliances. What if we could enjoy these things without worrying that our electricity costs were going to swell?

At Tri-County EMC, we believe using common-sense (we call it conservation) can keep our homes comfortable and our devices powered, while also helping us and our neighbors save money. Tri-County’s new lineup of energy-efficiency and conservation programs is about convenience, comfort and taking control of your energy usage. It’s about being an active participant in the future power needs of your cooperative. It’s the same kind of wisdom taught by mom and dad. Saving energy and money is so easy we’ve named our newest program "No Sweat."

No Sweat
Your air conditioner or central heat pump is one of the biggest users of energy. By participating in No Sweat, you can make sure your home’s air conditioning makes the smallest possible impact on future energy needs while putting money back in your pocket.

Rarely, if ever, will your air-conditioner run continuously, even on the hottest days. On peak electric days, about 10 to 20 days each summer, No Sweat uses smart technology to briefly stagger air-conditioning run times of participating customers. If you and your neighbor participate, while your air-conditioner or heat pump is running, your neighbor’s system may be paused. The maximum time any system can be paused at one time is just seven minutes. And the indoor blower will still operate, keeping cool air circulating. Most customers will never notice that the program has been activated. After all, it’s No Sweat.

It’s cheaper to conserve energy than to build new power plants. By participating in No Sweat, you will help avoid the need for new electric generation, meaning direct savings for Tri-County EMC. And the cooperative way means returning the savings to you. For each year you participate, you’ll receive a $25 bill credit and the satisfaction of knowing you are making an impact on our environment.      

Energy Audits
Everyone knows it’s a good idea to get a checkup from the doctor periodically. If you have not had an energy checkup for your home, you could be wasting money and sacrificing comfort. An energy audit from Tri-County EMC will provide you with a review of heating and cooling units, duct systems, insulation levels, infiltration control, ventilation and major appliance usage. You will also receive a written report with ideas for lowering energy bills and increasing comfort. Best of all, its part of being a Tri-County member, so there’s no extra charge.

Insulation Rebates
Does your home need additional attic insulation? Tri-County EMC now offers rebates for adding insulation to your existing home. If your home currently has R-11 or less and you add at least R-19 for a total of R-30, you would qualify for a $150 rebate. If your home has R-19 or higher and you raise the level to at least R-30, you would qualify for a $90 rebate. To qualify, the insulation must be installed after Feb. 1, 2008. A Tri-County representative will verify that the insulation was correctly installed to the stated level and proof of purchase will be required. Visit tri-countyemc.com or call 478.986.8119 for details. <<