BANDERA ELECTRIC News
MESSAGE FROM BEC CEO
M IC HEL L EG IBSO N | ISTO C K. C O M
WILLIAM "BILL" HETHERINGTON
li ring n tant ratification on En rg E ci nc D E S P I T E T H E P R O L I F E R A T I O N of LEDs, which became commercially available for residential homes almost 40 years ago, incandescent lights are still the most widely used in residences. About 60% of residences in the U.S. still use incandescent bulbs for lighting. A recent study, published by the National Academy of Sciences, reveals the genuine lack of understanding of home energy use. Nearly 20% of approximately 500 study participants listed turning off lights as the best way to save energy. Overall, participants were more willing to somewhat curtail their actions rather than invest in real efficiency, even if the latter would save more energy and money in the long run. If you follow that reasoning, incandescent lightbulbs are usually cheaper than LEDs, so the incandescent lightbulb wins. Although the study had some limitations, including a moderate sample size and lack of incentives for correct answers, the conclusions are stark. “Many people's concerns about energy are simply not strong enough, relative to their other concerns, to warrant learning about energy conservation," the study authors write. So how do we encourage energy efficiency, and how do you get people to care? For one, we should stop telling people to turn off lights when they leave the room. Our lives have become much more distracted and complex. Technology
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contributes to both increasing this distraction and complexity, but this same technology allows us to be much more efficient and better manage the complexities. We have become more in need of instant gratification in all that we do, and investing in energy efficiency for the long term doesn’t seem to fit that instant gratification mold—until now. Introducing our Apolloware Saver program, which offers the technology to save you money, including a smart thermostat and Apolloware, BEC's energy management software, which will provide you alerts, notifications and real-time visual validation of how much money you are saving every five seconds. Along with this technology comes an energy audit and of course, LED lightbulbs. You get all of this and an energy bill that will save the average member up to $120 a year without any change of behavior or curtailment of action. More money can be saved through our Energy Saver program, which allows you to upgrade and replace inefficient appliances like your HVAC system, water heaters and ranges, and with our on-bill financing, no upfront costs are required. Just drop us an email or visit us online because we already know you're too busy to call.
BA N D ER A EL ECT R I C
2/8/2021 3:38:52 PM