SEPTEMBER 2011
Local family wins energy efficiency competition Getting the kids involved in a fun summer challenge paid off for a local family when they won the Watauga County Home Energy Savings Challenge. Travis and Nancy Isaacs, along with sons Parker, six; Connor, nine; and J.T., 11, won by reducing their electricity usage (kilowatt hour consumption) by the greatest percentage for the month of May as compared to April. Watauga County residents who had Blue Ridge Electric as their service provider were eligible to participate. Janet Miller and Travis Isaacs
The Isaacs won a home energy audit worth $500 from High Country Energy Solutions, a $100 gift certificate to Crippens Restaurant, tickets to An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Dierks Bentley concert, and a $100 credit to Blue Ridge Electric’s online energy store. “When we entered, we set a goal to keep our daily electricity costs under $2,” said Nancy. “We felt that was reasonable given that our costs were running about $3.50.” The Isaacs say they’re thrilled that the competition created new habits for their family that are still producing benefits: their daily electricity costs now average $1.88. What’s their secret to success? Nancy and Travis immediately began using the shower timer that came with a “thank you” kit given to those who entered the competition. The Isaacs also began using their washing machine’s “energy efficient” setting. “We do a lot of laundry and I realized our clothes got just as clean and smelled just as good when washed in cold water rather than warm,” said Nancy. The family is also using a clothes line to dry their clothes in warm weather — an energy saving step that gets Parker, Connor and J.T. involved. They also replaced all the light bulbs in their home with energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and are “fanatic about keeping the lights turned off when they aren’t needed” she said.
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- See “Energy competiton winners” on page 24 -
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f hie yC An Editorial b
Sharing makes a difference
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Our members have big hearts, generous spirits, and a strong desire to lend a helping hand when their neighbors need it. That’s the inspiration behind the Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation. And it’s why our members, sharing through the Foundation, are making an impact in local communities.
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I hope you enjoyed reading this month’s Carolina Country cover wrap featuring the many ways members — by joining together in the Members Foundation — have reached out to share and make life a little better for their neighbors. Joining Operation Round Up® is a matter of giving only a few cents, or for Operation Round Up Plus® members a few dollars, each month but, for someone down on their luck, the feeling is priceless when they get a helping hand from Operation Round Up. I’ve seen this program at work firsthand: from heads of families under pressure to provide for their children to senior citizens trying to make ends meet. And I’m convinced the recipients feel the power of all of you who round up your bills and give to Operation Round Up in the hopes of helping make a difference in someone’s life. Times continue to be tough for many folks recovering from job losses. Local and national economies are still struggling. Winter weather will hit our area soon. During the past few years at Blue Ridge Electric, we’re seeing more requests for heating assistance from both members and local helping agencies that are working to stretch their dollars to provide all types of basic necessities for local families. Considering all these factors, the need has never been greater to join in the cooperative spirit to help. I’d like to encourage all our members to join us in helping meet the need by signing up for Operation Round Up if you’ve not already done so. Some of us have even joined Operation Round Up Plus so that we can give even more. You can feel good that 100 percent of all Operation Round Up donations go directly to help members and local communities. This is truly a “member helping member” program. Blue Ridge Electric contributes in two ways: covering administration costs of Operation Round Up and the Members Foundation, and for the past few years, the cooperative has also been able to give an annual $25,000 donation from our propane and heating fuels subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies. Won’t you consider calling us to join fellow members in Operation Round Up today? Imagine what a difference we could make through the Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation if we all shared what we could. It only takes a few minutes — and few cents each month — to make a big difference in the lives of your neighbors. You never know whose life you could be touching. But I can assure you, your gesture of sharing and kindness will warm the spirits and hearts of those you help.
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Imagine what we can do... together Imagine...you can make a real difference in someone’s life with one easy step: joining Operation Round Up. Each month, the change you contribute by rounding up your electric bill will combine with others to help provide crisis heating assistance and improve our local communities. This is a voluntary program that you can join or discontinue at any time. It’s easy to sign up. Simply call us today or go to BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on “In the Community” where you’ll find all the information needed to join your friends and neighbors who are making a difference. By joining together, we can leave a legacy that is only limited by our imagination.
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What Are My Lighting Options? Starting in 2012, lightbulbs must be more energy efficient. The three most common bulb options consumers will find on store shelves are:
Halogen incandescents Energy Savings:* 25 percent Lifespan:* Three times longer Annual Energy Cost: $3.50
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) Energy Savings:* 75 percent Lifespan:* 10 times longer Annual Energy Cost: $1.20
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) Energy Savings:* 75-80 percent Lifespan:* 25 times longer Annual Energy Cost: $1 * As compared to traditional incandescent bulbs
Learn more at energysavers.gov/lighting
When you’re shopping for lightbulbs, compare lumens to be sure you’re getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, you want. A new Lighting Facts Label will make it easy to compare bulb brightness, color, life, and estimated annual operating cost. Buy Lumens, Not Watts We typically buy things based on how much of it we get, right? When buying milk, we buy it by volume (gallons). So why should lighting be any different? But for decades, we have been buying lightbulbs based on how much energy they consume (watts), not how much light they give us (lumens). With the arrival of new, more efficient lightbulbs, it’s time for that to change. What’s a Lumen? Lumens measure how much light you are getting from a bulb. More lumens means a brighter light; fewer lumens a dimmer light. Lumens are to light what pounds are to bananas or gallons are to milk — they let you buy the amount of light you want. So when buying new bulbs, think lumens, not watts. The brightness, or lumen levels, of lights in your home may vary widely, so here’s a rule of thumb:
thing dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens. • • •
Replace a 75W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1,100 lumens Replace a 60W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens Replace a 40W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.
What Should I Look For? The Lighting Facts Label To help consumers better understand the switch from watts to lumens, the Federal Trade Commission will require a new product label for lightbulbs starting in January 2012. The labels will help consumers buy bulbs that are right for them. Like the helpful nutrition label on food products, the Lighting Facts Label will help consumers understand what they are really purchasing. The label clearly provides the lumens — or brightness — of the bulb, estimated operating cost for the year, and the color of the light (from warm/yellowish, to white to cool/ blue). To learn more about lighting options and other ways to save energy at home, visit energysavers.gov or BlueRidgeEMC.com/Greensmart/lighting.asp. Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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To replace a 100W traditional incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1,600 lumens. If you want some-
Smart meter service inspections While automated smart meters are greatly reducing the need to be on member’s properties, we must still periodically check our equipment and perform maintenance. Blue Ridge Electric or a contractor authorized by the cooperative conducts periodic inspections of the metering facilities. This inspection is in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and helps ensure our members receive reliable and uninterrupted electric service from Blue Ridge Electric. As a safety precaution, members should be aware that authorized contractors and their vehicles will have official Blue Ridge Electric identification.
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Members Only NEWS
~For Members of Blue Ridge Electric
continued from page 21 CORPORATE OFFICE PO Box 112 • Lenoir, NC 28645
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell (828) 754-9071 Watauga (828) 264-8894 Ashe (336) 246-7138 Alleghany (336) 372-4646 Wilkes (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383 PowerLine® (PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)
Energy competition winners Finally, the Isaacs also turned up their summertime thermostat setting from 70 degrees to 76. “We found we were just as comfortable at the higher setting,” she said. A key step in tracking their usage and learning what steps had an impact, Nancy said, was to sign up for Blue Ridge Electric’s free daily electricity monitoring service known as MyUsage.com. The service is available from a quick link at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com. “We literally could see the impact of our efforts the very next day,” Nancy explained. The idea for the competition to help fulfill her degree requirements came from Janet Miller, a long-time Watauga County resident and graduate student at Appala-
chian State University majoring in Building Science. “It was a good learning experience for the boys and our entire family,” said Nancy, who added they’re already enjoying their grand prize package in addition to continuing savings on their electricity costs. To check out Blue Ridge Electric’s free online energy efficiency tools and information, visit BlueRidgeEMC.com. The competitions Facebook page is still available and will now be used to continue educating on energy efficiency tips and possible future fun competitions like the gift card giveaways for active participants on the page. Learn more at Facebook.com/ BlueRidgeGreenSmart.
Toll Free 1 (800) 451-5474 (for members outside the service area) To report an outage at any time, call one of the numbers listed above. OFFICE HOURS 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday Night deposit available. Visit us on the Web: www.BlueRidgeEMC.com
Happy anniversary Blue Ridge Electric September 19, 1936, marks the 75th anniversary of the official “birth” of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation. What started as a small rural electric cooperative serving 155 homes, six stores, four churches and a few schools in Caldwell County has grown into one of the largest electric cooperatives in the United States serving more than 74,000 residential, commercial and industrial accounts throughout northwest North Carolina. Thank you for the past 75 years and for the opportunity to serve you, our member-owners, into an even brighter future.
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