north arkansas electric cooperative
20 graduates to receive Round Up scholarships
SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT — Help your community by joining Operation Round Up! Enroll by filling out the form at naeci.com/ operation-round-up, calling NAEC at 870-895-3221 or mentioning it while in the drive-through. The donation averages $6 a year.
Kally Benedict Cotter High School
Lindsey Browning Viola High School
Daxton Hickman Mountain Home H.S.
Addison McIntosh Highland High School
Jonathan Schaufler Salem High School
Gage Slaughter Mountain Home H.S.
Help beat the peak Members can help keep NAEC’s wholesale power costs down by limiting non-essential electricity usage during the hottest part of the day. Learn more at naeci.com/peak. 22
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NAEC’s Operation Round Up® program awarded a $1,000 scholarship to each of 20 recent high school graduates for the 2021-2022 school year. Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their account or accounts in Operation Round Up. Participants agree to have their monthly electric bill “rounded up” to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $85.60 would become $86. Donations are placed in a trust and administered by a fivemember independent board of community leaders. The volunteer board evaluates all requests and determines how Operation Round Up funds are distributed. Since its inception, more than $190,000 in college scholarships, grants to community organizations and disaster relief has been awarded. In June, the board awarded $1,000 to United Way of North Central Arkansas. The donation will help get books to children from birth to age five in Izard, Sharp and Stone counties who participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. The board also awarded $550 to the Salem Fire Department. The donation will help purchase an automated external defibrillator, which is used when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest. The application for a donation is available for organizations to download at naeci.com/operation-round-up.
Madison Cooper Melbourne H.S.
Haley Czeschin Mountain Home H.S.
Jenna Ford Highland High School
Gage Hershberger Mountain Home H.S.
Chase Orf Izard County H.S.
Corey Palella Mountain Home H.S.
Macey Perryman Viola High School
Sophie Quick Mountain Home H.S.
Jessica Rula Mountain Home H.S.
Mandelyn Smeltzer Mountain Home H.S.
Olivia Wham Mountain Home H.S.
Addison Yates Mountain Home H.S.
Kelli Young Mammoth Spring H.S.
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Conner Bullard Salem High School
Learn how to up home’s efficiency Try an online energy audit to assess the overall efficiency of your home. Visit energystar.gov, and then enter “home energy yardstick” in the search box to get started. More co-op news on page 26
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north arkansas electric cooperative
Program helps members improve efficiency North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program allows members to borrow money at low interest to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes. Most NAEC members take out an EECLP loan when they need to replace or upgrade to an allelectric heat pump, but many also borrow money to add insulation and/or make other energy-efficiency improvements. The interest rate for these fixed-rate EECLP loans now is 1.5 percent; however, this rate is subject to change. All loans require an application process, which does include a credit check. Also, board approval is required for loans exceeding $20,000. Below are the types of loans available: • Air-source Heat Pumps — All air-source heat-pump loans require a SEER rating of at least 14 and an HSPF of 8.2 with an amortization schedule for eight years. A $100 blower door test is required and can be financed. A heat pump must be all-electric; one with dualfuel capabilities to use natural gas or propane will not qualify. • Geothermal Heat Pumps — All geothermal heat pump loans will have an amortization
schedule for 12 years. A $100 blower door test is required and can be financed. • Weatherization — Weatherization loans can apply toward Energy Star® windows and doors, insulation (ceiling, floor or wall) and electric water heaters with efficiency of 91 percent or greater. The amortization schedule is five years with a required minimum loan of $500. • Energy Efficient Lighting — Energy efficient lighting loans will cover LED installations with an amortization schedule for five years. The minimum loan amount is set at $500 with no maximum amount set at this time. Members can have more than one loan and can combine weatherization measures with a heatpump loan. Please note: new construction is not eligible for this program. The EECLP application is available at www. naeci.com/loans. A print application also is available from NAEC offices. Please call 870-895-3221 to speak with a member service representative for more information. NAEC also has energy advisers on staff who can provide guidance on what energy efficiency improvements would be most beneficial.
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NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE