2023 June NAEC Arkansas Living Center Pages

Try these quick energy-saving projects

BY ABBY BERRY

Are you a weekend warrior? If you’re considering home improvement upgrades that save energy and money, we’ve got a few project ideas for you — all of which can be completed in a day or less! Here are three energy-saving projects that you can easily tackle whether you’re a weekend warrior pro or a DIY dabbler. Get smart about home cooling and heating.

Cooling and heating your home typically account for a large portion of energy bills. Smart thermostats can help keep your cooling and heating costs in check, with ENERGY STAR®-certified models saving about 8% on annual energy costs.

Now that smart thermostats are more affordable (as little as $70), this simple upgrade makes for a fun, efficient weekend project. Smart thermostats offer a variety of bells and whistles, but the average model will allow you to set custom temperature schedules, adjust the settings from anywhere via phone, and over time, learn your cooling and heating preferences.

First, make sure the new thermostat is compatible with your unit. It will come with step-by-step instructions, but this project typically involves shutting off your HVAC at the breaker panel, disconnecting/removing the old thermostat, installing the new smart thermostat and connecting it to your home Wi-Fi. Play it safe: remember to carefully read the installation instructions before you get started.

Go

green and boost your greenery with a rain barrel.

If you have a green thumb, you know that rainwater is the best water for outdoor plants. It is free of minerals, salts and treatment chemicals found in tap water or groundwater and contains helpful macronutrients to foster plant growth.

Installing a rain barrel is an easy way to harvest large amounts of rainwater and reduce home water use. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, one rain barrel can save a homeowner 1,300 gallons of water annually. Most residential rain barrels range in size from 50 to 90 gallons, so the size you purchase will depend on your watering needs.

The simplest way to install a rain barrel is positioning a plastic or wooden barrel directly under a gutter downspout. Basic piping may be required, but this is an easy way to harvest rainwater. Consider a cover to keep insects and small debris out. Create fresh savings with a DIY clothesline.

If you have enough outdoor space available, installing a clothesline is a great way to save on dryer costs. It also can save on cooling costs in the summer, as unwanted heat from the clothes dryer won’t be added to your home. Also, air drying is gentler on fabrics and will keep clothes and linens looking fresh longer.

You can create your own clothesline with two T-posts, wire and hook-and-eye turnbuckles. You may need a small amount of Quikrete to set the posts. Another option is installing the line between two trees. A typical load of laundry requires about 35 feet of line, so keep this in mind as you’re determining the best location.

If an outdoor clothesline isn’t an option, then you can create an indoor drying rack that folds to save space.

Using a clothesline can save energy. You will save on dryer costs and save on cooling since unwanted heat from the clothes dryer won’t be added to your home.

WALDEMAN, UNSPLASH

One rain barrel can save a homeowner 1,300 gallons of water annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Most residential rain barrels range in size from 50 to 90 gallons.

No-sweat guide to choosing a room air conditioner

BY MITCH ROSS

On one of the many scorching 100+ degree days we had last summer, I had the idea to order an above-ground pool for our family to get relief from the heat and enjoy together. Long story short … due to my lack of foresight (once it’s 100+ degrees — it’s preferable for the pool to be up and running, not just ordered), we received the pool and got it set up at the very end of summer. This means it didn’t provide any relief during the hottest part of the year, and we barely got to enjoy it at all. This year I am determined to be prepared before the hot weather comes, and I would recommend everyone do the same!

While a pool is fine and dandy, the real relief from the heat comes from our lovely, air-conditioned spaces. Arkansans owe Willis Carrier, inventor of the air conditioner (AC), a great deal of thanks. While we can all appreciate cooling off under the breeze of an AC system, I’ve seen a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about these wonderful devices while doing energy-efficiency education. We want to make sure you enjoy the benefits of AC in the most cost-effective way possible. Here, we’ll discuss an oft used, but not often highlighted form of AC — room air conditioners.

Room ACs, unlike their whole-home counterparts, central ACs, are designed to cool just one part of the home. Here are three main styles of room ACs and their pros and cons:

PORTABLE AC

Pros

Easiest to install.

Low upfront cost.

Cons

Extremely inefficient. Draws in outdoor air.

Noisy

Not the best at controlling humidity.

Recommendation

Only use in very short-term scenarios, such as while waiting on a central unit to be repaired.

WINDOW AC

Pros

Moderately easy to install. Low upfront cost. Some models are somewhat efficient.

Cons

Limits use of window Not the most aesthetic.

Noisy

Not the best at controlling humidity.

Recommendation

Use for somewhat temporar y scenarios, in spaces that are infrequently cooled, or when upfront cost is the most important factor.

MINI-SPLIT

Pros

Can be extremely efficient. Ver y quiet.

Excellent humidity control. A permanent solution. Can be a whole -home solution with multizone units.

Cons

High upfront cost. Difficult to self-install

Recommendation

Use as a permanent solution in a space that is frequently conditioned, as the higher upfront cost will be recovered by increased efficiency.

Mitch Ross is the energy efficiency manager for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Director election ballots

must arrive by June 16

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) is conducting the election for the open system-atlarge board of directors seat by mail.

Members received an envelope from Survey & Ballot Systems at their mailing address on file in late May. The Minnesota company is handling the election and tabulation of votes on behalf of NAEC.

Along with the ballot, the envelope included the 2022 Annual Report, candidate biography and a prepaid postage return envelope to mail the ballot to Survey & Ballot Systems.

Ballots cannot be given to NAEC. They must be mailed to Survey & Ballot Systems and received by June 16 to be considered valid.

Members on the nominating committee reviewed résumés of interested people and nominated Heather Knight Loftis of Mountain Home for the system-at-large position. No petitions were submitted by the April 21 deadline, so she is running unopposed. Results will be published in The Messenger and at naeci.com

The 2023 Annual Meeting will entail only a business session at the co-op’s Salem headquarters at 10 a.m. June 20. Members will be able to watch the meeting live at naeci.com; a recording also will be posted to the website following the meeting.

Future lineworkers

Gary Tanner, line foreman, right, and Andy Ward, lead line technician, visit Highland Head Start students. The two demonstrated how the bucket truck works and shared information about being a lineworker.

Ryan Foster, apprentice line technician, visits children at Salem Head Start. He went up in the bucket and let them try out the personal protective equipment, such as rubber sleeves and hard hats, that line personnel use to stay safe while working with electricity.