2023 May NAEC Arkansas Living Center Pages

Replacing old appliances has benefits

BY MITCH ROSS

Growing up, we had a patriarch in our church whose home we would visit. It was a very traditional environment with traditional values. One such value was posted as a sign in the kitchen, “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do or Do Without.” The wisdom of that sign has stuck with me into adulthood. Although I do believe in this axiom, I have since been able to spend time with engineers, and there is another sort of wisdom that you’re likely to hear if you ever ask an engineer a question. Instead of a straightforward answer, you’ll likely hear something like, “It depends.”

As an energy efficiency advocate, one of the barriers to improving a home’s energy efficiency is homeowners who share the same beliefs that were so clearly stated in that sign. It’s a belief I share as well, with the caveat of “it depends.”

When conducting energy audits, I have been shocked to find HVAC equipment from the 1970s still in operation as well as refrigerators and freezers from pre-1950! I always am impressed to find such hardy equipment, but I recommend that homeowners with systems more than 20 years old replace them as soon as possible for four reasons:

1. All good things come to an end! You can count on those units going out sooner rather than later. If you preemptively plan and budget for a change out, you can avoid a nasty surprise.

2. If you wait for the unit to go out before updating, you will be in the position where you must replace it as soon as possible. For appliances such as refrigerators, this means potentially missing great sales that could have shaved off hundreds of dollars off the replacement cost. For HVAC equipment, this means the unit likely will fail on the hottest or coldest days of the year — when home comfort is of the utmost importance and when HVAC contractors are at their busiest. Instead of reacting to an emergency, preemptive planning can let you get multiple quotes in the fall or spring with less pressure and get a better deal.

3. You’ll experience an immediate reduction in energy usage. If you replace an older HVAC system with a 16 SEER heat pump or other efficient system, you often can expect to shave 15-25% off your annual energy usage. For other appliances, savings can be significant as well. Look for appliances that are ENERGY STAR®-certified. They are rated to be the most energy-efficient.

4. As a part of the Inflation Reduction Act, many homeowners can qualify for unprecedented tax credits and/or rebates on heat pumps and other efficient systems. There has never been a better time to upgrade home systems, and doing so will help lower costs for your family and help us all as we strive to deliver affordable, reliable and responsible energy.

For more information on ENERGY STAR® appliances and equipment and the Inflation Reduction Act, visit energystar.gov

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's Rural Energy Savings Program can help qualified members fund new ENERGY STAR®-certified appliances, new air-source heat pumps, insulation and more. The loan interest rate is subject to change, but it is 1% in May 2023. An RESP loan application may be found at naeci.com/loans or at an NAEC office. A credit check is required.

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

Look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol when buying appliances. They are rated as the most energy-efficient.

Manufacturers’ Energy Guide labels provide information on energy consumption and savings.

Director election ballots to be mailed in May

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) will conduct the election for the open systemat-large board of directors seat by mail.

Members will receive an envelope with the NAEC logo from Survey & Ballot Systems around the third week of May. The Minnesota company is handling the election and tabulation of votes on behalf of NAEC.

Along with the ballot, the envelope will include the 2022 Annual Report, candidate biographies 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 15 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. Petitions were due April 21, which was after the magazine's print deadline. 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 can watch the meeting live at naeci.com; a recording also will be available.

Pay bill, report outage and view usage with app

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's mobile app allows members to pay their bills, report outages and view their kilowatt hour (kWh) usage from their phone or tablet.

The free app is available for both iPhone and Android phone owners. The log-in credentials for the app are the same as the portal at naeci.com.

$115.00

Members who never have used the portal or app can create a user ID and password by clicking "New User" under the "Menu" button. They then enter their account number, last four digits of the phone number on file, email address on file and other account information so that the system can verify their identity.

Members who have forgotten their password can reset it by clicking "Forgot Password" under the "Menu" button.

Call NAEC at 870-895-3221 for assistance.

NAEC promotes electric safety

May is recognized as National Electrical Safety Month, but North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) personnel promote electric safety in the communities we serve throughout the year.

NAEC has educational safety programs available for all ages. They include:

• High-voltage Safety Trailer Demonstration: NAEC's line personnel show the danger of coming into contact with energized lines and share how to avoid as well as handle potentially dangerous situations. The program is suited for teenagers and adults, but it is particularly beneficial for first responders as well as school and civic groups.

• "Making Accidents Disappear" Electrical Safety Magic Show: Scott Davis weaves magic tricks into a program that teaches elementary- and middle-school-aged children that electricity is a tool that must be used wisely. They learn to stop, look and think to be safe.

• Electric Safety Village: NAEC personnel use an energized tabletop display to demonstrate for young children common instances where they can encounter electricity and how to keep themselves and others safe.

NAEC offers the programs free of charge. For more information, email info@naeci.com or call 870-895-3221 during business hours.

Chris Waltrip, NAEC safety/training coordinator, demonstrates the danger of contacting energized lines for the Cherokee Village Fire Department. First responders often encounter vehicle accidents involving electric poles and lines.