Energy Efficiency Extras

Stay Cool This Summer While Saving Energy

Red River REA  is here to help you save money this summer.  Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, you will spend 45 percent of your utility bill on heating and cooling.  By following a few simple tips, you can cut your energy use and reduce environmental emissions, from 20 percent to 50 percent this summer. 

Cooling Tips

• Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable this summer, consider a programmable thermostat. 
• Check to see that your home is well insulated.
• Clean or replace filters in air conditioners monthly, and get a system check-up before each cooling season.  Upgrade aging heating and cooling equipment as needed, since the new models are more energy efficient.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are finished cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• Keep the window coverings and blinds closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
• Run ceiling fans to distribute cool air throughout your home.
• Seal around drafty windows, doors, electrical outlets, and pipes.
• Use your microwave in place of your stovetop or oven whenever possible in the heat of the day.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. We can provide you with energy fact sheets with more information on energy-efficient heating and cooling or we can install an Energy Efficient Geothermal System at your home.
• $ Long-Term Savings Tip: For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 14 SEER or more.

Conservation Tip

Voluntarily conserving power during peak-use hours (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. between June 20 and September 9) can make a difference in lowering demand and ultimately your own power cost. NOTICE: Effective January 1, 2013, the cooperatives peak use hours shall change to the house between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, every day except Sundays, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, between June 20th and September 9th.

Some of the most important conservation measures include:

• Setting air conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher
• Turning off unused lights and appliances, especially computers
• Avoiding use of washer, dryer and dishwasher
• Avoiding use of any equipment that uses a lot of electicity

Red River REA wants to help you save time, energy and money.
Visit http://oklahoma.coop/tools.htm for more energy efficiency tips.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Oklahoma
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