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Doing their part
Like their co-op, members gain 'value and efficiency' by using energy wisely
Third in a three-part series
By Walter Allread
When he discusses how York Electric Cooperative will meet its members' future energy needs, President and CEO Paul Basha stresses a goal to "find that perfect balance between efficiency, value and protecting the environment."
Striking a balance in a time of tightening energy supplies means providing members with choices like the co-op's renewable energy program, Green Power, Basha says. It also means helping them use electricity efficiently, which is why York Electric offers its members useful programs such as free home energy audits.
 All the right moves
Two members who have taken the co-op's energy-saving advice are Don and Virginia Johnson of Clover. The Johnsons called their friend Brent Clinton, York Electric's Key Accounts Representative, to have him look for ways they could trim their power bills but still trade up for added comfort.
Auditing their home challenged Clinton, who is accustomed to finding more obvious areas for improvement. Many homes, he notes, have low levels of insulation, poor ductwork and windows that could stand sealing or caulking — or, sometimes, Clinton says, just plain closing! But the Johnsons had made all the right energy moves at their home, according to Clinton. These include:
 Investing in a geothermal heat pump  — over the long term, one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home
- Using programmable thermostats to automatically control heating and cooling levels throughout the home
- Siting the house to take advantage of passive solar lighting and heating, and
- Properly insulating the home, including attics and ductwork.
"They well exceeded the minimums for insulation," Clinton says. As a reward, the Johnsons' home easily met co-op standards to receive an energy-efficient power rate.
Even so, Don says of Clinton, "He had all these other ideas." A key recommendation was to invest in insulated garage doors, which reduced heat gain and loss.
"We did have the whole garage insulated, too," Virginia says. Don adds, "It does pay off." With less loss of heated and cooled air, the Johnsons say they feel quite a difference inside their home year-round.
'Low-hanging fruit'
The Johnsons are also harvesting what some call the "low-hanging fruit" in this season of greener, leaner energy use: They are switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of less efficient incandescent bulbs. By doing so, the couple is in step with their co-op, which is promoting CFL use through a program called "Do the Light Switch."
 The statewide cooperative effort this year will put two CFLs into the hands of each residential member of York Electric and 19 other South Carolina co-ops. Over 10 years, S.C. co-op members will receive approximately seven million CFLs.
York Electric's CEO says "Do the Light Switch" follows co-op studies of the best options in renewable resources and energy efficiency. "The study showed that promoting the use of CFLs was the most effective, quickest way to benefit the environment and lower our members' power costs," he says. CFLs can significantly reduce energy use at a time when the state's power needs are rapidly increasing.
"'Do the Light Switch' is an example of York Electric Cooperative using the membership's money conservatively to yield maximum value and efficiency for our members," Basha says.
The strived-for "balance" can best be achieved if co-op members do their part, as the Johnsons have, Basha says. "Ultimately, it's our members who have the power to make a difference. Please use energy wisely! Today, more than ever, electricity is too valuable to waste."
Related Links
Some can't wait to 'Do the Light Switch' »
Co-op re-energizes effort to help members save energy, money »
CFLs available for 3-way switches, recessed fixtures »
Energy myths & energy use »
Touchstone Energy Light Bulb Energy Saver »
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