Build using energy efficient practices

Incorporating energy efficiency into a new home or business requires more planning and effort on the front end, but it is much more cost-effective than retrofitting. Here are some energy efficient building practices:

•Build the home or business so that it faces north or south.

•Maximize floor space and minimize over-all volume and exterior walls by keeping the shape simple. It will reduce heat gain, heat loss and overall construction costs.

•Construct energy efficient tees and corners when framing. These enable insulation to be installed at critical points.

•Apply caulking and foam sealants to seal air voids, such as electrical and plumbing penetrations.

•Install wood or vinyl, double- or triple-pane, low-e glass windows.

•Use cellulose or foam insulation instead of fiberglass.

•Install metal ductwork and seal each joint with duct mastic or mastic tape.

•Heat and cool with an air-source heat pump or geothermal system.

•Use radiant barrier roof decking. For a packet of energy efficiency construc-

tion literature, call 501-570-2294 or e-mail communications@aeci.com.

Maintain HVAC system with yearly tune-upProper maintenance remains the key to

efficient heat pump operation and extending the life of your unit. You should have a pro-fessional technician service your system at least yearly. The technician should: inspect ducts, filters, blower and indoor coils for dirt and other obstructions; diagnose and seal duct leakage; verify adequate airflow by measurement; verify correct refrigerant charge by measurement; check for refriger-

ant leaks; inspect electric terminals, and, if necessary, clean and tighten connections, and apply non-conductive coating; lubricate motors and inspect belts for tightness and wear; verify correct electric control, mak-ing sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling and vice versa; and verify correct thermostat operation.

Information provided by the Department of Energy’s EnergySavers.gov website.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Leading into new career pathsWhen Matt Mosler started his career in television, he did not envision walking

away from it 28 years later. The broadcast veteran did just that last year. In August 2014 he left KARK 4 to join the pastoral staff in Men’s Ministry at New Life Church’s Greater Little Rock campus.

Mosler also is the director of Beautiful Feet Ministry and the CrossHeirs Retreat Center in Humphrey, which First Electric Cooperative serves. CrossHeirs Retreat Center is a 16-bedroom facility originally built as a duck lodge that was once dubbed “The Taj Mahal of Duck Hunting.”

“When we committed to purchase the lodge, we had no money,” Mosler said. “In a matter of a weekend, we had commitments to purchase the property in full.”

Mosler is an accomplished writer, singer and speaker. He frequently traverses the state performing at revivals, retreats and civic and corporate events. Mosler also is a fixture at the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart and serves as an emcee.

He and wife Camille have three children, Travis, Madison and Rebecca. Even though the two are now “empty nesters,” he has considered giving a cash bonus to the parents of their first grandchild.

Proper usage of heat pump can save you energy, money

DID YOU KNOW? Turners win home makeover contest

Jeff and Dedra Turner of Bauxite were selected as First Electric Cooperative’s prize winners in the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas eighth annual Energy Ef-ficiency Makeover Contest. The couple’s home received energy efficiency improve-ments Aug. 19 to help decrease their energy costs and increase their comfort level.

One member from each of the 17 electric cooperatives in the state received up to $3,000 in energy efficiency improvements for their all-electric home.

“The common theme among the 17 homes is higher than average electrical consumption per square foot of living space and complaints about having to sacrifice comfort in order to keep their electric bills affordable,” said Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Upon diagnosis of the energy problems, a team of experts installed additional at-tic insulation and sealed and insulated whole-house attic fans and attic access points in many of the homes. Also, the homes received caulk where needed, and unwanted air leaks were sealed. The makeover team also reconnected, sealed and insulated ductwork and installed CFLs or LEDs. Videos, photos and other information on the 17 makeovers may be found at www.smartenergytips.org.

Representatives from First Electric, Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Arkansas Public Service Commission and EEtility congratulate Jeff and Dedra Turner of Bauxite on winning the makeover contest.

Heat pumps are the most energy efficient type of electric heat, particularly for the southern United States. When they are installed properly, heat pumps can deliver one‐and‐half to four times more heat energy to a home than they consume.

How does an air-source heat pump work? A ‘heat pump’ is a device for cooling or heating an enclosed space by removing heat from interior air and transferring it outside or by absorbing heat from outside air and transferring it inside.

What makes a heat pump so efficient? A heat pump simply moves heat instead of creating it. Unlike a furnace, which must use fossil fuel or electricity to create heat, the heat pump simply collects the heat that already exists and releases it where you desire, either inside or outside of your home depending on the season.

Why do heat pumps have supplemental heat? The supplemental heater in a heat pump assists the system during extreme cold weather when a home may lose heat faster

than the heat pump can replace it. Electric heating elements in the indoor unit (often located in an attic or interior closet space) turn on automatically to make up the difference. These heating elements use considerably more electricity; fortunately, the heat pump only will use them when absolutely necessary.

This supplemental heat also can be turned on manually by adjusting the heat pump’s thermostat to “eheat,” or emergency heat. Please note: doing this will stop your heat pump from operating in its normal, efficient manner. Also, the supplemen-tal heat will turn on automatically if you adjust the thermostat temperature setting by more than one or two degrees at a time.

If your heat pump is operating in “eheat” mode without due cause (outdoor temperatures above freezing, no drastic changes to thermostat), it is possible that your system is malfunctioning. You should contact a licensed heating and cooling professional and have it serviced immediately.

For more information on heat pumps, visit www.firstelectric.coop or call 800-489-7405.

first electric cooperative edition

FIRST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEOCTOBER 2015 22

Build using energy efficient practices

Incorporating energy efficiency into a new home or business requires more planning and effort on the front end, but it is much more cost-effective than retrofitting. Here are some energy efficient building practices:

•Build the home or business so that it faces north or south.

•Maximize floor space and minimize over-all volume and exterior walls by keeping the shape simple. It will reduce heat gain, heat loss and overall construction costs.

•Construct energy efficient tees and corners when framing. These enable insulation to be installed at critical points.

•Apply caulking and foam sealants to seal air voids, such as electrical and plumbing penetrations.

•Install wood or vinyl, double- or triple-pane, low-e glass windows.

•Use cellulose or foam insulation instead of fiberglass.

•Install metal ductwork and seal each joint with duct mastic or mastic tape.

•Heat and cool with an air-source heat pump or geothermal system.

•Use radiant barrier roof decking. For a packet of energy efficiency construc-

tion literature, call 501-570-2294 or e-mail communications@aeci.com.

Maintain HVAC system with yearly tune-upProper maintenance remains the key to

efficient heat pump operation and extending the life of your unit. You should have a pro-fessional technician service your system at least yearly. The technician should: inspect ducts, filters, blower and indoor coils for dirt and other obstructions; diagnose and seal duct leakage; verify adequate airflow by measurement; verify correct refrigerant charge by measurement; check for refriger-

ant leaks; inspect electric terminals, and, if necessary, clean and tighten connections, and apply non-conductive coating; lubricate motors and inspect belts for tightness and wear; verify correct electric control, mak-ing sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling and vice versa; and verify correct thermostat operation.

Information provided by the Department of Energy’s EnergySavers.gov website.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Leading into new career pathsWhen Matt Mosler started his career in television, he did not envision walking

away from it 28 years later. The broadcast veteran did just that last year. In August 2014 he left KARK 4 to join the pastoral staff in Men’s Ministry at New Life Church’s Greater Little Rock campus.

Mosler also is the director of Beautiful Feet Ministry and the CrossHeirs Retreat Center in Humphrey, which First Electric Cooperative serves. CrossHeirs Retreat Center is a 16-bedroom facility originally built as a duck lodge that was once dubbed “The Taj Mahal of Duck Hunting.”

“When we committed to purchase the lodge, we had no money,” Mosler said. “In a matter of a weekend, we had commitments to purchase the property in full.”

Mosler is an accomplished writer, singer and speaker. He frequently traverses the state performing at revivals, retreats and civic and corporate events. Mosler also is a fixture at the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart and serves as an emcee.

He and wife Camille have three children, Travis, Madison and Rebecca. Even though the two are now “empty nesters,” he has considered giving a cash bonus to the parents of their first grandchild.

Proper usage of heat pump can save you energy, money

DID YOU KNOW? Turners win home makeover contest

Jeff and Dedra Turner of Bauxite were selected as First Electric Cooperative’s prize winners in the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas eighth annual Energy Ef-ficiency Makeover Contest. The couple’s home received energy efficiency improve-ments Aug. 19 to help decrease their energy costs and increase their comfort level.

One member from each of the 17 electric cooperatives in the state received up to $3,000 in energy efficiency improvements for their all-electric home.

“The common theme among the 17 homes is higher than average electrical consumption per square foot of living space and complaints about having to sacrifice comfort in order to keep their electric bills affordable,” said Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Upon diagnosis of the energy problems, a team of experts installed additional at-tic insulation and sealed and insulated whole-house attic fans and attic access points in many of the homes. Also, the homes received caulk where needed, and unwanted air leaks were sealed. The makeover team also reconnected, sealed and insulated ductwork and installed CFLs or LEDs. Videos, photos and other information on the 17 makeovers may be found at www.smartenergytips.org.

Representatives from First Electric, Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Arkansas Public Service Commission and EEtility congratulate Jeff and Dedra Turner of Bauxite on winning the makeover contest.

Heat pumps are the most energy efficient type of electric heat, particularly for the southern United States. When they are installed properly, heat pumps can deliver one‐and‐half to four times more heat energy to a home than they consume.

How does an air-source heat pump work? A ‘heat pump’ is a device for cooling or heating an enclosed space by removing heat from interior air and transferring it outside or by absorbing heat from outside air and transferring it inside.

What makes a heat pump so efficient? A heat pump simply moves heat instead of creating it. Unlike a furnace, which must use fossil fuel or electricity to create heat, the heat pump simply collects the heat that already exists and releases it where you desire, either inside or outside of your home depending on the season.

Why do heat pumps have supplemental heat? The supplemental heater in a heat pump assists the system during extreme cold weather when a home may lose heat faster

than the heat pump can replace it. Electric heating elements in the indoor unit (often located in an attic or interior closet space) turn on automatically to make up the difference. These heating elements use considerably more electricity; fortunately, the heat pump only will use them when absolutely necessary.

This supplemental heat also can be turned on manually by adjusting the heat pump’s thermostat to “eheat,” or emergency heat. Please note: doing this will stop your heat pump from operating in its normal, efficient manner. Also, the supplemen-tal heat will turn on automatically if you adjust the thermostat temperature setting by more than one or two degrees at a time.

If your heat pump is operating in “eheat” mode without due cause (outdoor temperatures above freezing, no drastic changes to thermostat), it is possible that your system is malfunctioning. You should contact a licensed heating and cooling professional and have it serviced immediately.

For more information on heat pumps, visit www.firstelectric.coop or call 800-489-7405.

FIRST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE 23