Great River Energy and its 28 member cooperatives have promoted the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for several years – it is one of the simplest energy saving measures homeowners can make. A single bulb amounts to relatively small energy savings, but if thousands of homeowners swap CFLs for standard incandescent light bulbs significant energy savings are achieved.

The success of a recent CFL promotion offered by Great River Energy and its member cooperatives will save 7,359,885 kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour is the amount of electric energy required to operate a 100-watt bulb for ten hours. 

The 2011 CFL promotion offered member consumers discounts on specific Energy Star rated CFLs through dollars-off coupons and instant in-store markdowns at participating Minnesota WalMart locations. More than 188,000 blubs were sold during the three month promotion which ran Mar 1. – July 31. The most successful component of the promotion was the in-store markdowns which produced 88 percent of the kWh saved.

The realized savings in kWh will go toward meeting the state of Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) goal. The CIP originated in the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act and requires every electric and gas utility in the state prove energy savings equivalent to 1.5 percent of their annual retail energy sales.

You don’t need to have the highest power bill in town to have the best holiday lighting display on the block. Before those dusty, old decorative lights come out of the box, our member cooperatives are asking their members to consider whether it’s time for an energy-efficient upgrade.

New LED (light emitting diode) technology offers more reliable and longer-lasting lights that use a fraction of the electricity of traditional bulbs. These high-quality lights can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent strands, are cool to the touch and aren’t sensitive to extreme temperature changes. They’re available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and lengths to fit your decorating style.

Although they cost a bit more, Great River Energy is helping make them more affordable with money-saving promotions. Through Dec. 24, members of Great River Energy member cooperatives can save $2 on LED light bulbs during the Make the Switch promotion.

As part of the Make the Switch promotion, cooperative members can also enter the sweepstakes for one grand prize of a $500 energy credit. Details and participation information for the sweepstakes are available at MNBrighterIdeas.com.

Recycle your old lights
Great River Energy has teamed up with the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) to sponsor a holiday light recycling program. Cooperative members can drop off their old, incandescent lights at RAM recycling stations throughout the state.

When it comes to energy efficiency, electric cooperatives should “keep doing what you’re doing, and do more of it,” according to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.

The FERC chief called for continued efforts to assist consumers in accessing information about energy efficiency, as well as low-cost financing to incorporate such efficiency into homes and businesses.

Wellinghoff, FERC chairman since 2009, said that he anticipates continuing progress in energy efficiency, due in large part to advanced technologies that provide more data about consumers’ use of energy.

Visit http://mnbrighterideas.com/ for energy efficiency information from Great River Energy and our member co-ops!

Fifteen cooperatives are testing a new technology that may reduce the energy needed to heat water. Known as heat pump water heaters, the technology moves heat from one place to another, rather than generating heat.

Inside a heat pump water heater, a refrigerant passes through an evaporator where it absorbs heat from the air. The heated refrigerant then moves a compressor that raises its temperature before it is used to heat the water in the tank.

As a result, the unit uses roughly half the electricity of a conventional electric water heater.

Water heating can account for up to 25 percent of the energy consumed in a home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Heat pump water heaters cost about $1,500 to $2,000 and have a bit more complicated installation process than a standard water heater.

A contest between two Great River Energy member cooperatives designed to educate their members/customers about saving energy produced unexpected and impressive results, and changed the way the participants think about conservation.

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association (WH) located in Rockford, Minn., and Lake Region Electric Cooperative, located in Pelican Rapids, Minn., wrapped up their “The Littlest User” contest on July 31.

The Bry kids – (left to right) Riley, Payton, Caden and Maisie – have been watching less TV and playing more board games as a result of The Littlest User Contest.

The contest kicked off on April 1, giving each cooperative’s team – which each consisted of six member households – four months to reduce their energy use as compared to the same timeframe last year.

WH took an early lead in the competition and emerged as the winner of the four-month contest with a total energy reduction of 43 percent. The Lefevre family of Maple Grove, Minn. reduced their energy use by 58 percent and walked away as the individual household winner of the contest.

The friendly competition encouraged participants to make small changes around their homes to help reduce their energy use. It wasn’t long before WH’s team – the Watt Watchers – noticed a difference in their routines as well as their electric bills. “If it’s not critical, it doesn’t stay plugged in,” said Kent Lefevre. “Changing a few small things can make a huge difference.”

Although skeptical at first, the Lefevre household put the “simple changes” theory to the test. To achieve their 58 percent reduction, the family made surprisingly small changes like unplugging devices that were not in use and turning off the TV when they left the room.

According to Ted Pribyl of Maple Lake, Minn., most of his household’s energy reduction was accomplished by using less artificial light. “I like a lot of light,” said Ted. “Before the contest we had 300-watt light bulbs in the garage. Those have now all been replaced with CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs).” Ted also said that he tried to take advantage of daylight and was more conscious about whether or not he needed to turn on lights. By doing these simple things, the Pribyls cut down their energy use by 25.69 percent.

“I do a lot of little things that the rest of the family probably doesn’t even notice,” said Lisa Zipp, of St. Michael, Minn. “I wait until my hair is half dry before I blow dry it and adjust the thermostat during the day to reduce our heating and cooling costs. It all adds up.” For the Zipps, these small changes added up to reducing their use by 20.70 percent.

Changing the way they did laundry paid off for the Dorvinen family. By using their dryer less and not using the heated-drying feature on their dishwasher, the family managed to cut their use by nearly 35 percent.

Most of the families also commented that conserving electricity brought them closer together. TV and computer use were often replaced with playing board games and spending more time outdoors. Most of the families said that they’d find it hard to go back to their energy-wasting ways. “I was surprised to find out how easy it was to cut back on our use,” said Steve Walstad of Buffalo, Minn. “It just shows how wasteful we were being before the contest.” Most of the participants also said that they’d encourage other households to try to cut back on their energy use as well.

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association (WH) recently presented Open Systems International, Inc. (OSI) – a new WH commercial customer – with a $40,000 energy efficiency grant for the company’s use of energy-efficient innovations in its new corporate headquarters in Medina, Minn.

Representatives from Wright-Hemmepin present OSI with an energy efficiency grant at OSI’s headquarters. Pictured left to right are WH President and CEO Mark Vogt, WH Board Chair Chris Lantto, WH Key Account Executive Lane Wilson, OSI Vice President Ron Ingram, OSI Director of Finance and Accounting Liz Geris and OSI Senior Consultant, Business Operations Ed Fitzpatrick.

The efficiency grant program is part of WH’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP). Grants are awarded to businesses that install energy efficient equipment which reduce electricity consumption.

OSI’s new corporate headquarters utilizes energy-efficient lighting as well as a ground-source heat pump (a heating system that uses the earth’s temperature to heat, cool and provide hot water for homes and commercial buildings), which is what qualified the company for the grant.

“It’s been great working with Wright-Hennepin,” said OSI Vice President Ron Ingram. “We look forward to working with them in the future to further enhance our energy-efficient practices.”

OSI, a supplier of automation solutions for utilities, is pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for its building.

Each year, WH spends more than $500,000 on residential and commercial conservation programs per Minnesota Dept. of Commerce guidelines, including about $100,000 in energy efficient grants to commercial customers.

When a new piece of energy-efficient equipment comes out of the box, it’s finely tuned to perform a task with as little energy as possible. Installation practices can affect that efficiency in both a positive and negative way. When pursuing home energy efficiency, it is vital that equipment is installed properly. That’s why Great River Energy and its member cooperatives offer incentives to members who hire certified installers for new central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps. In order to generate maximum electric energy savings, equipment must be installed correctly and according to manufacturers’ specifications.

Certified installers are trained to validate four components of the installation:
• Proper sizing
• Air flow
• Refrigerant charge
• Duct sealing
New central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps with an overall efficiency of 13 SEER or higher are eligible for rebates. In addition, the system must be matched, which means the outdoor condenser unit and the indoor evaporator coil must work together to provide top performance and maximum efficiency.

Don’t let your monthly electric bill put a damper on the joy of summer. We have some tips for keeping your home cool and your electric bill in check.

Adjust the thermostat
Set the temperature between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you could save up to 8 percent on monthly cooling bills. Programmable thermostats make it easy to save by offering pre-programmed settings to regulate your home’s temperature throughout the year.

Keep air moving
Fans won’t replace an air conditioner or a heat pump, but they move the air so everyone feels more comfortable. On milder days when an air conditioner may not be needed, fans can save as much as 60 percent on electric bills. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.

Regular maintenance is essential
Maintenance is the most important factor in ensuring your system remains energy efficient. We recommend you have your HVAC systems serviced annually or semi-annually by a NATE (North American Technician Excellence)-certified technician. These HVAC professionals will check the entire system to make sure it is running efficiently. This will help extend the life of the system and save money.  

Efficient equipment
When it’s time to replace a cooling system, purchase an ENERGY STAR-qualified model. This could reduce energy costs by as much as 30 percent. Tax credits and/or rebates on qualifying ENERGY STAR models may be available so check with your energy provider for more information.

Size it right
Too often, cooling equipment isn’t sized properly and could lead to higher electric bills. A unit that is too large for your home will not cool evenly and might produce higher humidity indoors.

The Elk River Energy Expo will run from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at Elk River High School, in Elk River, Minn. This free event features exhibits from businesses and nonprofits, a live radio broadcast, a keynote address by outdoorsman Ron Schara (accompanied by his sidekick Raven – the black lab), fabulous prizes, free coffee courtesy of Caribou, interesting 15 minute seminars, and fun energy focused activities courtesy of Community Education.

Great River Energy is a proud sponsor of the Energy Expo and will have an informational exhibit at the event. Stop by and see us!

Elk River has been known as “Energy City” since 1997 when the Minnesota Environmental Initiative chose it from over 30 other applying communities to act as a geographical focal point for the demonstration of efficient and renewable energy products, services, and technologies.

Elk River is also home to Great River Energy’s Elk River Energy Recovery Station and Elk River Resource Processing Plant.

Visit http://www.elkriverenergycity.org/events.html to learn more about the Energy Expo.

When you conserve water, you’re saving a lot more than a precious natural resource – you’re saving energy, too. For instance, a shorter shower lightens the load on your water heater. Fixing a leaky faucet requires water pumps to run less often. Installing an efficient washing machine means less water needs to be processed at water treatment facilities.

Great River Energy and its member cooperatives are offering consumers the opportunity to save energy by saving water with a special offer on an energy saving water kit. The kits are available at a discounted price to members of Great River Energy member cooperatives and include the following energy and water-saving devices.

A simple way to maintain a home’s energy- and water efficiency is to ensure the water heater is set at an appropriate temperature.

Shower head – A high-performance, low-flow showerhead can use 40 percent less water and energy than a standard showerhead.

Kitchen faucet aerator – A high-efficiency aerator saves 30 percent more energy and has a pause action that halts flow while keeping a consistent temperature.

Bathroom faucet aerator – The aerators included in the kit maintain water pressure while saving 55 percent more water and energy than standard aerators.

Water temperature card – A credit card-sized device measures the temperature of hot tap water to see if it is in an efficient range. Lowering water temperature just 10 degrees can save 3 to 5 percent in energy costs.

Plumber’s tape – A tight seal between connections when installing showerheads and aerators prevents damage and wasteful leaking.

By offering energy- and money-saving promotions on energy efficient upgrades, Great River Energy and its member cooperatives are making progress toward a goal that dates back to the Minnesota Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. Included in the statute is a conservation improvement program, which sets an energy conservation goal for every electric and gas utility in the state equivalent to 1.5 percent of their annual retail energy sales.

Great River Energy and its member cooperatives offer a wide assortment of rebate programs and incentives to help members save energy and to make progress toward the state conservation goal.

Learn more by visiting: http://mnbrighterideas.com/WaterKitPromotion2011.cfm