There are few things in life that are free, the old saying goes. But some local business and homeowners have found out programs offered by Southwestern Electric Power Company have helped them save large sums of money while doing something good for the environment.
Representatives of SWEPCO and contractors who help install energy efficiency solutions such as LED lights and attic insulation were in Eureka Springs on Nov. 2 to get out the word about SWEPCO’s incentive programs (see SWEPCO.com/ARsaves).
Neal Frizzell, program portfolio manager for CLEAResult, an energy consulting company with offices in Fayetteville, said that the Arkansas Public Service Commission has a mandate that electric utility companies participate in energy efficiency programs.
“If we can save one kilowatt of electricity, that is one kilowatt of electricity that doesn’t have to be generated,” Frizzell said. “SWEPCO provides $6 million per year in energy efficiency improvements that are available to small and large commercial and industrial customers, small business customers and residential customers.”
One dramatic local example of the program is Harts Family Center. SWEPCO helped the grocery store replace 1,600 fluorescent lamps, 52 incandescent bulks and eight metal halide lights with more energy efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs. According to SWEPCO, Harts received incentives of $42,553 and is now saving 302,498 kilowatts of energy a year, representing savings of about $21,175 in energy bills.
Land O’ Nod Inn is seeing energy savings of about $5,297 per year for energy efficiency programs that included weather stripping doors, which also made it more comfortable for guests, and installing low flow faucet aerators and shower heads. Land O’ Nod got instant payback with the program because it received the installation at no cost.
Ryan Parish, community programs, CLEAResult, said incentives are available for both retrofit and new construction.
“Call us first if you are doing a project,” Parish said. “We might be able to save you a lot. The bulk of the energy savings come from lighting, but we also can evaluate heating and air systems and refrigeration.”
CLEAResults Program Consultant Lisa Lucas said customers can take advantage of incentives to purchase LED bulbs and selected energy efficient appliances. LED bulbs can be purchased at stores such as Ace Hardware, Dollar General and Home Depot where a bulb that would normally be about $9 is sold for $5.
“We will have two-packs of LED bulbs available for $1 starting next year at Dollar General,” Lucas said. “You can get a $75 mail-in rebate for Energy Star washers, and a $25 mail-in rebate for dehumidifiers.”
Lucas also demonstrated an advanced power strip at the recent meeting in Eureka Springs. Lucas said the advanced power strips help prevent what is known as “vampire” energy usage, electric devices that use energy even when they are not being used.
“You would be surprised by the amount of energy you lose by not having advanced power strips,” she said. “Gaming systems, in particular, can use a lot of power even when they aren’t being used. You can save $150 to $200 per year by using advanced power strips.”
According to SWEPCO, since 2013 96 commercial, industrial and small business projects have been completed in Eureka Springs with estimated savings of about 2.2 million kilowatt hours of energy saved resulting in yearly utility bill savings of $207,896. Incentives valued at about $282,822 have been paid.
Some local residents have difficulty staying warm in the winter paying high heating bills because they live in older homes without insulation. Jacob Nielson, program manager, CLEAResult, said SWEPCO customers eligible for residential programs can be either owner or tenant occupied for at least the past 12 months. Homes cannot have participated in a weatherization program offered through a utility or the government in the past five years. The homes must be at least ten years old or have received an electric bill in the past 12 months of more than 10 cents per square foot.
If the customer qualifies, there is no cost to programs that can include LED bulbs, low-flow faucet and showerhead aerators, and attic and wall insulation. Nielson spoke about one house in Eureka Springs that received energy upgrades resulting in $886 in annual energy savings. The contractor who installed the upgrades was paid by SWEPCO.
In addition to attic and wall insulation, other residential rebate programs offered by SWEPCO include Energy Star certified windows, air sealing, air conditioner or heat pump replacement, duct sealing, Energy Star pool pumps, Energy Star smart thermostats and advanced air conditioner tune-ups.
Sherry McCormack, SWEPCO’s manager of energy efficiency and consumer programs for Arkansas, said SWEPCO has about 2,000 customers in the Eureka Springs area. She said energy savings for those homes and businesses result in more money put back into the pocketbooks of local residents.
“This is money that stays in the community,” she said.
For more information, call (888) 266-3130 or email info@SWEPCOsavings.com.