Residential energy efficiency is an important issue at your electric co-op, and people seek ways to curtail their Nick’s background is in heating and cooling, and he brings years of experience to his new position. He will be working directly with residential consumers on ways to save energy throughout their home. In addition to his practical knowledge on heating and cooling, construction, and new technologies, Nick will have access to other sources of information on energy consumption. Nick will be available upon request to come to your home and give you suggestions on ways to be more energy efficient. Or, in the best case scenario, he can advise you that the steps you’ve taken with your home are the right ones to keep your energy consumption in line. The service is free, and will be provided as his schedule allows. For more information on energy efficiency, go to our HomeEnergy Suite. Nick will also be heading up our new Touchstone Energy Home Program, which will be rolled out later this year. That program, based on national Touchstone Energy standards, will give consumers who are building a new home some useful ideas and methods on ways to make their home more energy efficient for heating and cooling. And many of the guidelines for the program will help seal and tighten up existing homes as well.
You’ll find inspiration and practical advice in the Touchstone Energy Home program. Through this program, Touchstone Energy cooperatives like ours have worked with experts throughout the energy and homebuilding industries to identify specific features that will make homes more comfortable, while reducing energy costs. All that knowledge has been assembled into a set of nationally recognized energy efficiency standards tailored to each climate zone across the country. These standards provide the information builders need to build that level of efficiency and comfort into their homes. Some of the more important features of Touchstone Energy Homes include: • Controlling air infiltration throughout the house to prevent drafts and leaks Because homes built to these standards are so well-insulated and minimize air infiltration, homeowners won’t be bothered by pesky drafts that can cause temperature variation throughout a room. Proper ventilation ensures that normal household moisture created by cooking and bathing can escape, so mold and mildew will also be less of a problem. Another reason co-ops such as ours encourage members to build Touchstone Energy Homes is that more efficient use of energy is good for everyone. It helps us ensure a reliable, affordable supply, and it helps the nation’s environment by reducing the need for extra power. Not thinking about a building a new home? You can still apply these standards to an existing home to improve your comfort and ensure that your energy bills are as low as possible. For example, the most important step you can take is to identify and block sources of air infiltration that create annoying drafts and drive your heating and cooling bills up. You can also seal bypasses in your attic and add insulation to achieve the R-42 standard, or replace an older furnace or heat pump with a newer, more efficient model. If you’d like to learn more about the Touchstone Energy Home standards, or if you’re thinking about building a new home and want to ensure that your builder knows what to do, you’ll find a great source of information right here at the co-op. Our Energy Advisor, Nick Caley, will be happy to explain the program and answer your questions about it. Also, the cooperative periodically sponsors energy efficiency seminars and open houses. Call our office for more information. |
Energy efficiency is and will continue to be a huge concern for our consumers. Saving energy not only saves on our consumers’ monthly bills, but it’s the right thing to do. United is always looking at new building techniques and technologies as well as new energy-saving products that will benefit our members.
United REMC has joined other electric co-ops in northern Indiana in introducing the Touchstone Energy Home program.
