Saving energy isn’t difficult, but it’s not automatic. You need to plan to buy energy-efficient appliances and to develop energy-wise lifestyle habits.  Here are 15 easy things to do around the house to save electricity and pare down your energy bill: Adjust your thermostat. Even one or two degrees can add up to great savings. … Continue reading.

Members of Heartland REMC will vote for five board seats at this year’s annual meeting on June 25. Potential candidates have until April 11 to file for nomination.  To file as a candidate, you must secure the signatures of at least 20 Heartland REMC members.  The person signing the petition must be the member of… Continue reading.

Internet signal range is important in keeping your whole home connected. There are several factors that can impact your internet signal range, such as the size of your home, the materials used to build it, and the location of your Wi-Fi router. While factors such as these play a role in signal strength, TWN Communications… Continue reading.

Noble REMC energy advisor Brian Hawk worked with high school students pouring concrete in a project that taught even him valuable lessons.  Hawk helped the students set forms and pour a basement using insulated concrete forms (ICF). ICF blocks are made from a foam exterior with rebar placed on the inside, which has connective plastic… Continue reading.

While you’re spiffing up the house this spring, don’t neglect your appliances: Dust the refrigerator. Refrigerators exchange heat through a system of coils. A buildup of dust and pet hair will make the unit run longer to have the same cooling effect and use more electricity. Vacuum the coils on the back and underneath to… Continue reading.

If you have leftovers from last Tuesday lurking in your refrigerator, now’s the time to pull on your latex kitchen gloves and clean them out. You could be putting your family at risk for food poisoning should somebody decide to snack on the smelly scraps. It’s true a refrigerator operates more efficiently when fully stocked…. Continue reading.

Adding a few items to your list of spring chores can help make your home more energy efficient and deliver electric bills that won’t make you sweat when temperatures soar. Start with your air conditioner Spring and early summer are good times to make sure that your air conditioning unit is ready to work when… Continue reading.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s packed with special observances. Besides Presidents Day, Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, there are a host of unofficial “national” days you’ve probably never heard of like National Tater Tot Day (which is celebrated on Feb. 2 each year). All these observances have something… Continue reading.

By now you know that TWN Communications and Heartland REMC are bringing fast, reliable fiber internet to your neighborhood. But did you know that TWN offers digital phone and TV streaming services too? That’s right. Now you can enjoy all your digital activities with ease. Bundle your services for a connection you can count on… Continue reading.

Winter months bring increased fire risks and electrical safety hazards. During the coldest months, consumers use additional electrical devices and appliances, like space heaters, electric blankets and portable generators.  Safeguard your loved ones and your home with these electrical safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.  Don’t overload outlets. Avoid using extension cords or… Continue reading.

Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment.  Stationary Generator — An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric co-op, should be installed by a professional.  Portable Generator — Plug appliances directly into… Continue reading.

Small space heaters are meant to do exactly as their name says: heat a small space. But unfortunately, many people use portable space heaters to heat their entire home, which can really take a toll on your energy bills. The truth is, whether you should use space heaters really depends on your home’s efficiency and… Continue reading.