Energy-efficiency myths debunked

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Posted on Aug 25 2017 in A Co-op Perspective, Fulton County REMC, Kankakee Valley REMC, Marshall County REMC, Miami-Cass REMC, Steuben County REMC

Any insulation you add will help your home to maintain a stable temperature.

There is a lot of great advice on how to be more energy efficient — using ENERGY STAR®-rated LEDs and appliances, for example. But then there’s the not so great advice: the misinformation, mistakes and myths that could lead you astray.

Here are a few of the most common myths — and the truths that bust them.

Myth: Switching appliances, computers and electronics off when you’re not using them will cause them to wear out faster.

Truth: Nope. Modern electronics and appliances are built to perform just as well with frequent shut-offs.

Myth: Your HVAC system uses less energy if you close vents in your unused rooms.

Truth: Unless those unused rooms are somehow sealed airtight, the air is still going to circulate. Closing vents can even make your HVAC system work harder than normal by causing a backup in internal pressure. You’d be better served by adjusting your thermostat, switching to a more efficient system, or having an energy audit and performing the suggested upgrades.

Myth: Adding insulation in the attic will cause more heat to leak out the windows.

Truth: Any insulation that you add will help your home to maintain a stable temperature. Adding insulation to your attic (and, more importantly, sealing your ceiling) is a great way to help keep your home more energy efficient.

Myth: New homes are required to be more energy efficient.

Truth: Not necessarily! A home’s age doesn’t always indicate its efficiency, which depends much more on the way it was constructed. That’s why we recommend looking for homes built to the specifications of the Touchstone Energy® Home program, which are designed specifically with energy efficiency in mind.

If you’d like to learn more truths about energy efficiency, contact your energy advisor today!

You’re Invited!

You are invited to several upcoming dedications commemorating our newest sites generating renewable electricity! Details are below.

Sept. 14: We will dedicate a new solar site created as part of Co-op Solar. The dedication will be at 2 p.m. Eastern time at Miami-Cass REMC in Peru.

Sept. 27: We will dedicate another new solar site created as part of Co-op Solar. The dedication will be next to EnerStar Electric Cooperative in Paris, Illinois, at 2 p.m. Central time.