Energy Savings Update — July 2018

High Country Home Energy Makeover Contest winner announced
When Amy Cook found her cabin outside of Boone, N.C., she said, “It felt like home instantly.” Unfortunately, the first winter in her new home brought sky-high electric bills, despite her keeping the house unbearably cold. As the grand prize winner of our High Country Home Energy Makeover Contest, Amy hopes the upgrades she’ll receive will make her forever home more comfortable and affordable. Read the rest of her story.

Blue Ridge Energy discourages member attendance at annual meeting
Our Energy Savings Program Manager, Rory McIlmoil, recently attended the annual membership meeting for his local electric cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy. He was one of only two members there not employed by the co-op. Read his report from the meeting and find out why members don’t attend (hint: it’s the co-op management’s fault).

Home Energy Block Party was a hit!
The Energy Savings team celebrated clean energy last month at our Home Energy Block Party in West Jefferson, N.C. There were solar-powered smoothies, a visioning board, fun games and lots of great conversation. Here’s a recap!

News

Preserving pollinator habitat, one co-op at a time
National Pollinator Week was in June, but some electric co-ops celebrate year-round by creating pollinator habitats to protect bees, butterflies and other pollinators at risk. Learn about their efforts.

First Community Solar Tariff approved for Virginia co-op under new law
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative recently received approval of their Community Solar Tariff by the State Corporation Commission and is now offering members the option to subscribe to locally harvested solar energy through their Solar Share program. Read more about CVEC’s community solar program.

Tennessee ranks last on Community Power Scorecard
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Community Power Scorecard ranks states on policies like net metering for solar energy, community renewable energy programs and property assessed clean energy financing. This year, Tennessee comes in dead last with a score of 1 out of 36 points. See why Tennessee has fallen behind the rest of the country when it comes to clean energy, and view the rest of the rankings.

Events
Floyd Energy Fest
Learn about clean energy, sustainable agriculture and more at the 2nd annual Floyd Energy Fest in Floyd, Va., on July 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the rest of the details for this family-friendly event.

Clean Energy Film Showing: Reinventing Power
Join us for appetizers and mingling followed by a screening of Reinventing Power, which will take us across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future possible. July 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Knoxville, Tn. Hosted By Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. For more details and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.

Energy Savings Tip—Take your clothesline out of retirement!
Take advantage of the summer sun and line dry your laundry. Using a clothesline may seem quaint, but it saves you money on your electric bill while reducing your carbon footprint. Don’t have a clothesline already? Try tying a line between two trees!