Natural Gas Rate
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Tax Credit
Information

If you have made an energy efficient change or upgrade to your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit.  We know that many of our members are becoming proactive about making their homes more energy efficient.  These tax credits can help recoup some of the cost for certain efficiency upgrades.  Tax credits are available for many types of home improvements, including adding insulation, replacing windows, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

Tax time will be here before we know it and now is the time to start thinking about where your invoices or receipts may be stored.  According to www.energystar.gov, “a tax credit can provide significant savings.  It reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay.” 

For more information and details on how to file for your federal tax credit, please visit Energy Star online at www.energystar.gov.  There you will find the appropriate forms and a list of frequently asked questions.

Winter Is On Its Way

 With winter right around the corner, and with the cost of energy still on our minds, we want to remind you of the products and services that we offer to manage your winter energy cost.  Regardless of how you heat your home or business, you need to make plans now as to how you can lower you energy usage this winter.  Sawnee is here to help!  Below are just a few energy saving tips that you can put to use this winter:

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees.  We can’t stress it enough that the setting of your thermostat WILL make a difference in your heating bills.

• Install a programmable thermostat.  This is a great way to control the temperature in your home or business when nobody is there.  Added bonus – you don’t have to remember if you set it back or not…with a programmable thermostat you can just set it and forget it!

• Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows.  Here is another one we can’t stress enough.  This is a simple, cost effective way to “seal up” your home.  What’s the point of doing big upgrades, such as insulation or replacing your AC or heat pump, if you just let cold air seep in?

• Got a heat pump?  Pick a thermostat setting, again we recommend 68 degrees, and KEEP IT THERE!  By moving the thermostat more than 2 degrees, you can force your auxiliary heat on, which can have a big impact on your heating costs.

• Consider upgrading your attic insulation.  This one can help make your home or business more energy efficient no matter what the weather is outside. 

Remember, Sawnee EMC offers several rebates or energy grants for making energy efficient upgrades.  Many of our rebates apply to businesses as well as homes.   For more information on rebates or energy saving tips, please visit us online at www.sawnee.com or contact our Energy Services Department at 678-455-1579.  One of our Energy Services Representatives will be happy to discuss your individual situation and help you decide what is right for your home or business.

Refrigerators – Is Yours Efficient?

You can improve the efficiency of your home by starting in the kitchen.  The refrigerator is likely to be the largest single power user in your home, aside from HVAC units and water heater.  Even though refrigerator efficiency has made enormous strides in the past few years, there are certain actions you can take to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigerator in your home.  Consider taking the following measures to help your fridge do its job more efficiently:
 

Our Mission

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation exists to serve the changing needs of members by enhancing the quality of life by actively supporting community developments and identifying and serving the members' needs.

  

Quotable Quote "Most of us know how to say nothing; few of us know when."   Author  Unknown

 - Cover liquids and wrap food stored in the refrigerator - uncovered foods release moisture which makes the compressor work harder.

 - Clean the door gasket and sealing surface.  You can find out if there is a good seal by closing the refrigerator door on a dollar bill.  If you can pull the bill out without resistance, you need to replace the gasket.

 - Move the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils at least once a year.

 - Check the temperature of the refrigerator and be sure it is set between 38 degrees F and 42 degrees F.  The freezer should be set between 10 degrees F and 15 degrees F.

If you are considering purchasing a new refrigerator, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR label.  A new refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label will save you between $35 and $70 over one year of usage!

Looking for a Bright Idea?

Do you want to be more energy efficient, but don’t want to spend a lot of money?  Consider the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL)...a handy little invention that uses about 75% less electricity than an incandescent light bulb.  

Over its lifetime, just ONE Energy Star qualified CFL can save about $30 in energy costs.  It is possible to make your home more energy efficient without spending an arm and a leg.  Consider the effects…if every U.S. household changed just one light bulb or fixture to an Energy Star bulb, each year our country would save $600 million in energy costs.  What does $600 million mean?  It means that would be enough energy to light 3 million homes.  Plus, Sawnee EMC offers a rebate to help you with the cost of purchasing CFLs.  Just purchase a minimum of 10 CFLs and Sawnee EMC will refund ½ of the cost to a maximum of $20 (please contact our Energy Services Department for more details).

Remember, energy efficiency doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming.  It can literally be as easy as the “flick of a switch”.  Next time you are at your local hardware, home improvement or even the grocery store – purchase a compact fluorescent and start saving!  Questions?  Please contact our Energy Services Department today at 678-455-1579 or via email at marketing@sawnee.com.
 

Calculate Your Energy Usage…

Are you curious about how your home appliances affect your energy costs?  To get a better handle on exactly how much energy is used in your home, visit our online Residential Calculator at www.sawnee.com.

The Residential Calculator can tell you how much it costs to operate your  appliances and HVAC system, electric usage,..and even natural gas usage.  This online calculator uses limited inputs and average consumption to help identify potential opportunities to save energy. 

Ready to try?  To get started, simply click on our Residential Energy Center on Sawnee’s homepage and follow the links to the “Residential Calculator”.  You will be asked to enter a few details about your home and appliances…then the calculator will give you a monthly and annual reading of your average energy consumption.  Go online today and see how the Residential Calculator can help you save money on your electric bill!