Sunday, December 17, 2017

Two North Nodaway Students Win Prizes in Electric Video Contest

Two North Nodaway students won prizes for making YouTube videos showing three ways to save energy. The contest was sponsored by United Electric Cooperative of Maryville. Keagan O’Riley won an all-expenses paid trip to Washington (DC) from June 8th to 14th. Arron Coleman will go to Jefferson City for three days in July.

There were 19 entries for the contest. Students were also interviewed by United Electric.

O’Riley’s video recommended minimizing phantom loads, being smart when heating and cooling your home, and using Energy Star appliances. Phantom load is energy used when devices are plugged in when they are not being used. One possible idea is energy-efficient power strips.

One possible way to save energy from O’Riley’s video was to use the fan instead of the air conditioner in summer.

Energy Star appliances are more efficient than older appliances, and United Electric offers rebates for customers who use Energy Star appliances.

Arron Coleman’s video featured ways you can save energy around the house. One way was to set your air conditioner to as close as possible to the temperature outside the house. The closer you set it to the outside temperature, the less it has to run.

The second suggestion was to use a ceiling fan to circulate air instead of an air conditioner. That could save anywhere between $23 to $137 a month on air conditioning.

The third was to turn up the thermostat whenever you leave your house for a long time. Almost 50% of energy costs are incurred heating or cooling a home.

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