ECI REC members have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to energy efficiency. That trend continued in 2014, when members supported renewable energy, built an all-electric home, and took advantage of Cooperative energy-efficiency rebates.
ECI REC co-hosted one Model Home open house with Mark Torgerson. The homes demonstrated the benefits of all-electric home building in the areas of environment, indoor air quality, personal safety and security, and energy efficiency.
Through our Support Renewable Energy Program, an average of 117 ECI REC members contributed an average of $4 a month to support the production of renewable energy in Iowa in 2014. Member support for the year totaled $5,400.
Another way we support renewable energy is by connecting members who have their own energy-production facilities to our system. In 2014, the Cooperative worked with 8 additional members to bring our total number of renewable energy interconnections up to 30.
The Cooperative’s five-year plan called for us to demonstrate savings of 2,943,721 kilowatt-hours (kWh), but our actual energy savings were 2,976,385 kWh—more than 30,000 kWh over the goal! How did our members save all that electricity? The bulk of the savings came from the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting, water heaters, and home appliances, as well as recycling old, inefficient refrigerators, freezers, and window air conditioners. In total, the Cooperative paid out 6,127 individual rebates to 3,309 different accounts. The rebates to our members totaled $258,341 in 2014.
If you want to save on your electric bill, visit our Residential Rebates page or call the ECI REC Urbana office toll free at 877-850-4343.
