A home built today uses almost one quarter less energy than the same home built even in the early 1990s. Changes in building codes and advancement in technology means we can heat and cool our homes for less, saving families money on their energy bills. And since the most expensive power is what is bought during "peak" times by our coops, everything we can do to decrease peak consumption saves us money as coop owners and members. Because of this, many coops offer energy efficiency programs: everything from home energy audits to energy saving smart meters to weatherization programs. Many coops have also found that funding a robust efficiency program will save them enough energy to mean they don't have to invest in new, expensive and risky old-style power plants.

Jill K. Cliburn is a consumer-owned utility veteran who for the last decade has focused on much of her work on utility renewables, including business model development for utility solar PV, solar water heating, and wind. She reserves a portion of her time to work on energy efficiency and demand-side resources, keeping current with technologies and trends that round out the resource portfolio. In this webinar, Jill reviews the revenue issues related to energy efficiency and renewables and offers best-practice advice on how electric co-ops can stay lean and strong. The webinar is geared for active and future co-op leaders, including active members who want to know how to propose greater energy efficiency and renewables that will be good for the co-op bottom line as well as for the communities it serves.

Energy Efficiency in Public Power on Vimeo.

A new report from SWEEP (Southwest Energy Efficiency Project) offers insights into why Rural Electric Cooperatives should look at efficiency and Demand Side Management (DSM) projects as part of their resource planning. This comprehensive report, “Review of the Leading Rural Electric Cooperative Energy Efficiency Programs” authored by Keith Freichberg, presents an excellent review of the background and history of the rural electric cooperatives in the country and recommendations for best practices in DSM programs.

The original report can be found at SWEEP's website and downloaded here.

Advocates for efficiency and renewable energy proposed a number of programs to serve member-owners in the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

A presentation for board candidates for Pedernales Electric Cooperative done in 2009.