Boone Electric Cooperative’s Monthly Newsletter
May 2014
Make Your Yard Work for You
L
ocation, location, location is the mantra in real estate, but it also applies to your
yard when the search is on to lower energy bills and create curb appeal. Positioning the right combination of plants and trees can yield shade, beautify and provide energy savings. Energy-efficient landscaping can, on average, provide enough
energy savings to see a return on your initial investment in less than eight years.
Again, think location. Carefully positioned trees can reduce a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25 percent. This spring, make
your yard work for you.
• Use trees and plants to shade a window air conditioner, which can increase
its efficiency by as much as 10 percent. To maintain good airflow and access,
position plants three feet or more from the air conditioner.
• Shrubs and trees can form windbreaks or protective walls that break the wind
and may help lessen drafts in the house.
Made in the Shade
Planting shade trees can lessen the load on your air conditioner. Choosing just the
right trees may require a compass and patience while they grow to work for you:
• Keep in mind the mature height of the tree and the shape of its shade canopy
in relation to the height of your home. These factors influence how far from the
house you decide to
plant a tree.
• Shading takes
time. A 6- to 8-foot
deciduous tree
planted near a house
will begin shading windows in a
year. Depending on
the species and the
home, the tree will
shade the roof in
5-to-10 years.
• Make planting shade trees west of the west-facing windows your first priority.
• Select a tree that can be planted within 20 feet of the window and will grow at
least 10 feet taller than the window. If you have the space, plant a continuous
row of trees along major west- and east-facing windows.
Different trees can serve a variety of purposes. To block summer heat while
letting sun filter through in the winter months, use deciduous trees or those that
lose their leaves seasonally. Evergreens and shrubs, on the other hand, are ideal for
providing continuous shade and blocking heavy winds.
Remember to look up for power lines before planting. Do not plant any trees
within 15 feet of a power line. Trees with a mature height of 30 feet or more should
be planted a minimum of 30 feet from power lines.
Start planting savings and let your yard do the work. A well-placed tree or shrub
can deliver effective shade or act as a windbreak, and reduce your energy bills.
Annual Meeting set for
Friday, July 11.
The Boone Electric Cooperative Annual
Meeting is scheduled for Friday, July
11, at the Central Missouri Events Center (Boone Co. Fairgrounds.)
Join us for a free meal, safety demonstrations and the business meeting.
Also exercise your right as a member to
vote in the Board of Director elections.
Look for your registration cards in
the July issue of Rural Missouri Extra.
More information will follow in
next month’s Member Contact.
Energy Tip
of the Month
A well-designed landscape provides
both energy efficiency and curb
appeal for your home. The types of
vegetation you choose is as important as where they are planted. Sunlight streaming through windows
and bearing down on the roof can
drive up air conditioner use. Use
shade trees and shrubs in your landscaping plan to help reduce cooling
costs. In the winter, deciduous trees
lose their leaves and let in warmth.
Source: Energy.gov
Office Closing:
Boone Electric Cooperative
will be closed:
Monday, May 26 -in recognition of Memorial Day
1413 Rangeline St. • Columbia, MO 65201 • (573) 449-4181 • 800-225-8143 • www.booneelectric.coop
Co-op News
Prepare for Summer Heat, Increase Energy
Savings
A
Budget Bill Amounts
Recalculated
For those members who participate in the Budget Billing
program, this month’s bill
reflects your new monthly
budget amount. Each budget
bill account was recalculated in
April, based on the energy use
over the previous 12 months.
Any debit or credit amount was
factored into the new monthly
budget amount.
If you have any questions
about your new monthly budget
amount, or if you would like
more information about signing
up for the Budget Bill program,
call Boone Electric Cooperative
at (573) 449-4181.
dding a few items to your list of spring chores
can help make your home more energy efficient
and deliver electric bills that won’t make you sweat
when temperatures soar.
Start with your air conditioner. Spring and early
summer are good times to make sure that your air
conditioning unit is ready to work when you flip
the switch:
• Have a professional inspect and service the
unit.
Help from an energy efficiency expert now can
• Give the air conditioner a do-it-yourself
pay off later with lower summer utility bills.
cleaning. Shut the unit off and clear away leaves
and yard debris from around the coils. Inside the unit, clean or replace filters that can
restrict air flow and reduce overall efficiency by making the air conditioner work harder
on hot summer days. Make sure air can flow freely over the inside and outside coils (you
might have to trim back trees and shrubs). Vacuum registers to remove any dust buildup.
• Check weather stripping. When using window units, ensure that weather stripping is
in place and makes an air-tight seal around the entire unit.
Check out your roof. See how well your roof has weathered the winter. Few things can
shorten the life of your home faster than a roof leak, even a minor one can damage your
attic insulation before you know it. A roofing professional can assess and repair things like
loose or missing shingles, repair leaks and clear gutters.
Make your electric cooperative a resource. The Boone Electric energy advisors can help
you determine the right steps for your home. You can also visit www.TogetherWeSave.com
to find out how little measures around the house can add up to big energy savings as temperatures outside climb.
Board of Directors:
Joel Bullard - President
Karen Kinkead -Vice President
Nathan Martin - Secretary
Keith Schnarre - Treasurer
Glen Beckmeyer
Frank Glenn
Jay Turner
Wayne Wilcox
Kimberly Ponder
Todd Culley General Manager/CEO
Published by:
Boone Electric
Communications Department
Email comments to:
[email protected]
Helping Those in Need
H
opefully you noticed the C.A.S.H. and H.E.L.P. insert
included with this mailing. Use this insert to make
a one-time or monthly contribution to the C.A.S.H. and/
or H.E.L.P. programs to assist less fortunate Boone Electric
members in paying their electric bill.
C.A.S.H., which stands for Citizens Assisting Seniors &
Disabled, assists low-income elderly and low-income disabled members who have exhausted other resources. The
Heat, Energy & Light Program, or H.E.L.P., provides aid to
low-income families with children in one-time emergency
situations.
All money donated by Cooperative members goes to
help other Cooperative members. Members must qualify to
receive the funds, which are administered by the Columbia/
Boone County Health Department.
You can make a one-time donation to either or both programs. Simply fill out the pledge card and add the donated
amount to your check when you pay your monthly bill.
Or use the pledge card to denote a monthly donation. The amount will automatically
be placed on your monthly utility bill. All donations are tax deductible.
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Drive-thru hours: Mon. - Fri., 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Drop box and payment kiosk open 24 hours a day