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A Touchstone Energy Cooperative

Energy Efficiency Programs

Pay for what you use, not for what you lose.

Did you know that it might pay to buy a new air conditioner? Today's best air conditioners use 30 to 50 percent less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid-1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20 to 40 percent of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.

Albemarle EMC can help you identify areas you can save valuable heating and cooling dollars. You might be surprised at how a few small changes can save you a lot. Contact us to arrange for a free energy audit.

To try an online energy evaluation, go to Together We Save.
Energy Star Home Rebate Program
To qualify for the $750 Energy Star home incentive, the house must be on Albemarle EMC’s lines and be certified as an ENERGY STAR® home by a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater. For more information on the ENERGY STAR program or to locate a rater, please visit www.energystar.gov. To receive the incentive, the homeowner will need to sign an agreement granting all Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to Albemarle EMC for a 30-year period. A REC is proof that one megawatt of conventional electricity generation has been avoided through energy efficiency, or one megawatt of electricity has been purchased from a renewable source such as a wind turbine.

In order to apply, please download this form. Incentive money is contingent upon availability of funds. The energy efficiency programs are part of an initiative to comply with North Carolina renewable energy law. The state law requires power providers to purchase a certain percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources such as wind and solar. The mandate also gives co-ops the option of complying by enacting energy efficiency measures.
CFL Bulb Giveaway
In 2010, Albemarle EMC will give a pack of compact fluorescent light bulbs to each of its members. The bulb giveaway is part of Albemarle EMC’s initiative to comply with North Carolina renewable energy law. The state law requires power providers to purchase a certain percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources such as wind and solar. The mandate also gives co-ops the option of complying by enacting energy efficiency measures. By giving away the light bulbs, Albemarle EMC can begin earning Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). A REC is equal to one megawatt hour of electricity generated by a renewable source or one megawatt of generation that is avoided through energy efficiency initiatives, such as compact fluorescent light bulb giveaways.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less electricity than the standard incandescent bulbs. The amount of light produced by the CFLs will be equivalent to that of one standard 60-watt bulb and one standard 100-watt bulb.
Water Heater Kits
To assist members with becoming more energy efficient, Albemarle EMC is now selling water heater blanket kits.

Albemarle EMC is selling the water heater blankets for $12. In addition, members will receive a low-flow shower head, pipe insulation and two sink aerators at no extra charge, with each purchase of a water heater blanket. The blanket kits can be paid for and picked up at the Albemarle EMC office, located at 159 Creek Drive, Hertford, NC. Members can pay for the kits with either cash, check or credit card.

Members will be responsible for installing their own blankets. The blankets will be large enough to fit all sizes of water heaters and may need to be trimmed for smaller water heaters. A blanket will typically save between 9 and 4 percent in water heating costs.

The sale of the water heater kits enables Albemarle EMC to begin complying with the North Carolina Renewable Energy law. The state mandate requires power providers to purchase a certain percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources such as wind and solar. The mandate also gives co-ops the option of complying by enacting energy efficiency measures (such as the sale of water heater blankets). By selling water heater blankets, Albemarle EMC can begin earning Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). A REC is equal to one megawatthour of electricity generated by a renewable source or one megawatt of generation that is avoided through energy efficiency initiatives.