Skip to content

News

Remodeling This Spring? Keep Energy Efficiency In Mind

Spring is prime season for remodeling, upgrading and repairing your home. If you’re planning a remodeling project this season, make a point of adding energy-efficient features along the way.

Here’s a Top 10 list:

  1. Add insulation around recessed lights so no heated or air-conditioned air can leak out of them and the outdoor weather can’t sneak in.
  2. If you’re replacing your water heater, consider a heat pump water heater. You can also save energy by setting the temperature at 120 degrees.
  3. Install programmable thermostats when you add rooms to the house. While you’re at it, have the thermostats in the rest of the home upgraded to programmable models. (Please check the manufacturer’s book or ask your HVAC expert as wide swings in settings for heat pumps are not recommended.)
  4. Your contractor will install more insulation in any new spaces you’re adding than your builder did during the original construction of your home. Consider adding insulation to already-insulated areas, like the basement or crawlspace and attic to match new energy efficiency standards.
  5. A new kitchen means shiny new appliances. Select those rated as energy efficient by ENERGY STAR, which guarantees that the appliance will use less energy than unrated models.
  6. If your older home still has single-pane windows, put an upgrade at the top of your remodeling wish list. Double-pane windows are more energy efficient because they shield your home from the outdoor weather—and keep your conditioned air indoors.
  7. Change the light fixtures in your most-used rooms to LED models. They last 10 years or longer, save considerable energy when compared to regular lightbulbs and you never have to change bulbs.
  8. Work with a contractor who understands how passive solar design can lower your energy bills. Some popular choices are rooftop solar panels that heat the home’s water; sunroom additions that invite natural heat into the home through windows; and the addition of skylights.
  9. Add or upgrade ventilation fans in bathrooms. This can improve air quality throughout the home—not just in the bathrooms—by removing moisture from the air.
  10. Consider having a home energy rating or an energy audit conducted on your home. A professional will evaluate your home for energy-wasters, suggest ways to fix them and recommend additions that will make your house more comfortable and cheaper to heat and cool.

2020 Washington Youth Tour Delegates Announced

Each year, Kenergy selects three high school juniors to attend the Washington Youth Tour. A team of Kenergy-area judges selected students based on their academic resume and a 1,000-word essay on the subject of their choice. Kenergy is thrilled to announce the three delegates for the 2020 Washington Youth Tour:

Emilee Clark

Emilee is the daughter of Jennifer and Alan Clark and attends Daviess County High School.

Philip Caldbeck

Philip is the son of Brian and Claire Caldbeck and attends Daviess County High School.

Lily Martin

Lily is the daughter of Beverly and Charles Martin and attends Webster County High School.

The delegates will travel to Washington, D.C. for an all-expense paid trip in June. The week-long trip will allow students to learn about leadership, the cooperative model, and also explore the nation’s capital. Our delegates will tour the sites and sounds of D.C. during their trip!

More than 1,500 students from across America take part in the Youth Tour experience each year. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has been coordinating this program since the 1950’s.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Alamon Pole Inspections Beginning

Alamon, a pole inspection contractor for Kenergy, will begin inspecting poles this month. Each wooden pole Kenergy owns, or is attached to, will be inspected to ensure there are no hazards. Inspectors check for decay, insects, cracks, holes, age, and any damage members may have caused.
You may see trucks in your area bearing a ‘Kenergy Contractor’ magnet. Inspectors will also have an Alamon picture ID with them. Inspectors will be working during daylight hours only. Don’t be alarmed if you see the contractors parked for a few hours and/or riding from pole-to-pole on an all-terrain vehicle.

Inspection areas include Whitesville, South Hanson, Providence, and Wolf Hills. These inspections will be ongoing until the end of July.

If you suspect something irregular or suspicious, please give us a call at 800.844.4832!

Don’t Ignore Your Water Heater

Your water heater works hard all year round to make sure your family can take hot showers, rinse caked-on food off of pots and pans in the dishwasher and wash your clothes at any temperature you choose.

During the winter, however, the water heater works even harder. Cold weather means it has to spend extra energy to heat water. Extra showers, laundry and dirty dishes during the holiday season mean it has to heat more tanks of water to keep up.

So, don’t ignore it. Like any appliance, your water heater needs attention and maintenance to stay in good working condition.

Take a look. Most homeowners don’t look at their water heaters until there’s a problem, but a glance every now and then could keep those problems at bay. If the outside of the tank is rusting, if water is leaking from it or if you see rusty water stains on the floor surrounding it, call a plumber right away.

Reset the temperature. It’s easier than you think to accidentally raise or lower the temperature setting on a water heater, just by knocking it with a mop while you’re cleaning the floor, for example. Verify that the appliance is set to 120 degrees. You’ll notice a difference in the water temperature in the shower if it’s too low or too high.

Insulate electric water heaters. Insulating the pipes and tanks will keep heat inside the tank and prevent it from escaping into the air. Consider investing in an inexpensive water heater blanket, usually made from foil or fiberglass. It will help the tank maintain a consistent temperature. A tip: Leave it on year-round.

Call for service. An annual “flush” will remove sediment and minerals that can build up in the tank and reduce the heater’s efficiency and lifespan.

 

Network Maintenance – February 21

A vendor for Kenergy will be performing network maintenance on Friday, February 21st at 11:59pm. We anticipate the work to last for approximately two hours. Members will not be able to access the SmartHub application to make payments during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Save Energy At Your Home Office

Today’s economy has more people working from their homes instead of commuting to offices. If you’re one of them, consider making over your home office with energy-efficient features.

  • Turn your computer off when you’re finished working for the day. It’s tempting to leave your computer on for quick access, but it’s unnecessary to leave it on 24/7. If you will be away from work for more than two hours, shut it down.
  • Enable the power management features on your computer. These are the features that automatically put your computer into standby mode when not in use.
  • Shut off printers, copiers, scanners and other large equipment when not in use. Plug them into one power strip to shut them off with one flick of the switch. If you often forget to turn them off, use a power strip with a timer to power down each night.
  • When buying new equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR label on all computers and printers. Choose equipment that does double duty—like a printer than also scans and copies, for instance. That way, you’ll have fewer devices to plug into the wall.

 

AT&T Experiencing Issues

We’re experiencing some issues with members calling in to our offices using AT&T mobile phones. We are working with AT&T to resolve the issue.
Land lines and other cell phone providers are not experiencing any issues.

Charging Your Phone at Public Ports Could Invite Hackers

You might want to charge your phone before you leave home every day. It turns out that charging it in a public space could put your information at risk.

According to the Washington, D.C., Forensics Lab, when you plug your phone into a USB charging hub at an airport, shopping mall or sports arena, you could be allowing hackers to access to the data on the device.

The lab’s chief of cybersecurity, Tracy Walraven, told Washington, D.C., radio station WTOP that those convenient public ports are an easy target for hackers. Her advice: Invest in your own charger and carry it with you when you’ll be away from home for a while.

The same goes for plugging in while driving a rental car or riding in an Uber or Lyft, which Walraven calls “essentially someone else’s computer on wheels.”

Ports in some cars automatically sync with Bluetooth, which means the car could download your data—from playlists to financial records.

If “it’s a car with a hard drive or data storage mechanism in it, it’s just going to do what it’s supposed to do, which is collect data,” she told the radio station. So hackers could steal more than playlists; they could steal your identity with the information they collect from your phone.

Plugging into public Wi-Fi is risky as well, Walraven says, because anyone who is on the same network could gain access to your data. Try to avoid joining open, public Wi-Fi networks altogether.

And, to be safe, if you’re not using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, turn the settings off on your phone—you’ll avoid being an unnecessary target for hackers and save battery life.

Scam Alert!

SCAM ALERT! We have reports of scammers targeting commercial accounts today. Today’s scammer used a 806 area code number. If you get a call from someone threatening to turn off your power or go to a store like Dollar General to make a payment, hang up and call us at 800-844-4832.

Protect Your Family Members From Electrical Dangers – Even the Ones With Paws!

Picture this all too familiar scene: You walk into the living room after a long day at work and find your dog chewing on something (again). You ask him what he has in his mouth (like he’s going to answer you!). On most days, he’s chewing on your favorite pair of shoes. But this time, an electrical cord in his mouth. Being cute and cuddly won’t help him now. He may have put himself in danger of injury or death and created a shock or fire hazard in your home.

Spending a little time “pet-proofing” your home will help you avoid a pet-related accident. If you have a pet, check out these tips to protect your furry friend from electrical hazards:

  • Small mammals and birds have a habit of gnawing on things, which might include exposed electrical cords. Try to block access to these cords by strategically placing your furniture so pets can’t reach them. Sometimes it’s hard to hide every wire, so you should consider wrapping or encasing them.
  • Most hardware stores sell flexible safety cables and PVC. Aesthetically speaking, they’re not the best solution, but safety comes first. Electrical shock is not the only issue with wires. If you have multiple cables close to each other, your pet might get tangled up and injured.
  • Just like kids, pets hate certain foods because of how they taste. You can purchase a pet deterrent spray from a pet shop and coat your electrical cords to discourage chewing. Another great way to deter them is to give your pet toys to play with. Some dog and cat breeds have more energy, so make sure you understand your pet’s needs.
  • Invest the time in training. You can train a dog to stop chewing the couch, you can train a cat to keep off the counters, and you can train your pet to stay away from wires.

If the worst happens, visit a veterinarian immediately. Remember electrical shocks are life-threatening and should be treated as emergencies. Some symptoms aren’t easy to detect just by looking at your pet.

If you have any other questions about pet electrical safety, reach out to Kenergy for more advice and information.