January 25, 2012
Interested in saving energy to lower your electric bill, but confused about new technology and information available to help you do so? Separate fact from fiction with the following energy-saving myths.
January 25, 2012
Evaluating the energy savings of new equipment for the farm can prove challenging. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach gives examples for comparing the payback periods of energy-related purchases.
January 25, 2012
Electric bills vary with the seasons, driven by weather and consumer use patterns. How much weather affects your electric bills depends on many factors, including your home’s original construction materials, insulation, and air leaks. Personal comfor
January 25, 2012
Cold weather has many of the nation’s electric cooperatives bracing for calls from consumer-members concerned about higher bills. And many concede that some of those calls will come from disappointed members who expected to save money by relying on s
January 06, 2012
Not all manufactured homes are created equal. To find the most energy-efficient home, look for one that is ENERGY STAR® qualified. An ENERGY STAR® manufactured home may not look any different from other homes, but will save you energy—and money. Here
January 06, 2012
Electric motors are vital to all farm and agribusiness operations, whether they involve poultry, swine, cattle feeding, dairy, or crops.
January 06, 2012
Finding and sealing air leaks can save you energy and money. Here’s a tip from Access Energy Cooperative that can help keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter while lowering your utility bills.
January 06, 2012
The basic principles of wind turbines are fairly straightforward. A typical wind power system consists of a generator, blades, steel tower, meteorological equipment and on-site controls. Most wind generators require utility power to start and are sub
January 06, 2012
In recent decades, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has led technological innovation that vastly improved the energy efficiency of our refrigerators and freezers (and thousands of other household appliances). As a result, it’s a lot easier on you
October 25, 2011
The high-definition cable box or digital video recorder (DVR) that sits innocently by your TV may be using more electricity per year than a new energy-efficient refrigerator. A recent study found that the boxes use $3 billion in electricity every yea
October 25, 2011
Constructing or upgrading a farm shop requires decisions about insulation and heating systems. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach addresses energy efficiency for shop heating.
October 25, 2011
For the first time in more than 100 years, the basic incandescent lightbulb is getting a facelift. To accommodate new energy efficiency standards set by Congress (which require lightbulbs to be more efficient starting in 2012), a new generation of in
October 25, 2011
On September 2nd, Access Energy Cooperative held a Throwing the Switch ceremony to celebrate the installation of the second largest solar project in Iowa. The system is a 100KW DC solar array consisting of 429 individual photovoltaic modules that is
October 25, 2011
United States retailers will soon begin switching out traditional incandescent lightbulbs with more efficient options because of new regulations under the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are the
October 25, 2011
When you’re shopping for lightbulbs, compare lumens to be sure you’re getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, you want. A new Lighting Facts Label will make it easy to compare bulb brightness, color, life, and estimated annual operating
October 25, 2011
Is there enough insulation in your attic? By adding insulation, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money. Here’s a tip from that can help reduce your energy consumption—and your electric bills.
August 30, 2011
Ever wonder how much electricity that old refrigerator or freezer uses? Or how much it is costing you to leave your computer plugged in. You can find out by using a Kill A Watt monitor from Access Energy. Simply plug your 110-volt electronics or appl
August 30, 2011
It’s hot this summer. That means your air conditioning system is working hard to keep you comfortable. Here’s a tip from Access Energy Cooperative that can help your cooling system operate more efficiently—and save you money.
August 30, 2011
The days of large console televisions, with their wood grain exteriors and antenna wires or rabbit ears, are long gone—no more using needle nose pliers to change channels after the knob breaks or fiddling endlessly to adjust the horizontal and vertic
August 30, 2011
On July 8, our new solar array was energized for the first time. So far I am very impressed with its performance. We expect the 100 KW array to provide about 25% of our office’s energy needs. Based on the solar array’s performance ...