Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
S6 E3: Springtime Energy Reset with TJ Smith
Ready for warmer weather? Your home's energy needs are about to shift, and we've got you covered with essential tips to make the transition smooth and cost-effective.
The winter-to-spring changeover in eastern North Carolina brings unique energy challenges. That's why we invited our energy services representative TJ Smith to share expert advice on preparing your home for the warmer months while keeping your energy bills in check. TJ walks us through the critical importance of spring HVAC maintenance after those brutal 18-degree days we experienced this winter. Just like your car needs regular service, your heating and cooling system requires attention to run efficiently as we switch to cooling mode.
We dig into practical strategies that make a real difference, from proper ceiling fan direction settings to the ideal thermostat temperature ranges recommended by the Department of Energy. TJ also explains how your landscaping choices impact energy efficiency, particularly around outdoor HVAC units, and offers money-saving tips for pool owners facing potentially high pump operation costs. And, of course, tune into the end of the episode to catch Watts Happening at your co-op this month. Listen now!
Run Time: 12 minutes
Welcome back, listeners, to another episode of Flippin' the Switch. I don't know about you, but we are so ready for warmer weather here at Jones-Onslow EMC. Spring is a few days away and we are gearing up to provide you with the best energy-saving tips to help your home transition from cold to hot. I will be interviewing one of our trusted energy advisors, TJ Smith, who will tell you everything you need to know about saving energy this spring. And with that let's start Flippin' the Switch. All right, everyone, welcome back to another episode of Flippin' the Switch.
Speaker 1:Spring is just around the corner and if you're listening to this podcast, at the end of the month it is here. But the transition to spring in eastern North Carolina can be a bumpy road, with numerous fall springs and winter days that feel like they will never end. But, as all things, the season will eventually arrive and we are here to help you have a smooth transition into spring and maybe even find a couple of ways to save on your energy costs. So today we have TJ Smith back with us on the podcast, and if you follow our social media, you may even recognize him from one of our recent winter energy efficiency videos. So he is here to share some helpful tips and resources to you, our members. So let's get started. Hey, TJ, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me, Natalie.
Speaker 1:So TJ is our energy services representative and he is full of knowledge when it comes to this topic, so we're excited to hear from you. Temperatures are starting to change and we hope that the 18-degree days are behind us. As the shift happens, what are some of the biggest energy users in the home as the weather warms up and what are some ways members can help make them more efficient?
Speaker 2:The biggest user right now is. We're coming out of heat mode and going into air conditioner. The Department of Energy recommends two services on your units spring and fall, and spring is right around the corner. It's time for that service. We're coming out of some 18-degree weather, some snow on two different occasions, and our units have really worked hard. That's right. It's like our vehicles. We need to service them. So servicing the unit is probably going to be the biggest thing to save on the energy bill right now.
Speaker 1:Right. So, like spring cleaning, you can have a list that you check off. When the weather warms up, we want to clean our houses, so we can kind of incorporate that into maintenance for spring too around the home.
Speaker 2:So do you have a list of spring maintenance for the home to help improve efficiency? As we're cleaning, we're going to be cleaning our ceiling fans. Dust those fans off and while we've got that fan off, remember to flip that switch to go to cooling with the fan. As the temperatures are rising, we could actually turn our units off. Open up the windows, use that fresh air. That's going to help greatly reduce on the bill as well.
Speaker 1:For sure, and you get to enjoy the nice breeze from outside after all this crazy winter weather. So all of those are good ideas, but one thing we can always talk about is energy efficiency and ways to save in general. So can you tell our members about any specific energy resources or programs that we offer to help members stay on track and save on their spring and summer bills, and does Jones-Onslow offer ways for members to monitor their energy usage through the season?
Speaker 2:Yes, we do offer year-round tracking of your energy usage. All you would have to do is visit our website, you'll log into your account and you register your account to view your daily usage. And looking at that, daily usage is going to be a bar graph. It gives you the last 30 days worth of usage, I believe, and it gives you a temperature overlay of the daily high and the daily low. Taking it a step further, you can also register your account with one of the girls in the office to receive daily text or email notifications about your usage. And we also have a high usage text. You determine the amount of kilowatt hours that you don't want your account to exceed and if you exceed that, you get an instant text message saying hey, your account is X amount of kilowatt hours. What have we got going on in the home at that point? And it gives you, the homeowner, an opportunity to catch it before you go deep into a billing cycle and wind up with a high bill.
Speaker 1:Right, and then you're not in the dark about why it's high either. Exactly, I think when members realize how much control they have over their energy usage, especially with the tools that we have for them on our website, I think it's a lot more manageable and they kind of get plugged into the way that it all works, because I know it can be a little daunting. So really utilizing all those tools that we have on the website is for the members benefit. One thing people think of immediately when considering electricity in the home is the handy-dandy thermostat. Do you happen to have any suggestions for members when it comes to thermostat settings?
Speaker 2:With the thermostats. The Department of Energy's recommendations for the fall and winter months are 68 to 70 degrees and in the spring and summer months it is 78 to 80 degrees. Just keep in mind for every degree that we can scale back in winter and fall, we'll save approximately 1% on the bill, and for every degree that we can go up in spring and summer, we'll save approximately 1% on the bill.
Speaker 1:Great. So things inside of your home are important, but we're spending time outside. We're wanting to get the yard ready and just really enjoy that spring and summer weather. There are some things that are outside of your home that can be using a lot of energy as well. So how does landscaping play a role in home energy usage and do you have any tips for outdoor lighting and planning around the home?
Speaker 2:As far as planning around the home, we all love our flower beds. I know my wife loves hers. Just keep in mind that proximity to our air unit. If we get too close with some thick, pompous grass, monkey grass, shrubbery, the unit has to have air around it to breathe. If we constrict the air around it, the unit's having to work harder. The harder the unit works, the more energy it uses.
Speaker 2:The more energy we use, the higher our bill's going to be. So just keep in mind, as we're either cleaning out the fire beds or planting new plants, to take into consideration the proximity of how close you are to your unit, we don't want to overcrowd that.
Speaker 1:Right, that makes sense. So, while we're talking about things outside, do you have some other areas members should take a look at, like pool pumps or any other extras that they may have on their property?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good question. Natalie. Pool pumps will add to the bill. I do suggest putting a timer on it. Depending on what type of pool you have, what size you have and depending on the size motor that you have on the pump, it can exceed $100 in just a pool pump alone. So if we could put that on a timer and let it run three or four hours here and shut off for three or four hours, then come on another three or four hours and then shut off or whatever schedule works for maintaining the clarity of the pool Right and, honestly, with the crazy weather here in North Carolina, at some point you might not even need that heater Exactly.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, just keeping in mind when to shut it on and off, and a timer is a great idea. All right, tj, that was a lot of information, but I think we covered all of our bases. So are there any other suggestions you may have for members, or is there a way that they can further utilize us to help save on their energy bill?
Speaker 2:Yeah, for any questions that the membership has. By all means, my name is TJ Smith. You can reach me in my office. One of the girls would be glad to patch you through. Our website is a great source of information. We've got the online calculators rebates if members are looking at replacing certain appliances. There's just a trove of knowledge on the website.
Speaker 1:Exactly, yeah, any questions that you may have can be answered on our website. You can browse the blog articles that we have to educate our members. You can use the search bar and really search anything that you may need, and then you can call one of our member service representatives at 910-353-1940. All right, tj. Thank you so much and we're looking forward to the spring season. So if you guys have any questions, feel free to follow us on social media and reach out or, like I said, you can contact us at 910-353-1940. Thanks, tj. Thank you, natalie.
Speaker 3:Spring is here and it's time to get outside Making plans for a new outdoor project. Hitting a buried line while digging can disrupt utility service, cost money to repair or cause serious injury or even death. Make no bones about it All members who plan a digging project should call 811 before you start in order to protect yourself and your community. You can also submit a request online at call811.com. Know what's below before you dig.
Speaker 1:Hey everyone, natalie here and I'm back to let you know what's happening at your co-op this month. Stay in the know. Update your contact information. Staying connected with Jones-Onslow EMC ensures you receive important updates, timely alerts and seamless member service. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by keeping your contact information up to date. Having current phone numbers, email addresses and mailing addresses on file benefits you in multiple ways. It allows for faster outage reporting and response times, ensuring you get updates when you need them the most. You'll also receive timely alerts about planned outages, billing notifications and other important news affecting your service. Additionally, keeping your contact information current leads to smoother interactions with our member services team and improved access to valuable member programs and benefits. Updating your information is quick and easy. Simply log into your account on our website or give us a call to verify and update your details. Don't miss out. Stay informed and stay connected with Jones-Onslow EMC.
Speaker 1:One safety tip we'd like all members to keep in mind this month is about surge protection. With the changing weather and spring storms on the horizon, it's important to remember how a power surge occurs. A power surge is typically caused by lightning, changes in electrical loads, faulty wiring or damaged power lines. Install power strips with surge protection to protect sensitive equipment. Make sure it is easy to use, protects electronics and must be replaced over time after a major surge event. Remember, not all power strips offer surge protection. Carefully read the packaging labels when purchasing.
Speaker 1:One last reminder about our virtual annual meeting. We are excited to bring the co-ops business directly to you, right in the comfort of your home or business, on Friday, march 28th, at 10 am or anytime afterward. Members can watch the meeting on the JOEMC Facebook page or our website whenever it's most convenient for them. Be on the lookout for your registration packet in the mail. All members who are registered will be entered into a drawing for prizes. The grand prize is $5,000, so don't miss out. If you have any questions, feel free to call our office at 910-353-1940. And that's what's happening at your co-op this month. Well, folks, that's all for today's episode of Flippin' the Switch. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jones Onslow. We'll see y'all next time.