EnergyUnited
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Pieces of the Puzzle:
Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and You

There is no magic fix to our current energy picture. Instead, there are pieces of the puzzle—renewable energy, energy efficiency, your energy provider, the government and you—that together will form the solution to America’s changing energy needs.

A North Carolina law passed in 2007 mandates that electric cooperatives such as EnergyUnited must meet a 10% Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS) by 2018. The REPS can come in the form of renewable energy generation or through energy efficiency measures.

Renewable energy resources include hydropower, biomass, geothermal energy, wind energy and solar energy; and are naturally replenished in a relatively short period of time. Not all of the renewable energy sources are viable options in North Carolina. However, North Carolina’s natural resources and industries lend it best to providing solar and wind as energy sources for the residential consumer.

Renewable Energy Puzzle Pieces


Solar Puzzle Piece
Solar
North Carolina has good solar resources. Solar energy can be converted to thermal (or heat) energy and used to heat water for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools; and to heat spaces such as greenhouses, homes, and other buildings. Residential customers can harness the sun’s energy through photovoltaic systems, solar water heaters, and solar attic ventilation systems. Solar home installation can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the size of the system. Tax credits and incentives are available—visit the DSIRE website (maintained by the N.C. Solar Center) to search for credits and incentives.
Wind
North Carolina has excellent wind resources along the coast and the higher ridge crests in western part of the state. In addition, small wind turbines may have applications in some areas. Small turbines used to power a single home or business may have a capacity of less than 100 kilowatts. Some large commercial sized turbines may have a capacity of 5 million watts, or 5 megawatts. Larger turbines are often grouped together into wind farms that provide power to the electrical grid. A good beginning resource for residential customers is the American Wind Energy Association. According to the AWEA, a small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and service agreements with the manufacturer. 		Wind Mill on a Puzzle Piece



Solar Puzzle Piece
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency differs from energy conservation. Energy efficiency is doing the same amount of work, or more, with less energy. Energy conservation is simply using less energy. Energy efficiency can be accomplished a number of ways. In your home, easy steps you can take include:

• Replacing lighting with either CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) or LEDs, both of which use less energy to operate and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

• Checking your home for air leaks and sealing any leaks you do find.

• When it is time to purchase new appliances, purchase ones with the highest Energy Star rating you can find that fits in your budget. The higher the Energy Star rating, the more energy efficient the appliance is and the more savings you will see throughout the life of the appliance.

• For a complete view of your home’s current energy efficiency, complete the free online home energy evaluation. Once you complete the detailed questionnaire, you will receive a list of recommendations to improve your home’s energy efficiency, as well as the estimated savings you will see for each recommendation.

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