JANUARY 2021
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
Line Superintendent David Martin’s granddaughter Kinsley and other area third-graders received new shoes from NAEC.
NAEC gives third grade new shoes Area third-grade students are playing in new athletic shoes courtesy of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Sole Power Project. The service project began seven years ago as a way to help third-graders in local public schools. It demonstrates NAEC’s concern for community, which is one of the seven cooperative principles by which the co-op operates. Students in the following school districts received shoes in November: Calico Rock, Cave City, Cotter, Highland, Hillcrest, Izard County Consolidated, Mammoth Spring, Melbourne, Mountain Home, Norfork, Salem and Viola. Handing out shoes is a highlight for NAEC employees. To be safe in light of the coronavirus pandemic, though, NAEC left distributing the shoes to school personnel this year.
Donning thick socks and letting sunshine in can help you feel warm on chilly winter days.
Keep cozy with these tips When you’re feeling chilly at home, you have several budget-friendly ways to keep comfortable without turning up the thermostat. 1. Consider an electric blanket instead of turning up the heat. Whether you’re experiencing extremely cold winter temps or you simply “run cold,” an electric blanket can deliver quick warmth like a regular throw or blanket cannot. Electric blankets can include a variety of features, such as timers and dual temperature settings. 2. Try a pair of comfortable wool socks or house slippers to stay toasty. Our feet play a critical role in regulating body temperature, so when your feet are warm, your body automatically feels warmer.
3. Open all of the curtains, drapes and blinds in your home to let the sunshine in.
You’ll be able to take advantage and harness natural warmth from sunlight. 4. Use a humidifier. Cold air doesn’t hold water vapor like warm air, so by adding humidity inside your home, you can feel a little warmer. A favorable level of humidity inside your home also can help clear sinuses, soften skin and improve sleep. 5. Add large area rugs in rooms where you spend the most time. Beyond adding visual appeal to your home, area rugs can provide extra insulation and a warm surface for your feet on cold winter days. These are just a few ways you can stay cozy this winter without turning up the thermostat. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Replace standard power strips with advanced power strips to save energy. Advanced power strips look like ordinary power strips but have built-in features designed to reduce the amount of energy used by standby electronics that consume energy even when they’re not in use. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates the average home loses $200 annually to energy wasted by phantom load.
How Americans Use Electricity The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the combined use of clothes washers and dryers, computers, dishwashers, small appliances and other electrical equipment (noted as “all other uses” below) accounts for nearly 40% of electricity consumption in American homes.
15.8%
Space Cooling
39.0%2
12.1%
All other uses
Water Heating
5.2%
Lighting
16.3%1
Space Heating
4.2%
TVs & related equipment
Source: EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2020 1 Includes consumption for heat and operating furnace fans and boiler pumps. 2 Includes miscellaneous appliances, clothes washers and dryers, computers and related equipment, stoves, dishwashRefrigerators Source: EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2020 & Freezers 1Includes consumption for heat and operating furnace ers, heating elements and motors. fans and boiler pumps.
7.4%
Includes miscellaneous appliances, clothes washers and dryers, computers and related equipment, stoves, dishwashers, heating elements, and motors.
2
DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — NOVEMBER 2020
Average Daily High: 63.98° compared to 56.46° in 2019
TEMPERATURE
Average Daily Low: 36.67° compared to 29.08° in 2019 Total Rainfall Amount: 1.2” compared to 6.31” in 2019 Warmest Day: Nov. 4, 78° at 1 p.m. Coolest Day: Nov. 30, 21.6° at 11 p.m.
DAYS
CONTACT NAEC 870-895-3221 info@naeci.com naeci.com
RIGHT-OF-WAY Area in and around Glencoe, Heart, Saddle, Frenchtown and Agnos; Walker Road and Spring Lake Estates area of Mountain Home
IMAGES: TORI MOSS; IVAN KRUK/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; TOA555/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; NRECA
ON THE FRONT Line technician Dustin Ray restores service to members after a vehicle broke a pole in Salem on Nov. 24.