OEC equips employees to find onsite energy savings
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EC's Green Committee — assembled of employee volunteers — has worked since 2017 to identify and implement a number of energy efficient upgrades at OEC's headquarters in Norman. The committee’s goal? To walk the walk of energy efficiency that we promote to our membership. So far, the committee has implemented a thorough energy audit that resulted in a change-out of all lighting to LED. Motion-sensored lighting was installed in restrooms, closets and mail rooms across the three buildings. "We had a company come in and check out our HVAC loads, lighting loads and general usage, then pair those with our energy costs," said Energy Efficiency Solutions Specialist Daniel Lofland. "This showed us where we could best cut energy costs at OEC." As heating and cooling are typically the highest energy users — for both residential and commercial — it was no surprise that conrolling our HVAC meant the largest energy savings. "Controlling the HVAC has been one of the harder things to accomplish in a commercial environment," said Lofland. "We have done better at balancing the system and are keeping the units well maintained so they are working at optimal efficiency." In 2018, the Logistics team received a cardboard baler to assist in the recycling process and cut down on the amount of trash hauled off. Next, we provided all employees with insulated, reusable tumblers in an effort to cut down on our use of styrofoam. “The board [of trustees] saw the importance of environmentally-friendly, everyday practices by making it a priority and a strategic initiative in 2017,” said Lofland. The Green Committee is excited to implement a few more changes in 2020, including the planting of bee-attracting wildflowers at our Solar Garden, making it a certified pollinator habitat and monarch waystation. “These are small changes we can make, but over time they will have a large impact,” said Lofland.
Jeffries, Fletcher named Energy Camp winners
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ethany Jeffries of Norman and Emma Fletcher of Newcastle were recently named 2020 Energy Camp winners. Energy Camp, a fourday, action-packed camp held at Canyon Camp and Conference Center near Hinton, brings together about 90 incoming high school freshmen from across the state to learn about co-ops, form their own co-op, learn teambuilding and grow their leadership skills. Tasked with a short essay about what leadership means to them, winner Bethany Jeffries of Norman who attends Community Christian School wrote, "Leaders are not born but are made through hard work and learning from their own and other’s mistakes. Good leaders see what they can do for the people, not what the people can do for them." Fletcher wrote, "Being a leader is very important and you don’t need to be president or work at the State Department to be a leader. You can be a leader in your school just by doing the right thing and being respectful, showing kindness and being helpful." Unfortunately, Energy Camp, organized by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, is canceled this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An alternative, virtual plan is in the works.
YOUTH TOUR CANCELED In lieu of the week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. this summer, the four Youth Tour winners — Cecilia Alali from Westmoore High School, Taylor McGill from Tuttle High School, Grace Miller from Blanchard High School and Kade Schuermann from Community Christian School in Norman — will receive scholarships after NRECA canceled all activities through June 24. "We are devastated about Youth Tour getting canceled," said OEC Education and Outreach Programs Director Tory Tedder-Loffland. "While there is no true substitute for the Youth Tour experience, we hope the scholarships will help ease their disappointment. Once a Youth Tourian, always a Youth Tourian — trip or no trip. We consider them part of the co-op family now and we will continue to honor their achievement in any way possible."
www.okcoop.org
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